Yoav Gallant, Israel’s former Defence Minister, has announced his resignation from parliament after careful consideration of his future in public service. Gallant, who had been at odds with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his far-right allies, made this decision following a turbulent tenure marked by frequent disagreements.
Gallant had been dismissed by Netanyahu in November due to differences over the Gaza conflict. Despite his removal from the government, Gallant had retained his seat in the Knesset. In a televised address, he emphasized the importance of reflection in both military and political service, stating that there are moments when one must reassess their direction to achieve their goals.
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The resignation follows ongoing tensions between Gallant and Netanyahu, particularly over military policies and controversial exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from mandatory military service. Gallant also opposed Netanyahu’s 2023 plan to curtail the powers of Israel’s Supreme Court, a proposal that sparked mass protests and was later reversed.
Currently, Gallant, Netanyahu, and a Hamas leader face arrest warrants from the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the Gaza conflict, charges which Israel has denied.
