Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on Tuesday over differences on the prosecution of the war in the Gaza Strip — at a moment when Israel is fighting on two fronts.
The move sparked protests across the country, including a large gathering near the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem.
Gallant was pushing for a cease-fire deal in Gaza that would secure the release of hostages held there, and his dismissal removes the main proponent in the Israeli government for such an agreement. Gallant and Netanyahu also clashed over domestic political issues, particularly the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Israelis.
Large crowds opposed to Gallant’s dismissal blocked traffic and lit bonfires on a major highway in Tel Aviv.
Gallant, 65, had increasingly been viewed as an internal opponent to the prime minister, and he has been a more moderate voice within the government on security issues. Netanyahu, who announced the decision in a video statement, said “significant gaps in handling the war” emerged between him and Gallant.
Gallant said Netanyahu fired him over three main disagreements: the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews, a deal to release hostages, and his call for a state commission of inquiry into the security failures surrounding the attack Hamas led on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.
“My firm stance is that every military-age person must be enlisted,” Gallant said in a statement carried live on television. “They must serve in the Israel Defense Forces and defend the state of Israel. This is no longer just a social issue. It is a paramount issue for our security and existence.”
Ultra-Orthodox lawmakers who provide critical support in Netanyahu’s coalition have opposed measures to draft their constituents, even as Israeli casualties in Gaza and Lebanon mount. Had Gallant succeeded in advancing his position, it could have put Netanyahu’s coalition at risk.
The prime minister’s decision comes at an extraordinary moment for Israel. Its military is fighting against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, two groups backed by Iran, and bracing for a possible Iranian attack in a cycle of retaliatory strikes. It is also conducting raids on Palestinians.
The United States is voting in a presidential election that could have major implications for the U.S. approach to the war in the Middle East. Gallant maintained close contact with senior U.S. officials, who often chose to communicate with him instead of Netanyahu, a dynamic that frustrated the Israeli prime minister.
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Gallant to discuss the situation in Gaza and Lebanon.
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