On November 5, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu handed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant a letter of dismissal, which takes formal effect after 48 hours. Reportedly, this decision is due to differences over the prosecution of the war in Gaza, coming at a crucial moment when Israel is fighting on multiple fronts. Prime Minister Netanyahu, who announced the decision in a video statement, said “significant gaps on handling the war” had emerged between him and Gallant.
“More than ever, at the height of a war, complete trust is needed between the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister,” Prime Minister Netanyahu stated. “In recent months, that trust between the Defence Minister and me was damaged,” he added.
The move sparked protests across the country, including a large gathering near the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem, as the 65-year-old Gallant is increasingly viewed as an internal opponent to the Prime Minister and has been a more moderate voice on security issues within the government. Large crowds opposing Gallant’s dismissal blocked traffic and lit bonfires on a major highway in Tel Aviv. A group representing the families of people taken hostage by Hamas also condemned Netanyahu’s dismissal of Gallant, calling it a continuation of efforts to “torpedo” a release deal.
The Differences
The three main disagreements between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defence Minister Gallant involve the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews, a deal to release hostages, and Gallant’s call for a State Commission of Inquiry into the security failures surrounding the attack led by Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023.
Gallant and Netanyahu clashed over the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Israelis. Gallant had stated, “My firm stance is that every military-age person must be enlisted. They must serve in the Israel Defence Forces and defend the State of Israel. This is no longer just a social issue; it is a paramount issue for our existence and future.”
He warned that the “discriminatory, corrupt law” on Haredi enlistment must not be allowed to pass, referring to legislation being pushed by Haredi parties, United Torah Judaism and Shas, that would preserve the exemption of ultra-Orthodox males from military service after the high court ruled earlier this year that there was no longer any legal framework allowing the state to refrain from drafting them.
The coalition depends on the support of these two ultra-Orthodox parties. Gallant, aware that the standing army and reserves are under extraordinary strain and that the IDF needs all the recruits it can get as Israeli casualties in Gaza and Lebanon mount, was leading the opposition to this exemption. It is felt that, had Gallant succeeded in advancing his position, it could have put Netanyahu’s coalition at risk.
Gallant was also pushing for a ceasefire deal in Gaza to secure the release of hostages, and his dismissal removes the main proponent within the Israeli government for such an agreement. Supported by the nation’s security chiefs, Gallant argued that Israel should pursue a broader arrangement to end fighting both in the north, where Hezbollah has been significantly weakened, and in Gaza, where Hamas has largely been destroyed.
Gallant had urged prioritising the return of the 97 hostages still held by Hamas, even at the cost of ending the war, arguing that Israel could and likely would return to address Hamas further in the future. He stated there was a “moral obligation and responsibility to bring our kidnapped sons and daughters back home”.
“This is achievable but involves painful compromises that Israel can bear, and the IDF can handle,” Gallant said. “There is and will not be any atonement for abandoning the captives. It will be a mark of Cain on the forehead of Israeli society and those leading this mistaken path.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu had approved a temporary ceasefire deal in November 2023, which led to the release of 105 Israeli captives in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners. However, since then, he has effectively blocked each ceasefire proposal to prolong the war in Gaza and, according to analysts, his political career.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum called on the incoming Defence Minister to “express an explicit commitment to end the war and to carry out a comprehensive deal for the immediate return of all the abductees”.
Addressing Israeli military officers in July, Gallant called for an investigation into the vulnerabilities and failures in government, military, and security circles that allowed the 7 October attack to happen. He acknowledged that the inquiry must examine his own actions, those of the Prime Minister, and the responsibilities of the internal security agency, Shin Bet. He said, “I have said and I repeat, I am responsible for the security establishment over the past two years — for the successes and the failures.” He added, “Only sunlight and a truthful investigation will allow us to learn and build our strength to face future challenges.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu has resisted all efforts to form a State Commission of Inquiry, saying the investigation must wait until after the war.
Gallant, a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party and Defence Minister since 2022, also clashed with the Prime Minister over legislation seeking to overhaul the Israeli judiciary and proposals for the future administration of Gaza. He wanted Prime Minister Netanyahu to publicly declare that Israel has no plans to assume civilian and military control in Gaza.
In May, Gallant warned that the lack of a post-war plan for governing Gaza could force Israel into a permanent military occupation, costing “in blood and many victims, for no purpose.” His remarks were seen as critical of the Prime Minister. In August, Gallant dismissed Prime Minister Netanyahu’s declared goal of “total victory” over Hamas in Gaza as “nonsense.” It is clear that the two shared a contentious relationship.
Israel Katz, the Foreign Minister who has been named as the new Defence Minister, is seen as hawkish. Although he has little security experience, he is an ally of the Prime Minister and is unlikely to oppose Netanyahu’s approach to ceasefire talks, which many say have hindered the possibility of a deal. He is also expected to align with the Prime Minister on decisions regarding the duration of the conflict in Lebanon and responses to threats from Iran. However, the appointment requires approval from the government and then the Knesset.
Seen as an Important Conduit with the US
In June, as relations between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and US President Biden appeared to fray after Netanyahu accused the US of withholding weapons, Gallant met with President Biden, affirming his commitment to a ceasefire deal and emphasising Israel’s appreciation of American support. Gallant was seen as a critical interlocutor, and it is reported that he spoke frequently with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Bob Woodward, the well-known journalist, recently described the deep distrust between the Netanyahu and Biden administrations, quoting Biden as telling close aides that “18 of the 19 people who work for Netanyahu are liars.” Israeli media have speculated that Gallant was the sole Israeli official still trusted in Washington. On 4 November, Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, had also called Gallant to discuss the situation in Gaza and Lebanon.
The White House’s National Security Council has avoided directly criticising Prime Minister Netanyahu for Gallant’s removal, instead stating that Gallant “has been an important partner on all matters related to the defence of Israel” and that it pledges to “work collaboratively” with the next Israeli Defence Minister.
Conclusion
This is not an easy time for Israel. The Leader of the Opposition, Yair Lapid, has termed Netanyahu’s sacking of Gallant “an act of madness.” Israel is engaged in fighting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon and is bracing for a possible Iranian attack in a cycle of retaliatory strikes. It is also conducting raids to root out Palestinian militants in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Additionally, there are strikes by Houthis, and Israel has expanded the conflict by attacking targets in Syria.
However, Prime Minister Netanyahu believes that his ultra-Orthodox and far-right partners can be accommodated now that his most troublesome critic will be gone, securing his hold on power for the foreseeable future.
Unfortunately, the Prime Minister has removed an experienced ex-General—an independent thinker dedicated to Israel’s security, who sought to strengthen the Army despite potential political costs. Highly regarded, Gallant’s ouster may undermine military competence, unity, and morale, raising concerns about oversight of the Army during a conflict. It also exposes internal divisions within Israel at a time when it is engaged in a prolonged and complex war on multiple fronts.
No wonder President Isaac Herzog called on leaders to act with great responsibility, stating, “The last thing Israel needs right now is upheaval and division in the middle of the war. Israel’s security must be above all considerations.”