Opposition leaders from across Israel’s political spectrum blasted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday for firing his defence minister, saying it threatened national security at a time of war.
At a joint news conference in Jerusalem, they accused Netanyahu of putting his own political interests before the country’s following his decision the day before to dismiss Yoav Gallant.
“He had the choice between disgrace and war, and he chose disgrace,” said former prime minister Yair Lapid, voicing outrage at the move as Israel faces military pressures on multiple fronts.
“Our soldiers cannot trust him. The citizens of Israel cannot trust him. Yesterday the whole State of Israel saw” that, he said of Netanyahu.
Leading opposition figure Benny Gantz, who quit Netanyahu’s government in June over its lack of a post-war plan for Gaza, called the timing of the move “absolute security negligence”.
“What should our fighters in Lebanon think today, seeing that the minister of defence is fired after he issues conscription orders?” he asked, referring to an order sent Monday for the conscription of 7,000 ultra-Orthodox individuals, a community historically exempted from military service.
The orders came at a time when Israel is struggling to bolster troop numbers, with ground forces deployed to fight Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon.
“We have already seen what our enemies do when they see us torn from the inside,” Gantz told press conference.
Yair Golan of the Avoda Labour party, who also spoke at the conference, called Netanyahu and his government “illegimitate” and urged Israelis “to strike in full”.
“Only if we all decide that we will not show up for work until the elections, only then will the government realise that it does not have the ability to govern.”
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, said Gallant’s dismissal was intended “to enable the legislation of exemptions laws” that would enshrine the ultra-Orthodox community’s exemption from military service.
“It is clear that such a move first of all harms the security of the country and the national strength,” he added.
On Tuesday evening, thousands of Israelis demonstrated in the streets of Tel Aviv against Gallant’s termination, calling on the government to take all necessary steps to repatriate captives held in Gaza.
Following Gallant’s removal, former foreign minister Israel Katz was chosen defence minister, and Gideon Saar was named foreign minister to succeed Katz.
Katz, a long-time Netanyahu ally and supporter, is renowned for his harsh demeanour.
