Former defense ministers bash Netanyahu over Gallant firing imbroglio

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is taking it on the chin from two of his former defense chiefs after his office announces that a decision on firing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has been delayed by security tensions.

Gallant’s predecessor Benny Gantz, head of the opposition National Unity party, tweets that Netanyahu should immediately announce that he is not firing Gallant, given the security threat. “Israel’s security is not some audition for a show or movie. Israel’s citizens need a set defense minister. Not in the future. Now,” he writes.

Yisrael Beytenu head Avigdor Liberman, who also served as a defense minister under Netanyahu, accuses the premier of “playing ego and respect games,” claiming that he’s busy with talks over the type of apology Gallant will offer.

“There is nothing more detrimental to the security services than instability and uncertainty regarding the identity of the defense minister, who is wholly focused on security matter,” he claims.

Nearly all politicians who have served as defense minister under Netanyahu are now arrayed against him, either via the Knesset opposition or, for those no longer in politics, by backing anti-government protests.