Israeli PM fires defense minister, protests erupt

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Tuesday, citing a "crisis of trust", and replaced him with close ally Israel Katz to lead the country's war in Gaza and Lebanon.

Netanyahu's critics accused him of putting politics ahead of national security at a time when Israel is bracing for Iranian retaliation to its Oct. 26 airstrikes on the Islamic Republic.

After Gallant was fired, protesters in Israel blocked highways and lit bonfires on roads, police said. Clashes between demonstrators and members of the security forces were recorded. 

Anti government #protest across #Israel including #TelAviv #Jerusalem and #Haifa pic.twitter.com/P6AGSOukNH

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The prime minister named Gideon Saar as the new foreign minister in place of Katz.

Gallant and Netanyahu, both in the right-wing Likud party, have clashed for months over the objectives of Israel's 13-month-old war in Gaza against Palestinian militant group Hamas. But the timing of Gallant's dismissal was a surprise, and came as Israel's ally the US held its presidential election.

Israel's campaigns in Gaza and Lebanon have entered new phases following the killing of top commanders in both Hamas and Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. 

Netanyahu said Gallant has made statements that "contradict the decisions of the government and the decisions of the cabinet". In response, Gallant said: "The security of the state of Israel always was and will always remain my life’s mission."

Katz vowed the return of Israel's hostages from Gaza and destruction of Hamas and Hezbollah.

"I accept this responsibility with a sense of mission and holy fear for the security of the State of Israel and its citizens," Katz said on social media platform X.

As foreign minister, Katz barred UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres last month from entering Israel over what he described as a failure to condemn an Iranian missile attack and antisemitic and anti-Israel conduct. In September, he rejected proposals from the US and France for a 21-day ceasefire in Lebanon.

Reports appeared in September that Netanyahu, under pressure from far-right coalition partners, was considering firing Gallant.

Gayil Talshir, a specialist in Israeli politics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, believed the last straw for Netanyahu came this week when Gallant issued 7,000 draft notices for ultra-Orthodox Haredi men, angering those in the government who oppose conscription.

Itamar Ben-Gvir, a minister in Netanyahu's coalition government, praised Tuesday's decision, saying Gallant was "deeply trapped in the conception" that it "is not possible to achieve absolute victory". 

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X, however, that "firing Gallant in the middle of a war is an act of madness."

In Washington, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said Gallant had been an important partner and that it would continue working collaboratively with Katz.

Gallant rose to the rank of general during a 35-year military career.