At a joint news conference in Jerusalem, opposition leaders accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of putting his own political interests before the country's

Israel opposition slams Netanyahu for sacking Gallant

· RTE.ie

Opposition leaders from across Israel's political spectrum have blasted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for firing his defence minister, saying it threatened national security at a time of war.

At a joint news conference in Jerusalem, they accused Mr Netanyahu of putting his own political interests before the country's following his decision the day before to dismiss Yoav Gallant.

"He had the choice between disgrace and war, and he chose disgrace," said former prime minister Yair Lapid, voicing outrage at the move as Israel faces military pressures on multiple fronts.

"Our soldiers cannot trust him. The citizens of Israel cannot trust him. Yesterday, the whole State of Israel saw" that, he said of Mr Netanyahu.

Leading opposition figure Benny Gantz, who quit Mr Netanyahu's government in June over its lack of a post-war plan for Gaza, called the timing of the move "absolute security negligence".

Israel's sacked defence minister Yoav Gallant (right) is a former general who shaped the war against Hamas in Gaza but fell out of favour with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left) over the future of the campaign.

"What should our fighters in Lebanon think today, seeing that the minister of defence is fired after he issues conscription orders?" he asked, referring to an order sent Monday for the conscription of 7,000 ultra-Orthodox individuals, a community historically exempted from military service.

The orders came at a time when Israel is struggling to bolster troop numbers, with ground forces deployed to fight Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon.


Read more: How Israel's sacked defence minister Gallant fell out of Netanyahu's good books


"We have already seen what our enemies do when they see us torn from the inside," Mr Gantz told press conference.

Yair Golan of the Avoda Labour party, who also spoke at the conference, called Mr Netanyahu and his government "illegitimate" and urged Israelis "to strike in full".

A man wearing a Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu mask at a protest in Tel Aviv

"Only if we all decide that we will not show up for work until the elections, only then will the government realise that it does not have the ability to govern," he said.

Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, said Mr Gallant's dismissal was intended "to enable the legislation of exemptions laws" that would enshrine the ultra-Orthodox community's exemption from military service.

Thousands of Israelis took to Tel Aviv's streets to protest against defence minister Yoav Gallant dismissal

"It is clear that such a move first of all harms the security of the country and the national strength," he added.

Thousands of Israelis took to Tel Aviv's streets to protest against Mr Gallant's dismissal last night, demanding the government do everything in its power to bring home hostages held in Gaza.

Former foreign minister Israel Katz was named defence minister after Mr Gallant's dismissal and Gideon Saar was appointed foreign minister to replace Mr Katz.

Mr Katz, known for his abrasive style, is a long-time ally and loyalist of Mr Netanyahu.