A Political Twist in Israel

At 7:00 p.m. yesterday, news of the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant shook the Israeli political landscape. The announcement, made via a WhatsApp message and signed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, marked a sudden change in the government. The official letter states that Gallant’s term will expire in 48 hours. Netanyahu personally delivered the letter to Gallant in a brief meeting in his office in Jerusalem. After this exchange, the prime minister recorded a video to publicly announce his decision. Israel Katz, the current foreign minister, was appointed in Gallant’s place, while the latter will be replaced by Gideon Saar.

Netanyahu explained that trust between him and Gallant has deteriorated in recent times, despite a promising start. He said he had made several attempts to resolve their differences, but without success. Gallant responded on X, saying that the security of the State of Israel remains his priority.

Reactions and Consequences

Gallant’s dismissal comes amid a sensitive backdrop: the shadow of an imminent attack by Iran looms large and the United States is focused on crucial elections. Eliran Bykhovsky of the International Union of Socialist Youth suggested that Netanyahu is using the situation to divert attention from his own political maneuvers. Political reactions were not long in coming. Yair Golan, chairman of the Democrats, urged citizens to mobilize. Yair Lapid called the act “madness” in wartime and accused Netanyahu of risking the country’s security for his own political survival. As a result, thousands of Israelis protested in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

An Uncertain Future

Netanyahu’s decision has raised questions about the future of security in Israel. Sources close to the prime minister suggest he may take similar action against other senior security officials. However, while the prime minister can replace the head of internal security, the defense minister is responsible for the IDF. Katz appears likely to follow Netanyahu’s lead. This political earthquake comes at an already critical time: two days ago, a leak scandal broke out that led to the arrest of the prime minister’s security spokesman. In addition, a new criminal investigation has been launched into Netanyahu’s office over his handling of the war in Gaza. The atmosphere is tense and the prime minister’s office is desperately trying to downplay the consequences of the ongoing investigation. Future developments will be crucial for governance and stability in the region.