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Israel’s Knesset members attack Minister Yoav Gallant – Israeli Politics

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Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (Likud) gave a security briefing to cabinet members on Sunday, in which he reportedly urged them to agree to measures proposed by the Defense Ministry to extend compulsory service in the Israel Defense Forces, increase the number of reserve service days per year and raise the minimum age for reservists by five years.

Several ministers criticized Gallant during the briefing for his insistence on passing a Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) bill with “broad support.” Gallant had stated several months ago that the Defense Ministry would only support such a bill if it was approved by MP Benny Gantz’s National Unity Party, which was part of the government at the time. Gantz has since left the government, but Gallant has not retracted his insistence on “broad support.”

In addition, Gallant was the only member of the coalition to vote against a decision by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in late May to take up a version of a Haredi bill passed during the Lapid-Bennett government in 2022. Gallant, along with the opposition, argued that the bill was not relevant because it did not take into account security needs after October 7.

Disagreements on the Haredi bill

A spokesman for Karhi confirmed that Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi asked Gallant at Sunday’s briefing why he did not insist on the same “comprehensive agreement” regarding the extension of service in the Israel Defense Forces.

According to KAN News, the defense minister responded that “there is a difference between the need to draft soldiers and the need to exempt people from service.” Gallant also reportedly rebuked the ministers for their opposition to the measures to extend Israeli service.

According to KAN, Netanyahu accused Gallant of “the height of cynicism and politicization” of the matter. His insistence on Gantz’s approval was essentially an attempt to overthrow the government. Gantz’s party “does not want to draft Haredim – it wants a crisis.”

DESPITE the Israeli Defense Forces’ calculation that they need 7,000 new soldiers, Monday’s vote to revive an older Haredi bill was passed by a majority of Knesset members. (Source: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Netanyahu reportedly added: “Overthrowing the government with the (Haredim) bill would prevent the release of the hostages,” to which Gallant, according to his spokesman, responded: “The political attempt to link the release of the hostages to an exemption of the Haredim from military service is dangerous and irresponsible.”

Gantz responded to the prime minister’s comments in a video message: “Mr. Prime Minister, I say this very clearly: An Israeli services plan – which will bring about real change, which will bring us closer to equality, which will protect the People’s Army and Israeli society for generations to come, and which will help us in the difficult and long war in which we need many more fighters and soldiers – is an urgent national necessity.

“A law providing for an exception in time of war is for you an urgent necessity of coalition and petty politics at the expense of those who are in service and (it also comes at the expense of) national security.”

Gallant has publicly accused Netanyahu of incorporating politics into national security decisions. Four Knesset members from the Likud party wrote a letter to Netanyahu last week demanding that Gallant be fired before a war against Hezbollah in Lebanon. The four are MPs Osher Shkalim, Ariel Kalner, Tally Gotliv and Keti Shitrit. Shitrit later withdrew her signature.



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