Israel’s notorious former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has suddenly disappeared into obscurity. The man who served in his country’s military for about 35 years, in politics for nearly 10, and oversaw major wars, including the ongoing genocide in Gaza, has retreated quickly from the headlines and political significance.

In his resignation letter, Gallant accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — who fired him on 5 November — and his replacement as Minister of Defence, Israel Katz, of endangering the country’s security. However, he kept his criticism focused largely on the issue of military conscription for Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Jewish community.

Gallant’s refusal to offer an exemption to Israel’s Haredim had always been a source of tension between him and his domineering boss. Yet, the political weight of that issue seems to have been inflated greatly by all parties, each with a political purpose in mind.

Gallant wanted to signal to the more secular and nationalistic factions within the Likud Party — the largest in Netanyahu’s ruling coalition — that he advocated for a fairer and more equitable Israel. Netanyahu, who heads the Likud, wanted to appeal to the more extreme segments of the party and to his deeply religious coalition partners.

Considering Israel’s shift towards the religious extreme right, it was only natural for Netanyahu to win this round.

Gallant, who as of 1 January also resigned from the Israeli parliament (the Knesset), made his resignation letter largely about the Likud, and less about Israel........

© Middle East Monitor