JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Former Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has announced his resignation from parliament, ending his independent streak within the government.
Gallant, who was fired from the government by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November, had consistently taken a divergent stance on various issues, including the war against Hamas in Gaza and exemptions for ultra-Orthodox Jewish men from serving in the conscript military.
Despite being forced to leave the government, Gallant retained his seat in the Knesset and has continued to voice his dissent, often breaking ranks with Netanyahu and his coalition allies. He even managed to single out Netanyahu’s government plan to reduce the powers of the Supreme Court, which sparked massive protests and ultimately led to the plan being reversed.
The move comes as Gallant and Netanyahu face an international legal challenge, with the International Criminal Court issuing arrest warrants for both leaders, along with a Hamas leader, over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Gaza conflict. Israel, however, believes the court lacks jurisdiction in the matter.