Gallant Must Tell Netanyahu: You Are No Longer Qualified To Serve as Prime Minister

Maariv, Israel, May 25

This week has once again demonstrated the sway of the far-right faction, led by Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, over the Likud party and its feeble leader, Benjamin Netanyahu. As aptly described by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Likud faction meeting: “We are the successors of Begin, not of Ben-Gvir.” The real pillars of Likud—Yoav Gallant, Yuli Edelstein, Miki Zohar, Gila Gamaliel, and others—stand in stark contrast to figures like Shlomo Karhi, Tally Gotliv, and Nissim Vaturi. This week also saw Israel being dragged to an international legal low at the International Criminal Court at The Hague. The man at the center of this legal quagmire is the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim A.A. Khan, a figure whose involvement has only worsened the world’s perception of Israel. While the global attitude toward Israel is indefensible, it’s disheartening that Netanyahu, in a bid for his survival, permits coalition extremists to exacerbate the situation. Beyond the Hague controversy, Netanyahu needs to resign. One can easily picture Gallant having a private moment with him, urging: “Go home, Bibi. You are destroying everything for the sake of your political survival. You endanger national security, ruin the economy, damage foreign relations—especially with the US—and inflict deep societal harm. Israel is just a 76-year-old young nation yearning for a long and prosperous life.” Hopefully, Gallant will be joined by other courageous Knesset members from Likud and potentially by Aryeh Deri and Shas—who, despite everything, seem genuinely concerned about our nation’s future. After confronting Netanyahu, Gallant should step forward in a press conference, either alone or with other brave allies, fully aware of the magnitude of his irreversible act. This would incite resistance from the staunch Netanyahu supporters, but it would give new hope to many others. As Gallant steps up, his life’s journey—his days as a fearless fighter, naval commander, military secretary to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and minister of defense during one of Israel’s most complex periods—will flash before his eyes. He has fought against the odds, often against those above him, instead of focusing entirely on achieving victory. Gallant will reflect on the establishment of the present government led by extremists, driven by a prime minister fearful of losing power. He will recall the fracture caused by the judicial overhaul orchestrated by Netanyahu, Yariv Levin, and Simcha Rothman—a fracture that emboldened enemies to act on October 7. With newfound resolve, he will issue the following dramatic announcement: “Mr. Prime Minister, today I stand here before the nation as the minister of defense of Israel, accountable for the events under my watch. To you, the people of Israel, our fighters, the bereaved families, the hostages and their families, the wounded, and the evacuees: I declare openly and clearly that you, Netanyahu, are no longer fit to serve as prime minister. For Israel’s sake and that of its citizens, retire now. Let capable individuals within Likud take over until new elections can be announced. To dispel any notions of a political coup, I state that I will not seek to fill your position until the elections, and I am uncertain if I will seek it in the future. My sole concern is the security of Israel.” No one is flawless, and Gallant is no exception. But within the Netanyahu and Smotrich government, Gallant remains a beacon of sanity and responsibility. This extreme and dangerous coalition will likely be replaced in upcoming elections by a more moderate majority. For now, Gallant stands firm against a prime minister seemingly leading the nation toward an existential peril for his own survival. Gallant has shown courage repeatedly. Before October 7, he publicly warned that the judicial overhaul and its resultant societal rift endangered Israel’s security—unfortunately, his concerns were validated. He hinted that true responsibility would see Netanyahu held accountable, as Netanyahu once demanded from his predecessor, Ehud Olmert. Gallant also indicated his resistance by refusing to pass the draft exemption law. More recently, he emphasized the need for Netanyahu to plan for the future to prevent endangering soldiers and the country needlessly. His next call for Netanyahu’s resignation might galvanize others and prove decisive. Just as Idit Silman’s resignation from her position led to the collapse of Naftali Bennett’s government, a similar sequence could unfold now. Full disclosure: I know Yoav Gallant well from a past life. I respect his unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. This article reflects my personal views alone. Gallant may face repercussions for his stance, but without his intervention against Netanyahu, our situation would be far graver. Now, he holds the potential to steer us in the right direction and be remembered in history as the savior of Israel. —Memi Peer (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)