Israel, Netanyahu wants to clean up around him and fires everyone –

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to oust Defense Minister Yoav Gallant: “It’s not a question of if, but when,” the website Walla reported, citing sources close to the head of government. The Israeli leader wanted to fire him upon his return from a visit to the US, but had to postpone due to the rocket attack on the village of Majdal Shams in the Golan Heights, which killed 12 Druze children, and the subsequent killing of Hezbollah commander Fouad Shukr and then the assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh.

According to sources in Netanyahu’s circle, after replacing Gallant, the prime minister also intends to relieve Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. The goal is to eliminate those who oppose his handling of the negotiations for the return of hostages in Gaza, who accuse him of jeopardizing the agreement with Hamas for his political survival. As Gallant’s successor as Defense Minister, New Hope leader Gideon Sar is being cited as the favorite, although he has repeatedly denied this, but there is also talk of a possible general cabinet reshuffle to create the appearance of a broader reshuffle of the cards and not a showdown between Gallant and Netanyahu. The two, who have been at loggerheads for a long time, have already found themselves in a similar situation: in March 2023, the prime minister fired him for having publicly criticized the controversial justice reform he was pushing forward, but the vast street protests that broke out forced the head of government to backtrack.