Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Monday that Israel’s war strategy lacks clear direction and needs updated objectives.
In a confidential letter obtained by Israel’s Channel 13 and independently confirmed by The Jerusalem Post, Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant strongly rebuked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and asserted that under Netanyahu’s leadership, Israel’s war strategy lacks clear direction and needs updated objectives.
In the letter, Gallant also expressed serious concerns that while the threats to Israel are increasing from every front, the war’s objectives have not kept pace, which has led to potential missteps in cabinet decision-making.
“The situation in which we find ourselves operating without a reinforced compass and without updated objectives for the war impairs the conduct of the campaign and the cabinet’s decision-making,” Gallant stated, emphasizing that escalating confrontations, particularly with Iran, require a comprehensive review of war objectives across multiple fronts.
What did Gallant propose instead?
In the letter, Gallant also proposed solutions to the status quo. His proposals included specific targets for different fronts of the conflict.
In Gaza, for example, Gallant proposed creating a non-threatening environment, stopping the growth of terrorists, ensuring the return of all hostages, and fostering a civilian government model to replace Hamas. For Lebanon, he suggested improving security conditions for the safe return of northern residents.
Regarding Iran, Gallant noted that maintaining deterrence against Iran with the aim of preventing the escalation of bilateral and direct conflicts should be the first option on the table for Israel.
And on the West Bank, Gallant said suppression of potential violence through counter-terrorist operations against terrorists must be a priority for the Israeli military.
According to the report by Israel’s Channel 13, Gallant sent the letter to Netanyahu and the security cabinet hours before Israel launched an airstrike on Iran on Saturday but didn’t get a response until Israel carried out the attack.
The report further noted that Gallant’s letter was distributed to the inner cabinet but not to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The Prime Minister’s Office dismissed Gallant’s concerns as “extremely puzzling,” asserting that “one compass” exists for the war – the goals set by the cabinet. These objectives, according to the office, “are continuously reviewed and were recently expanded.”
