Netanyahu Fires Defense Minister

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on Nov. 5, bringing a longstanding conflict to a head. Netanyahu planned to move Foreign Minister Israel Katz to the defense portfolio and replace him with Gideon Sa’ar, who would be added to the Cabinet. The two had been at odds throughout the war in Gaza, but Netanyahu had held off on firing him. A previous attempt to fire him in March 2023, before the war broke out, sparked widespread street protests after Gallant said the government’s attempts at judicial reform endangered national security. “My highest duty as prime minister of Israel is to safeguard Israel’s security and lead us to a decisive victory,” Netanyahu said in a statement....