Israel’s newly appointed Defence Minister, Israel Katz, is recognized for his confrontational approach and has been a steadfast ally of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for many years.

In a significant move announced late Tuesday, Netanyahu dismissed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, citing a loss of trust during the ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza.

“Trust has diminished over the past few months. Consequently, I have decided to terminate the defence minister’s position,” Netanyahu stated in an official release.

The announcement also confirmed that Foreign Minister Israel Katz would succeed Gallant.

At 69 years old, Katz has been characterized by Israeli media as a “bulldozer” due to his forthright and often tough demeanor, and he is regarded as a close confidant of Netanyahu.

Following his appointment, Katz pledged to confront Israel’s adversaries and fulfill the nation’s military objectives.

“We will collaborate to guide the defence establishment towards victory over our foes and to accomplish the war’s objectives: the safe return of all hostages, which is our foremost moral duty, the eradication of Hamas in Gaza, the defeat of Hezbollah in Lebanon, the containment of Iranian threats, and the safe return of residents from the north and south to their homes,” he declared in a statement.

A member of Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party, Katz has served in various cabinet positions since 2003 and previously held the presidency of the party’s convention.

Criticism of the UN

During his tenure as foreign minister, Katz garnered global attention for his sharp criticisms of world leaders and international organizations that opposed Israeli military operations, especially in Gaza.

He led a diplomatic campaign against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and last month, the Israeli parliament prohibited the agency from operating in Israel and occupied East Jerusalem.

On Monday, Katz directed his ministry to officially inform the United Nations of Israel’s decision to terminate its agreements with UNRWA.

Last month, Katz sparked controversy by labeling UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as “persona non grata” in Israel and stated in a post on X that he would prevent Guterres from entering the country.

Before taking on the role of foreign minister, Katz was primarily recognized for his tenure as the minister of transport. He held this position for a decade, from 2009 to 2019, and also managed the energy and finance portfolios in various cabinets under Netanyahu.

Aviv Bushinsky, a political analyst and former chief of staff to Netanyahu, remarked to AFP that Katz is expected to align more closely with the prime minister compared to his predecessor, Gallant.

“I cannot recall a time when Israel Katz opposed Netanyahu on any issue,” Bushinsky noted.

“While it is true that he lacks military experience, he excelled as a transport minister and has been a long-standing member of the cabinet,” he continued.

“Moreover, Netanyahu believes he can effectively manage affairs on his own – and he has succeeded in doing so, even after the departures of Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, both of whom are generals.”

Katz, who hails from the coastal city of Ashkelon, has been a significant figure in Israeli politics since he joined the Knesset in 1998.

Currently, he ranks among the top ministers in the Likud party.

He is married with two children and resides in Moshav Kfar Ahim in southern Israel.