Approximately two months ago, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to dismiss then-Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. This evening (Wednesday), Gallant announced his resignation from the Knesset in a public statement.
“There Are Moments to Pause and Reassess”
“Soon, I will submit my decision to end my role as a Knesset member after 45 years of serving the State of Israel—ten years as a Knesset member and minister in various governments, including two dramatic years as Defense Minister,” Gallant began. “Just as on the battlefield, in public service, there are moments when one must pause, reassess, and choose the direction of action needed to achieve required goals.”
Gallant emphasized his loyalty to the Likud movement: “The path of Likud is my path. I believe in its principles and trust the members and voters of the Likud movement,” he said. “I was a young soldier in the training program for Shayetet 13 when I cast my first vote. I chose Likud, becoming a partner in the 1977 revolution led by Menachem Begin. As a member of the Likud, I will continue to fight for its national, ideological, and Zionist path.”
“Unprecedented Security Challenges”
On judicial reform, Gallant remarked: “At the beginning of my tenure as Defense Minister, during the days of the judicial reform debate, I clarified: we face unprecedented security challenges. I warned that the rift in Israeli society creates a vulnerability that our enemies could exploit. I determined that this is a clear, immediate, and tangible danger to Israel’s security.”
“We Must Ensure Conscription of All Obligated Citizens”
Gallant also addressed the draft law, explaining that during his tenure as Defense Minister, he recognized the conscription of ultra-Orthodox individuals as not merely a social issue but a critical security and military necessity: “The IDF needs every fighter, male or female, both now and in the foreseeable future. Conscripts will be required to serve longer periods and face life-threatening missions in various arenas. Reservists will also be called to serve for extended periods. To significantly ease the burden on reservists, we must ensure that all those obligated to serve are enlisted—secular, religious, and ultra-Orthodox alike.”
Reflecting on the Ongoing War
In concluding his remarks, the former Defense Minister reflected on the heavy toll of the ongoing war: “The military achievements come at an unbearable price. Thousands of soldiers, men and women, as well as civilians, have paid with their lives, bodies, and souls. I carry the memory of the fallen with pain and longing. I commit to continuing all efforts to bring our kidnapped sons and daughters back home.”
Gallant ended his speech with the words: “I shall return.”
