Rift in Israeli Government Over War Strategy
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel publicly criticized his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on Monday following reports from Israeli news media that Gallant had undermined Netanyahu’s ambitious goal of achieving “total victory” over Hamas, the militant Palestinian organization that Israel has been confronting in Gaza.
This exchange highlights a significant rift within Netanyahu’s right-wing coalition government, reflecting broader divisions in Israeli society regarding the ongoing war, which has now entered its 11th month.
According to a report by Ynet, a centrist Israeli news outlet, Gallant expressed his skepticism about Netanyahu’s “total victory” mantra during a closed-door meeting with members of the Israeli Parliament’s foreign affairs and defense committee. A committee member, who requested anonymity, confirmed that Gallant described the slogan as “nonsense.”
In response to these remarks, Netanyahu’s office released a strongly worded statement, asserting, “When Gallant adopts the anti-Israel narrative, he undermines the prospects of reaching a hostage release agreement.” The statement emphasized, “Israel has only one path forward: to achieve total victory, which entails dismantling Hamas’s military and governance capabilities and securing the release of our hostages. This victory is attainable.”
Netanyahu’s office further clarified that the objective of achieving this victory was the directive of both the prime minister and the cabinet, a mandate that every member of the government, including Gallant, is expected to uphold.
In an apparent effort to mitigate tensions and downplay the disagreement, Gallant took to social media on Monday, stating, “During a security briefing I provided to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, I reiterated my commitment to achieving the war’s objectives and pledged to continue fighting until Hamas is dismantled and our hostages are safely returned.”
