In a speech to the nation, Prime Minister Netanyahu blamed the previous government for the recent escalation of violence. He reappointed Gallant as defense minister.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (Likud) has reinstated Yoav Gallant as Defense Minister. He had dismissed his party colleague on March 26 after Gallant publicly called for a suspension of judicial reforms . Netanyahu himself announced the move the following day
In light of the escalation of recent days, Netanyahu addressed the nation in a speech on Monday. On Thursday, dozens of rockets were fired from Lebanon into northern Israel, the worst shelling since the Second Lebanon War in 2006. The air force responded with attacks on Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon. Israel holds the Palestinian terrorist group, not Hezbollah, responsible for the rocket fire.
On Friday, Palestinians attacked an Israeli vehicle in the West Bank. Two sisters died, and their mother succumbed to her injuries on Monday. In Tel Aviv, an Israeli Arab rammed his car into Italian tourists. One man was killed, and the attacker was shot dead. These attacks were followed by rocket fire from Syria in the Golan Heights, which the air force returned.
Accusations against the opposition
In his address, Netanyahu blamed the opposition and the previous government for the escalation. "Our country is under a terrorist attack," the prime minister said. But it didn't start now. "Under the previous government, the number of terrorist attacks doubled."
The government has shown weakness and thereby emboldened Israel's enemies, Netanyahu added. As an example, he cited the maritime border agreement with Lebanon. The previous government had ceded territory and gas fields to the enemy without receiving any compensation. He mistakenly referred to the Hezbollah militia as the negotiating partner, as reported by the online newspaper "Times of Israel." However, Israel had concluded the agreement with the Lebanese government.
Gallant: "Continuing together with full force"
At the end of his speech, Netanyahu announced that Gallant would remain in office: "We had disagreements, even serious disagreements. But I have decided to put the disputes behind us."
Gallant posted a picture with Netanyahu on Twitter. He wrote: "We will continue together with full force for the security of Israel."
Criticism from the opposition
Representatives of the previous government criticized Netanyahu's speech. Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) said: "Instead of holding a press conference and blaming others for the problems caused by the extremist and failed government, it is time for him and his ministers to stop whining and finally take responsibility."
Lapid served as prime minister from July to December. His predecessor, Naftali Bennett (Yamina), called the speech "shameful" and added: "The agreement was with Lebanon, not with Hezbollah. What Hezbollah is doing now has absolutely no connection to that agreement. Now is the time for leadership, not for blaming others." (Israelnetz)
