PM Netanyahu Will Remove Yoav Gallant, Names Foreign Minister Katz And Gideon Sa'ar Called Candidates For Israeli Defense Minister

JAKARYA - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to sack Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, considering appointing Gideon Sa'ar prepared to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and considering appointing New Hope Party leader Gideon Sa'ar instead, Kan reported as citing an official in the prime minister's bureau.

If that doesn't work, Sa'ar will likely accept filling in the pooling of Foreign Ministers, while Israel Katz takes over from the Gallant position, reports Channel 12.

He also claimed that Knesset members from New Hope Ze ev Elkin and Sharren Haskel might be offered ministerial positions, as quoted by The Times of Israel September 17.

The Prime Minister's Office denied negotiations with Sa'ar, while a Sa'ar spokesman claimed there was no "new thing" in the matter.

PM Netanyahu's rumors of replacing Gallant have been circulating for months, with Sa'ar denying since early July he has accepted an offer that will bring him back to the coalition.

When asked about his willingness to become defense minister in the current government, Sa'ar seemed to hint at considering the choice at the time, answering he would not "bint my hands" on the matter.

The move to change the defense minister is considered to be a major surprise to the political landscape and security, especially with the threat of an all-out war between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon.

This is not the first time PM Netanyahu has tried to fire Gallant. The two have had disagreements over a number of government policies and, recently, the handling of the war in Gaza, to the provisions of the possible release of hostages and a ceasefire agreement with the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

In March 2023, Netanyahu sacked Gallant after he cut ties with the government and urged the termination of a highly contested plan to overhaul the justice system. This sparked mass protests, with PM Netanyahu withdrawing his decision.

Sa'ar himself at the time strongly criticized PM Netanyahu for firing Gallant, tweeting that the prime minister was pushing Israel "into a ravine."

"Instead of the prime minister busy with a win over Hamas, repatriating the hostages, with a war against Hezbollah, and allowing residents of the north (who were evacuated) to return to their homes, he was instead busy with despicable political affairs and replaced the defense minister," MP Benny Gantz wrote on social media.

Meanwhile, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who led the ultranationalist party in the Prime Minister Netanyahu coalition, who had been advocated for the replacement of Gallant for months, called for it to be done immediately.

"We have to finish the situation in the north and Gallant is not the right person to lead this," said Ben Gvir, referring to a possible escalation with Hezbollah.