Channel 12 journalist, Dafna Liel, addresses the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Galant by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and says that the timing of the dismissal is not coincidental. According to Liel: "This timing was not chosen by chance – the night of the elections in the U.S. when attention is elsewhere."
As mentioned, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed Defense Minister Yoav Galant of his dismissal a short while ago: "The gaps have widened."
In a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office, it was written: "My supreme commitment as Prime Minister of Israel is to ensure Israel's security and bring us to a complete victory. In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the Prime Minister and the Minister of Defense."
According to him, "Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and very fruitful work, in the past few months this trust has cracked between me and the Minister of Defense. Between me and Gallant, significant gaps were revealed in managing the campaign, and these gaps were accompanied by statements and actions that contradicted government and cabinet decisions."
Netanyahu also noted: "I made many attempts to bridge these gaps, but they continued to widen. They also came to the public's attention in an unacceptable manner, and worse, they came to the enemy's attention – our enemies took pleasure in this and derived much benefit from it."
"Different opinions in open debates, everyone knows, those who know me – this is my way of managing discussions, evaluations, and decisions. Everyone knows that. But the trust crisis that has developed between me and the Minister of Defense has become public knowledge, and this crisis does not allow for the proper continuation of managing the campaign. Not only I say this, most of the government members and most of the cabinet members, almost all of them share this feeling that this cannot continue."
"In light of this," Netanyahu noted, "I decided today to end the term of the Minister of Defense. Instead of him, I decided to appoint Minister Israel Katz to the position. Israel Katz has already proven his capabilities and his contribution to national security both as Foreign Minister, Finance Minister, and Intelligence Minister for five years, and no less importantly, as a member of the Security Cabinet for many years. "
"He brings with him an impressive combination of extensive experience and execution ability. He is known as a bulldozer combined with responsibility and assertiveness, quiet assertiveness, and all of these are very important for managing the campaign."
"Additionally," said the Prime Minister, "I spoke today with Minister Gideon Sa'ar and offered him to join the coalition along with his faction and take on the role of Foreign Minister." As a member of the government and the cabinet for many years, Gideon Sa'ar brings with him extensive experience and judgment in the fields of policy and security, and he will constitute a significant reinforcement to our leadership team.
His joining and the joining of his faction will contribute to the stability of the coalition and the stability of the government, which are very important at all times, especially during times of war. I am convinced that these steps will strengthen the government and the cabinet, turning them into bodies that will work together in harmony and cooperation for the security of the State of Israel, for the citizens of the State of Israel, for our victory.
