Netanyahu Replaces Defense Minister Gallant with Hardliner Katz Amid Escalating Conflicts.
In a move that signals a further hardening of Israel’s stance, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and replaced him with Israel Katz, a longtime Likud party ally seen as a more subservient and hardline figure.
The decision comes as Israel wages an ongoing military campaign in Gaza and Lebanon, with the conflict showing no signs of abating.
Gallant, whose relationship with the long-serving Prime Minister had become increasingly adversarial, has been replaced by Katz, a 69-year-old politician known for his unyielding positions.
Katz’s hardline approach is further underscored by his social media post following Donald Trump‘s 2024 presidential election victory, in which he expressed the desire to “strengthen the US-Israel alliance, bring back the hostages, and stand firm to defeat the axis of evil led by Iran.”
A longtime Likud party stalwart, Katz has held various ministerial portfolios since 2003, including high-profile positions in the agriculture, transportation, intelligence, energy, finance, and foreign affairs sectors.
Katz’s political history is marked by several controversies, including a 2007 police investigation into fraud and breach of trust allegations during his time as agriculture minister, which was ultimately closed by the then-attorney general.
Analysts suggest that Katz’s ascension to the defense ministry could portend further displacement and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as the potential depopulation of southern Lebanon, aligning with Netanyahu’s vision for the region.
As the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon continue to escalate, the appointment of the hardline Katz to the defense ministry signals a significant shift in Israel’s approach, with potentially far-reaching consequences for the region and the international community’s efforts to broker a peaceful resolution.
