Analysts: Gallant’s dismissal deepens the rift in Israel and prolongs the war policy

Occupied Jerusalem- Analysts believe that the dismissal of the Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant By the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu It deepens the rift in society and increases political polarization, a step that would prolong the war on the Gaza and Lebanon fronts.

The dismissal of the Defense Minister came as an effort by Netanyahu to ensure the stability of the coalition and maintain his government until the end of its term in October 2026, in light of Gallant’s insistence on recruiting Haredim In the Israeli army, which suffers from a shortage of human capabilities as the war continues.

Gallant’s dismissal at the height of the multi-front war, and its possible expansion into a regional war involving Iran, was met with strong criticism from analysts and opposition party leaders, who accused Netanyahu of endangering Israeli national security for the sake of his personal and party interests and ensuring his survival in the prime minister’s chair.

This step brought back to the Israeli political scene Netanyahu’s decision in March 2023 when he dismissed Gallant, who expressed his reservations about the government’s plan to make amendments to the judiciary, and warned at the time of the repercussions and impact of the expansion of protests in the Israeli street on the plan to weaken the judiciary and the military institution, which may lead to… To harm Israeli national security.

New system

Amir Ben David, a member of the editorial board of the “Times of Israel” website, described Netanyahu’s dismissal of Gallant as a “new internal system,” referring to Netanyahu’s efforts to impose facts on the Israeli political scene that would enable him to remain in the prime minister’s chair for as long as possible.

Ben David believes that Gallant’s dismissal paves the way for Netanyahu to tighten his control over the military establishment through his appointment Yisrael Katz Minister of Defense, as this appointment is seen as a formality, because it will keep Netanyahu with the final say on everything related to the course of the war and its development.

Many of Netanyahu’s supporters are trying – according to what the Israeli writer says – to describe Gallant’s dismissal as “a smart and brilliant move by the political magician, who was able to thwart the threat of the coalition’s disintegration and distract the public’s attention from the many scandals that began to spread regarding his office’s conduct in the war.” He did this while the eyes of the entire world were on the dramatic elections in the United States.

Ben David adds that all these details and justifications are nothing but “a smokescreen hiding simple and depressing facts that the Prime Minister of Israel, in order to serve his political needs and his personal survival in power, is ready to gamble with the fate and security of the country.”

Netanyahu’s power

Yossi Verter, party affairs analyst at Haaretz newspaper, commented on Gallant’s dismissal by saying, “What Netanyahu did raises real terror in Israel on a level we have not yet known. The prime minister is busy trying him on corruption charges, and thwarting the investigation into the failures of what happened on October 7.” October 2023, as well as an investigation Shin Bet In stealing secret information related to the Gaza war and leaking it to foreign newspapers.

The party affairs analyst believes that Gallant’s dismissal, which would strengthen Netanyahu’s influence over the political scene and the military and security establishment, paves the way for other dismissals that may include Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, and government judicial advisor Gali Beharav Meara, whom Netanyahu is looking at. They are a threat to his government’s mandate, and an obstacle to his policies regarding the war and the exchange deal.

The party affairs analyst described Netanyahu’s approach and the measures he is taking at the height of the war as “insanity,” pointing out that these measures indicate “the way the dictator works,” estimating that Netanyahu is employing war goals in order for his government to survive until October 2026. Leading Israel towards dictatorship.

Werther explained that the first time Gallant was dismissed, in March last year, was because he warned of “a clear and immediate danger to Israel’s security if the judicial coup continues,” and the second time he was dismissed because of thwarting Netanyahu’s plan to circumvent the law, which ensures the continued evasion of dozens of people. Thousands of Haredi Jews from military service.

Real danger

In a review of the repercussions of Gallant’s dismissal on the course of the war, Amos Harel, a military analyst in Haaretz newspaper, believes that this move by Netanyahu threatens Israel’s national security and places the leaders of the security and military services facing a terrible dilemma, 13 months after Hamas’s sudden attack on the settlements “in the Gaza Strip.” “And after Israel realized the depth of the societal rift and the growing political polarization in it.

Harel says, “At a time when the chances of war are at their peak and far from being resolved, Netanyahu is renewing his direct threat to democracy,” estimating that dismissing Gallant will not be the last step that Netanyahu is planning, which raises questions about the prime minister’s eligibility to continue to hold his position in light of the war. The leaders of the security and military services must confront the measures that may affect them in the future.

In an analytical reading of the extent of the impact of Gallant’s dismissal on the security situation and the war on Gaza and Lebanon, military analyst in the newspaper “Israel Today” Yoav Limor anticipates the dangers facing national security, saying that “the dismissal of the Minister of Defense at the height of the war is an unprecedented event, and is considered a blow to Israeli society and the soldiers who They paid the price of war.”

From the point of view of the military analyst, large segments of Israeli society, as well as the army and security services, have become fully convinced that “the personal and political whims of the Prime Minister are what control the course of the battles and determine the goals of the war, and not Israel’s security needs.”

He pointed out that Gallant’s dismissal proves once again, as in previous events during the war specifically, “that if Netanyahu finds himself forced to choose between Israel’s interest and security and his personal and political interest, then he chooses himself, as he continues to evade and refrain from returning the kidnapped people, as well as evading.” Who bears responsibility for the failure of October 7, and for preventing the Al-Aqsa flood?