June 26, 2026 Categories: Druze / News Briefs / The Knesset
Yoav Gallant Quits Knesset
Israel’s former Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant announced Thursday night that he is resigning from the Knesset. Gallant, a member of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s governing Likud Party, has been a member of the Knesset since 2015 and held several different cabinet portfolios during that time.
Gallant, however, will remain in the Likud Party.
In his announcement, Gallant spoke of his more than three decades of service in the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) where he rose to the rank of major general and reiterated his opposition to the government’s plans to pass a new law making deferments for ultra-orthodox from military service if they study in yeshiva (Tora study academies) permanent.
Netanyahu fired Gallant from his post as defense minister in November, citing disagreements over the conduct of the war in Gaza. Netanyahu tried to fire Gallant before the war, but the leftwing held a major protest which blocked it. However, Gallant said it was because of his opposition to continuing the yeshiva deferments. Though, just as likely, it was because the Likud was possibly going to declare him a rogue MK, which would have prevented him from running in the next Knesset. Replacing Gallant will likely be Abed Afif, a representative of the Druze community.Yoav Gallant submitted his letter of resignation from the Knesset to the Knesset speaker Amir Ohana. The resignation will take effect in 48 hours https://t.co/SBZLb9Gwen pic.twitter.com/k7TT8JhTKG
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