On November 10th, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed his Defense Minister, Naftali Bennett, sparking widespread protests across the country. The move came as a surprise to many, as Bennett had been a key ally of Netanyahu’s in recent years.
Bennett, who is the leader of the right-wing Yamina party, had been serving as Defense Minister since November 2019. During his tenure, he oversaw several major military operations, including the assassination of Islamic Jihad commander Baha Abu al-Ata in November 2019 and the bombing campaign against Hamas targets in Gaza in February 2020.
Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Bennett was reportedly motivated by a disagreement over the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bennett had been pushing for stricter lockdown measures to combat the spread of the virus, while Netanyahu was more focused on reopening the economy.
The move was met with widespread criticism from both the political opposition and members of Netanyahu’s own Likud party. Many saw it as a sign of instability within the government and a reflection of Netanyahu’s increasingly authoritarian tendencies.
Protests erupted in several cities across Israel, with demonstrators calling for Netanyahu’s resignation and accusing him of putting his own political interests ahead of the country’s well-being. Some protesters also expressed support for Bennett, who is seen as a rising star in Israeli politics.
The dismissal of Bennett is just the latest in a series of political upheavals in Israel. Netanyahu has been facing mounting pressure in recent months over his handling of the pandemic and his ongoing corruption trial. His coalition government has also been plagued by infighting and disagreements over key policy issues.
Despite the protests, Netanyahu has shown no signs of backing down. He has already appointed a new Defense Minister, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot, and has vowed to continue leading the country through these challenging times.
However, many Israelis are growing increasingly disillusioned with their leadership and are calling for a change. As the country continues to grapple with the pandemic and other pressing issues, it remains to be seen how this political turmoil will ultimately play out.
