Yoav Gallant to resign from Israeli parliament

Last Updated on January 4, 2025 7:03 am

Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has decided to resign from parliament, he announced on Wednesday. He has often been in the news for his outspoken views against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and hardline members of his government.

In a televised statement, Gallant said that in public service, like on a battlefield, it is sometimes necessary to stand still, assess the situation and choose a direction to achieve the goal.

Gallant was fired by Netanyahu last November over long-standing differences over the conduct of the war in Gaza. However, he retained his seat in the Knesset as an elected member of parliament.

Gallant has often clashed with Netanyahu and his coalition of far-right and religious parties, including on the controversial issue of exempting ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from mandatory military service.

In March 2023, Netanyahu fired Gallant after he called for the suspension of a controversial government plan to reduce the powers of the Supreme Court. This sparked public protests and Netanyahu reversed his decision.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Gallant, Netanyahu and a Hamas leader on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel has rejected the warrant.