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By Jon Jackson
News Editor
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, saying "trust cracked" between them.
"In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defense minister," Netanyahu said in a statement. "Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defense minister."
The firing is seen as somewhat of a surprise given Israel is currently at war with the militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah. However, Netanyahu and Gallant have been at odds in recent months over how Israel is conducting the wars.
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Israel's Ongoing Wars
Netanyahu and Gallant appeared to be united in the days following Hamas' October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. The initial Hamas attack on Israel killed around 1,200 Israelis, with hundreds more being taken hostage. Israel's assaults on Gaza have since killed over 43,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials.
Meanwhile, Lebanese officials this week reported more than 3,000 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel began a military response to Hezbollah's missile attacks.
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The rift between Netanyahu and Gallent reportedly grew as the conflicts wore on, with Netanyahu favoring a response that relied more heavily on the military, whereas Gallant pushed for diplomacy.
This summer, Gallant reportedly characterized Netanyahu's talk of "total victory" over Hamas as "nonsense."
Who Is Yoav Gallant?
Gallant is a former general who was appointed Israel's defense minister in 2022. As a government official, Gallant has garnered public support to the extent that when Netanyahu attempted to fire him in March 2023, protesters took to the streets.
After news of his firing was reported on Tuesday, Gallant responded with a brief statement posted on social media.
"The security of the state of Israel always was, and will always remain, my life's mission," he wrote.
Who Will Replace Gallant?
Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz will take over as the country's new defense minister. Katz is a veteran of the cabinet and is considered a loyal ally to Netanyahu. Gideon Saar will take over the foreign affairs position, according to the prime minister's office.
Netanyahu's statement said that Saar's appointment "will enhance the stability of the coalition and the stability of the government, and these are very important at any time, but especially at wartime."
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
Update 11/05/24 2:37 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to include more information.
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