Gallant swipes at coalition allies for ‘outrageous, dangerous’ attacks on IDF

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hits back at members of the coalition who have assailed the military and security officials in recent months, saying their “outrageous” remarks harm the Israel Defense Forces.

In the recent period, elected officials, including ministers and members of the Knesset, allow themselves to make false, baseless, and irresponsible statements about the IDF, its commanders, and soldiers,” says Gallant at an awards ceremony for outstanding officers.

“These are outrageous statements that endanger the most important asset of the State of Israel, the Israel Defense Forces,” he says.

Gallant’s remarks come after MK Tally Gotliv, a lawmaker in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud party, accused the IDF and Shin Bet security agency of “working for terrorists,” on Friday.

Other lawmakers, including from Likud and the far-right Otzma Yehudit and Religious Zionism parties, have attacked defense officials in recent months, after the military condemned settler violence against Palestinians.