Netanyahu fires defence minister Yoav Gallant, Israel Katz to succeed
PTC News Desk: In a major defence overhaul, Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired his defence minister, Yoav Gallant and appointed Israel Katz to succeed him following nationwide outrage over expulsion.
Thousand of demonstrators gathered in national capital Tel Aviv, creating roadblocks city’s main highway and lit a bonfire. Protesters also blocked roads in several other locations across the country.
In a rather surprising announcement Netanyahu said that he had lost confidence Gallant over the management of conflict in Middle East. “Over the past few months that trust has eroded. In light of this, I decided today to end the term of the defence minister,” the prime minister said in a statement issued by his office.
The recent development has underscored the long standing conflict between Ntenyahu and Gallant which was growing wider and gain momentum publically. Not to mention, the decision comes at a time when Israel if at war on multiple front and multiple millitant organisations.
Shortly afterwards, Gallant said in a post on X that working to ensure Israel’s security would “always remain the mission of my life”. Furthermore, Netanyahu has appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz to succeed Gallant as defence minister.
On X, Katz promised to “achieve the goals of the war” and return the captives held in Gaza as “the most important value mission”.
- With inputs from agencies
