Netanyahu Furious At Defense Minister As Cracks In War Cabinet Deepen

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant refused to support Netanyahu's proposed legislation to exempt the ultra-orthodox from conscription to the army

The relationship between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant reached a new low this week over a disagreement about efforts to pass a new law to exempt Israel's Haredi (ultra-orthodox) Jews from military conscription, Israel Hayom reported on 22 March.

The dispute occurred during Thursday's weekly cabinet meeting, in which Netanyahu, Shas party leader Aryeh Deri, and Justice Minister Yariv Levin asked Gallant to support the legislation.

Gallant refused, saying he would only support legislation supported by Benny Gantz, a war cabinet member and rival to Netanyahu. Gantz has refused to attend cabinet meetings to discuss the law and angered Netanyahu after traveling to Washington and London earlier this month on visits the prime minister refused to authorize.

According to Israel Hayom, Netanyahu offered Defense Minister Gallant a proposal: "I understand that this is a law that you are supposed to bring and be signed by as the Minister of Defense, but I will not let you absorb the fire alone. I will bring the proposal as prime minister, and you will only support it."

However, Gallant refused and “suggested that the Prime Minister be the one to bring the bill and he [Gallant] would oppose it. This upset everyone in the room.”

“Netanyahu, Deri, and Levin are furious. They see Gallant as someone who does politics at their expense.”

The Israeli paper noted that relations between Gallant and Netanyahu were poor at the start of the war on Gaza but have never been worse than now. However, Netanyahu can't sack Gallant amid the war, as this would result in a public backlash.

In January, Gallant accused Netanyahu of harming Israel’s security, while Netanyahu banned Gallant from holding meetings with the heads of Israel’s security and intelligence agencies to discuss a new prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

🔗SOURCE ➡️ The Cradle

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11/12 — After Netanyahu finished his speech, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Benny Gantz, a member of the War Cabinet, ignored Netanyahu and turned their backs to him

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