Gantz calls on Netanyahu to retract firing of Defense Minister Gallant

Outgoing defense minister Benny Gantz (left) embraces his successor Yoav Gallant, at military headquarters in Tel Aviv, January 1, 2023. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)
Outgoing defense minister Benny Gantz (left) embraces his successor Yoav Gallant, at military headquarters in Tel Aviv, January 1, 2023. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)

National Unity party leader Benny Gantz — a former defense minister and former IDF chief of staff — says it is irresponsible for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to leave Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hanging in limbo between being fired and not fired.

Netanyahu announced last week that he was firing Gallant after the defense minister held a press conference calling for the halt of government legislation on the judicial overhaul. A day later, Netanyahu himself announced a pause on the legislation, and has yet to send an official letter of dismissal to Gallant — but has also not retracted the firing.

“It is impossible to come to terms with the fact that the State of Israel, in a complicated and sensitive security situation during the month of Ramadan and under a range of threats and challenges, is being led by a conditional defense minister,” Gantz tweets.

“The time has come for Netanyahu to stop this deadly harm to security, and return Minister Gallant to his post immediately — politics cannot be prioritized over security,” Gantz adds.

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