Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday called Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s criticism of Israel’s prosecution of the war “puzzling.”
Hebrew media reported on Sunday that hours before Israel struck Iran overnight Friday, Gallant delivered a harshly worded letter to Netanyahu, as well as to most cabinet ministers and senior military officials, including from the Mossad intelligence agency and Israel Security Agency.
According to the reports, Gallant warned in the letter that Israel’s war effort had become unfocused and needed to be reassessed based on regional developments over the past year.
Gallant argued that Jerusalem was fighting the war with an “outdated compass” based on the official war goals set shortly after the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023.
“Minister Gallant’s letter is very puzzling. There is only one compass, which is the war objectives as set by the Cabinet. The objectives are constantly reviewed and were recently expanded,” read the brief PMO statement on Sunday.
Last month, Jerusalem added the safe return of displaced residents to the north to the list of war goals.
The government’s other stated war aims include the destruction of Hamas as a military and governing force in the Gaza Strip, ensuring that it can no longer threaten the Jewish state, and securing the return of all hostages taken by Hamas during its Oct. 7, 2023 cross-border attack.
“Significant developments in the war, especially Israel and Iran trading direct blows, raise the necessity of holding a discussion and updating the war’s goals with a comprehensive look,” wrote Gallant, as quoted by the Times of Israel.
Gallant reportedly wants to add the following goals: “Preventing an outbreak of violence by thwarting terrorism” in Judea and Samaria, “deterrence and keeping Iran out of the war,” and in Gaza “establishing a reality with no military threat, preventing the growth of terror capabilities, return of all the hostages and promotion of an alternative to the Hamas government.”
The letter was sent to all Cabinet ministers except National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has advocated for Gallant’s removal from office.
According to a Sunday report by Kan News, Netanyahu told the Haredi partners in his coalition that he would fire Gallant after Israel attacked Iran.
The public broadcaster had previously reported that Netanyahu planned to replace Gallant with New Hope chairman Gideon Sa’ar, who has since joined the wartime government as a minister without portfolio.
Ultra-Orthodox members of the coalition have been at odds with Gallant over his opposition to legislation that would exempt thousands of yeshiva students from military service. The religious parties have threatened to collapse the government if the proposed legislation isn’t passed.
The debate on the bill was expected to resume when the Knesset returns from its holiday recess on Monday.
Kan quoted senior members of the Haredi parties as saying that they “could work better” with Sa’ar on the draft exemption bill with him as defense minister.