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Knesset approves appointments of Katz, Sa’ar as top ministers

Israel Katz became the Jewish state’s defense minister, while Sa’ar assumes the role of foreign minister.

Israel Katz
Then-Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz, now the defense minister, waits in Jerusalem for the arrival of British Foreign Minister David Lammy and French Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné on Aug. 16, 2024. Photo by Yonatan Sindel/Flash90.

The Knesset on Thursday night approved the appointment of Israel Katz as defense minister, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Yoav Gallant from the position earlier this week.

The legislature also approved Gideon Sa’ar’s appointment to replace Katz as the Jewish state’s foreign minister.

The Knesset voted 58-0 in favor of the appointments, with opposition lawmakers boycotting the session.

Netanyahu’s firing of Gallant was legal, Israel’s attorney general informed the country’s High Court on Thursday.

In a statement released by his office on Tuesday, Netanyahu said that the issue was a loss of trust between himself and Gallant.

“Defense Minister Gallant and I had substantial disagreements on the management of the military campaign, disagreements which were accompanied by public statements and actions that contravened the decisions of the Cabinet and the Security Cabinet,” said Netanyahu.

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