At the height of a regional war, the Israeli Prime Minister dismisses his Defense Minister. The reason officially given is that “ trust is eroded », Writes Benyamin Netanyahu’s office. The dismissal of Yoav Gallant comes against the backdrop of a resounding affair in Israel: the leak of false documents classified as confidential. And Benyamin Netanyahu would seek to place the blame on his now former Minister of Defense, Israeli analysts believe.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Jerusalem, Sami Boukhelifa
Secret Israeli documents leaked to the press foreigners had an objective: to manipulate public opinion by making it appear that Hamas rejects any truce agreement in Gaza, and therefore refuses the release of the hostages. Who has an interest in orchestrating such a situation? In Israel, eyes are on Benyamin Netanyahu. But justice has yet to prove it. While several of his collaborators have just been arrested, the Israeli Prime Minister, chose to place the blame on his Minister of Defense.
“ The maneuver convinces no one »
“ There are the developments that we know on the fronts of the military conflict in Gaza, in Lebanon. There is Iran which is preparing for a response. And finally, the bomb that falls on us comes neither from Iran, nor from Yemen, nor from Lebanon. It comes from within, explains Yigal Palmor, a former senior Israeli diplomat. Dismissing a Minister of Defense in the middle of war […], we understand that [Netanyahu] wants to reverse the course of things and talk about Yoav Gallant as if he were the one responsible for the leaks. The maneuver convinces no one. »
A maneuver which takes place on the day of the American presidential election. “ It’s not a coincidencesays the former diplomat. There is no doubt that this is a careful calculation. On election day, the political apparatus is paralyzed in the United States, in terms of foreign policies. [Netanyahu choisit ce moment], because the United States cannot react. »
The Israeli street reacted. Several protests took place across the country. But ” It is not clear that the mobilization will continue. People are exhausted by the permanent standoff with the government », concludes Yigal Palmor.