Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends a wreath-laying ceremony marking Holocaust Remembrance Day for the six million Jews killed during World War II, at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial in Jerusalem, May 6, 2024. (Credit: Amir Cohen/Pool/AFP)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly preparing to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant amid disagreements over an imminent offensive in Lebanon, several Israeli media outlets reported Monday. He is reportedly considering appointing center-right MK and former Justice Minister Gideon Saar to the post, according to government sources cited by national broadcaster Kan.
Haaretz said that Netanyahu "is considering the possibility of dismissing Yoav Gallant, because he would oppose a military strike in Lebanon," discussing in parallel the entry of Saar in his place, corroborating information also published in other media.
In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said reports of negotiations with Gideon Saar "are incorrect." Saar also denied the reports, with a spokesperson saying there was "nothing new in this matter."
According to Kan and Channel 13, these rumors come as the head of Israel's Northern Command, Ori Gordin, is pushing for a large-scale attack, with Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi being much more reserved. The defense minister reportedly believes that "this is not the right time" and wants to "give a chance to the efforts being made" to reach a diplomatic solution with Lebanon and a cease-fire and hostage-taking agreement in the Gaza Strip.
'The direction is clear'
Gallant's remarks to his American counterpart Lloyd Austin, reported Monday morning by Haaretz, become more significant in this context.
"The possibility of a settlement of the situation in northern Israel is disappearing," he said, considering that "Hezbollah continues to link itself to Hamas" and that "the direction is clear" with regard to the party.
In a statement released by his office, the Israeli defense minister said he said in a phone call with Austin that Israel "must keep Hezbollah out of southern Lebanon" and ensure that citizens of northern Israel can return home. Gallant also assured that the Israeli military would continue to work by all means to destroy Hamas and bring the hostages held by Hamas home.
Disagreements are not uncommon between the Israeli prime minister and his defense minister since the former had already tried to dismiss the latter in March 2023 due to his criticism of the government's judicial overhaul. On Aug. 31, the American channel CNN revealed, based on several reports from Israeli media, a "fierce argument" between the two personalities on the conditions of a hostage-taking and cease-fire agreement in Gaza during a meeting of the Israeli security cabinet on the night of Thursday, Aug. 29, to Friday, Aug. 30.
"The two men argued furiously over whether, as part of an agreement, the Israeli army should leave the Philadelphi Corridor, which stretches 14 kilometers along the border between Gaza and Egypt," CNN specified at the time.
This article originally appeared in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.