Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant leaves politics

(CLO) Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who has repeatedly disagreed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration, announced his departure from the Israeli Parliament today.

Mr Gallant was dismissed by Prime Minister Netanyahu in November 2024 after a series of long-standing disagreements over the war against Hamas in Gaza. However, he remained in parliament until he decided to resign.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant meets with US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken in Jerusalem on January 31, 2023. Photo: Ron Przysucha/ US Gov.

In a televised speech, Mr. Gallant shared: "As on the battlefield, in the public service, there are times when it is necessary to stop, evaluate and choose a direction to achieve the goal."

Mr. Gallant has repeatedly publicly disagreed with Prime Minister Netanyahu and his extreme right-wing coalition, particularly over military service exemptions for men from the Orthodox Jewish community – a highly controversial issue in Israel.

In March 2023, Mr. Gallant was also dismissed by Prime Minister Netanyahu after he called for a halt to the Israeli government's plan to reduce the powers of the Supreme Court. This decision led to large-scale protests, forcing Netanyahu to reverse the decision to fire him.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Mr Gallant, Netanyahu and a Hamas leader, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict in Gaza.

Cao Phong (according to Reuters, CBS)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cuu-bo-truong-quoc-phong-israel-yoav-gallant-roi-bo-chinh-truong-post328618.html