This isn’t the first time and probably won’t be the last time that I call for Netanyahu to step down. Likely not the last because it doesn’t seem that he is going anywhere. I have acknowledged the aspects of the Israel-Hamas War that I believe he has navigated well. I have acknowledged the impossible situation he is in, dealing with the competing interests of individual lives (the hostages and their families) and a nation (Israel’s security). I have also watched his press conferences and been impressed with him responding to questions from antagonistic journalists. I also acknowledge that, as Sec. of State Blinken has verified, Netanyahu and his government have accepted every major ceasefire deal while Hamas has not.
But the firing of Yoav Gallant, Minister of Defense, was a dealbreaker for me. Gallant was the member of Netanyahu’s government who had the most solid relationship with members of the US government, specifically Sec. of Defense Lloyd Austin. The two spoke almost daily, and from the press readouts it always seemed to me that Gallant, without wavering from Israel’s interests, commanded Austin’s respect and backing. Theirs was a pivotal relationship when it came to the US supporting Israel in its efforts to secure its borders.
After Israel eliminated the leaders of two of its enemies — Hezbollah’s Hassan Nasrallah and Hamas’ Yahya Sinwar — Gallant said on Oct. 30 that the hostages were the military’s number one priority.
But here we are, two weeks after that announcement. The hostages aren’t home and Gallant is gone.
Netanyahu said he and Gallant were no longer on the same page, that Gallant was sometimes working at cross-purposes. Was Gallant’s Oct. 30 announcement an example?
I don’t get it. Why aren’t the hostages home? Shouldn’t the elimination of Sinwar have ushered in their return? Why have the eliminations of Sinwar and Nasrallah seemingly reignited the conflict, causing a steep increase in Israeli casualties?
Now Netanyahu is seeking a continuance in his corruption trial, citing his inability to prepare for it during wartime — which is exactly what his detractors accuse him of, delaying and expanding the war to avoid standing trial. It’s hard not to see that side of the argument.
I fear that Trump’s re-election will encourage Netanyahu’s refusal to consider other options.
Toward the end of the first Trump administration, it often seemed that Netanyahu was trying to imitate Trump’s insouciant strongman vibe. The firing of Gallant coupled with Netanyahu’s post-election adulation take me to Oct. 6, 2023, when he thought he had everything under control. That’s obviously not a good place for Israel or the Jewish people.
Shana Goldberg may be reached at shana@ijn.com.
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