Israeli Prime Minister Dismisses Defense Minister; Pentagon: Continue To Work Closely With Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced the dismissal of Defense Minister Gantz, citing a “crisis of trust” between them.

The Pentagon referred to Gantz as a “trusted partner” and stated that they will continue to work closely with the next Israeli Defense Minister.

Netanyahu’s video statement on Monday (November 4th) highlighted the productive cooperation between him and Gantz since the recent conflict in Gaza began. However, significant strategic disagreements emerged between the two in recent months.

Netanyahu emphasized the importance of trust between the Prime Minister and Defense Minister during times of war and mentioned that this trust had been lost, with efforts to bridge the differences failing.

He stated that the trust issue between him and Gantz made it impossible to continue their working relationship. Netanyahu announced that Foreign Minister Katz would take over as Defense Minister, with Minister Saar transitioning to the role of Foreign Minister. He expressed confidence that these changes would strengthen the government and the cabinet.

Following this announcement, Gantz took to social media to express that ensuring national security will remain his “life’s mission.”

A Pentagon spokesperson issued a statement on Tuesday, reaffirming the unwavering commitment of the United States to Israel’s security and pledging continued close cooperation with the next Israeli Defense Minister.