Netanyahu considers dismissing military, Shin Bet chiefs amid political turmoil
This screen grab taken from a handout video released by the Israeli government press office shows Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attending a meeting in the command center of the defense ministry in Tel Aviv on October 26, 2024. (AFP Photo)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly contemplating the dismissal of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar following his decision to remove Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday.
According to Israeli media outlet Haaretz, a source close to Netanyahu revealed that while the prime minister has not yet made a final decision, he is considering the removal of the military and intelligence leaders.
Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth echoed this report, adding that a senior official close to Netanyahu stated, “We are not there yet,” but did not rule out such moves in the future.
The potential dismissals come shortly after Netanyahu replaced Gallant with Foreign Minister Israel Katz, sparking a wave of political backlash and calls for protests across Israel.
Gideon Sa’ar, leader of the National Right Party, was appointed to replace Katz as foreign minister, according to a statement from Netanyahu’s office.
Israeli opposition condemns Netanyahu’s decision
Reacting to his dismissal, Gallant took to X (formerly Twitter), saying: “The security of the State of Israel has been and will always be my life’s mission.”
Opposition leaders condemned Netanyahu’s decision, with Benny Gantz, head of the Israel Resilience Party, stating on X: “Politics at the expense of national security.”
Yair Lapid, opposition leader of Yesh Atid, called the decision “an act of madness” and urged Israelis to protest in the streets, while Yair Golan, leader of the Israeli Democratic Party, also encouraged public demonstrations.
In contrast, Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir praised Netanyahu’s move, expressing support for Gallant’s dismissal.
The shakeup comes as Israel remains embroiled in ongoing military conflict, raising concerns over the impact of these leadership changes on national security.
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