Israel’s new Defence Minister Israel Katz, recognized for his abrasive model, is a long-time ally and loyalist of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
In a dramatic announcement late on Tuesday, Netanyahu sacked defence minister Yoav Gallant over what he stated was a breakdown in belief through the Gaza conflict in opposition to Hamas.
“Over the previous few months that belief has eroded. In gentle of this, I made a decision in the present day to finish the time period of the defence minister,” Netanyahu stated in a press release issued by his workplace.
The assertion added that he had appointed Overseas Minister Israel Katz to take Gallant’s place.
Katz, 69, labelled by Israeli media as a “bulldozer” for his direct and typically abrasive model, is taken into account each shut and dependable to Netanyahu.
After his appointment, Katz vowed to defeat Israel’s enemies and obtain the nation’s conflict targets.
“We are going to work collectively to guide the defence institution to victory over our enemies and to attain the targets of the conflict: the return of all hostages as a very powerful ethical mission, the destruction of Hamas in Gaza, the defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the containment of Iranian aggression, and the secure return of the residents of the north and south to their properties,” he stated in a press release.
A member of Netanyahu’s ruling Likud celebration, wherein he was beforehand president of the celebration’s conference, Katz has held a number of cupboard roles going again to 2003.
– Assaults on the UN –
As overseas minister, Katz drew worldwide consideration for his pointed assaults on world leaders and worldwide organisations that had expressed opposition to Israeli army actions, significantly in Gaza.
He spearheaded a diplomatic battle in opposition to the United Nations company for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, and final month Israel’s parliament banned the company from working in Israel and occupied east Jerusalem.
On Monday, Katz instructed his ministry to formally notify the United Nations that Israel was cancelling its agreements with UNRWA.
Final month Katz triggered outrage when he declared UN chief Antonio Guterres “persona non grata in Israel” and wrote in a submit on X that he would ban him from getting into the nation.
Earlier than serving as overseas minister, Katz’s most notable function was as minister of transport.
He spent a decade within the submit from 2009-2019, however had additionally held the vitality and finance portfolios in numerous Netanyahu cupboards.
Aviv Bushinsky, a political commentator and Netanyahu’s former chief of workers, instructed AFP that Katz was more likely to be extra in tune with the prime minister than his predecessor Gallant.
“I can not recall an incident when Israel Katz was in opposition to Netanyahu with something,” Bushinsky stated.
“It’s true he doesn’t have any army expertise, however he was an excellent transport minister and has sat within the cupboard for a few years,” he added.
“Moreover, Netanyahu thinks he can run the present himself — and he has managed to run the present regardless that Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, two generals, give up the federal government.”
Born within the coastal metropolis of Ashkelon, Katz has been a distinguished participant in Israeli politics since changing into a member of parliament, the Knesset, in 1998.
As we speak he’s among the many highest-ranking ministers within the Likud celebration.
Married with two kids, Katz is a resident of Moshav Kfar Ahim in southern Israel.
