LOS ANGELES.–In a surprise but not unexpected move, 74-year-old Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired 65-year-old popular Israeli Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant for insubordination related to the Gaza War. Galllant held strong sympathies to Israeli groups seeking a ceasefire deal with Hamas to bring home what’s left of the remaining hostages, estimated no more than 60 out of 105 still alive. Netanyahu cited differences with Gallant that got in the way of protecting Israeli national security now fighting a multi-front war led by Iran with proxy groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Iraq and Syria, all of which were given orders by Iran’s 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to attack Israel on all fronts. Iran has been joining with direct missile and drone strikes in April and, more recently in October, presenting problems for Netanyahu as the battle with Iran heats up.
Netanyahu said he could not let Gallant’s desire for a ceasefire deal in Gaza to distract other highly focused battle ongoing in Lebanon, Iran, Iraq and Syria. “Over the past few months, this trust has cracked between me and the Minister of Defense. Significant gaps were discovered between me and Gallant in the management of the military campaign, and these gaps were accompanied by statements and actions that contradict the decisions of the government and the decisions of the Cabinet,” Netanyahu told the press. Netanyahu promoted 60-uear-old Foreign Minister Israel Katz to Defense Minister, despite the fact that he has had limited military background dating back decades. “The security of the State of Israel always was, and will always remain, my life’s mission,” Gallant said in statements, realizing his insubordination cost him his job. Netanyahu doesn’t tolerate opposition.
White House officials have been paralyzed on most foreign policy and national security issues since 81-year-old President Joe Biden resigned from the campaign July 21. Since then, Biden has been on the sidelines with 62-year-old Secretary of State Antony Blinken and 47-year-old Jake Sullivan calling the shots. Meanwhile, Netanyahu deals with a multi-front war with Iran directly involved in attacking Israel. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered B-52 Stratofortress bombers and THAAD [Terminal High Altitude Air Defense] systems to Israel to deal with Iran’s direct attacks on Israel. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and others on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee have argued for Biden to order air strikes on Iran’s oil infrastructure and nuclear enrichment facilities. U.S. officials have been paralyzed since Biden dropped out of the 2024 presidential race.
Netanyahu has his detractors blaming him for continuing the Hamas war at the expense of Israeli hostages still in captivity. “Netanyahu is selling out Israel’s security and the IDF’s fighters for [his own] disgraceful political survival . . .” said Yair Lapid, opposition leader. Lapid doesn’t like anything Netanyahu does because he’s from the old school of how Israel has survived since, 1948 never compromising on its own security. Lapid was trusting that she could make peace with Hama before the last Oct. 7, 2023 mastermind Yahya Sinwar massacred over 1,200 Israelis, taking another 250 hostages. Were it not for Netanyahu’s dogged determination to defend Israel, the Oct. 7 casualties would have been far worse. Netahyahu rejects Lapid’s attempts to make peace with the enemy hell-bent on annihilating the Jewish State. Lapid has a problem with Netanyahu’s ultra-orthodox coalition.
Lapid rejects Netanyahu’s ultra-religious governing coalition, all because she doesn’t accept religious exemptions for military service. “The ultra-right wing government prefers the [draft] dodgers over those who serve,” Lapid said. Lapid called on his supporters to take to the streets to protest Netanyahu’s firing of Gallant. “All Zionist patriots to take to the streets tonight in protest,” Lapid said. Lapid knows this is not the time for protests and divisions when Israel faces existential threats to its own survival. Whether liked or not, Israeli citizens give Netanyahu high marks when it comes to Israeli national security. No one thinks that after over a year of war with Hamas in Gaza, Netanyahu can cut a deal to let Hamas remain in Gaza to steal more donor cash and eventually start a future war. Hamas has no intent of changing its mission of destroying Israel, returning the Holy Land to Muslims.
Netanyahu sees the big picture in battling Iran where the Islamic Republic has committed itself of destroying Israel, eventually seeking an A-bomb. Netanyahu sees Iran’s feverish pursuit of weapons grade uranium for only one purpose, building its first nuclear bomb. “The supreme objective that I have set for the IDF and the security services is to prevent Iran from attaining nuclear weapons,” Netanyahu said over the weekend. No one’s at the White House serving as active commander-in-chief while Biden plays a titular president until he leaves office Jan. 20, 2025. Netanyahu needs a real partner in the next president to deal with Iran’s undeniable pursuit of its first A-bomb. With 85-year-old Ayatollah at the helm, there’s no doubt what he would do if given a chance with a nuclear weapon. Netanyahu knows that he cannot take his eye off Israeli national security, not for one second.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
