Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose leadership credentials, judgment and popularity have taken a big hit since Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attacks on Israel and the subsequent wars in Gaza and Lebanon, can now breathe a little easier. This week has been a godsend for the Israeli premier. On Nov. 5, Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, after nearly two years of internal bickering between the two men (who also happen to be members of the same political party). And on the same day, the United States again elected Donald Trump as president.
If Netanyahu were able to vote, he would have gladly cast it for Trump, not necessarily because he likes the man but because he believes a Trump administration would be far more deferential toward Israel than Kamala Harris would have been.
Netanyahu wasted no time congratulating the former president (and now president-elect) for what he labeled “history’s greatest comeback,” by tweeting a picture of himself, his wife and Trump for good measure.
Gallant’s dismissal was only a matter of time. Within the government, the former Israeli general proved to be the biggest thorn in Netanyahu’s side. He repeatedly questioned Netanyahu’s war strategy against Hamas, emphasized the necessity of broadening the Israeli army’s draft pool to the ultra-Orthodox community and repeatedly told anyone who’d listen that Israel needed to plan for post-war scenarios in Gaza.
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