Update on Current Situation in Israel
November 5, 2024
Dear Friends,
There have been dramatic events in Israel in recent hours, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, also from the Likud Party. While the Prime Minister and Defense Minister have led the October 7 War together since its start, the two have reportedly had major differences of opinion on how the war should be conducted, negotiations over hostages, and how “the day after” in Gaza should look; with Gallant generally adopting a more compromising stance. On occasion, these differences have been stated openly.
It was also announced that Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz will take over as defense minister, while former Likud Minister Gidon Saar, who recently joined the government, will become foreign minister, despite his recent years of sharp criticism of the Netanyahu-led coalition. While Katz has decades of experiences in government, he has a very limited military background, leading to strong concerns about his ability to lead war efforts.
Before October 7, during the social justice protests, the Prime Minister also announced that he was firing Gallant. However, the public outcry at his firing was swift and loud, and this resulted in Netanyahu withdrawing the dismissal and reinstating Gallant. Today too, tens of thousands of protestors have been streaming into the streets of Israel. At this hour, a very large group has blocked Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway, the city’s main traffic route, in a spontaneous demonstration. Protesters have stopped traffic in both directions, lit numerous bonfires and erected makeshift roadblocks.
Reacting to the announcement, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid said that the decision to fire Gallant mid-war was an “act of madness.”Former prime minister Naftali Bennett, who polls suggest could beat Netanyahu in an election, tweeted criticism of the decision to fire the defense minister during a time of war. He said, “This nation of lions has a sick and crazy leadership. I call on our soldiers on all fronts: Don’t lose focus against the enemy. If you guard us, we, the public, will guard you. Don’t despair, change is coming.”As a result of the very strong backlash, some political commentators are asking whether Netanyahu may have made a critical misjudgment in firing Gallant.Jewish Federations will continue to report on major developments.
For more information, please contact: Jewish Federations of North America’s Dani Wassner dani.wassner@jewishfederations.org. Subscribe to this weekly update here.
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