Former Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant, fired in November by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over differences over the conduct of the war in Gaza, has announced that he will resign from his seat in parliament, Agence France-Presse reported, quoted by BTA.
“I will submit my resignation to the speaker of the Knesset“, Yoav Galant said in a televised address.
“I served my country for 35 years in the army and another decade in the government and the Knesset. "There are times when you need to take a break and reassess the direction you're going," he added.
A former general turned politician, Yoav Galant has long been considered a "hawk" in the government.
He played a central role in it after the attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement "Hamas" on Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, which triggered the Gaza War.
After more than a year of fighting on several fronts, however, the former defense minister has drawn the ire of ultra-Orthodox parties, key allies of Netanyahu's coalition, after ordering the conscription of 10,000 ultra-Orthodox Jews of military age into the army.
In his address, Yoav Galant pledged to "continue to work with all his might to bring home" the hostages still held in the Gaza Strip after the October 7 attack.
The Palestinian Authority has suspended the operations of the Qatar-based television news channel "Al Jazeera" and its employees in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, citing repeated violations of Palestinian laws and regulations, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
The activities of all journalists, employees and channels affiliated with “Al Jazeera“ will be temporarily suspended until the television station resolves its legal issues and complies with applicable laws and regulations, the Palestinian Authority said in a statement, quoted yesterday by the Palestinian news agency WAFA.
This measure is justified by the fact that “Al Jazeera“ broadcasts inflammatory materials and reports that mislead the public, sow discord and interfere in the internal affairs of Palestine, the statement quoted by WAFA said.
Previously, the Israeli military closed the office of “Al Jazeera“ in Ramallah, the seat of the Palestinian Authority, in September.
However, the channel's crews and reporters continued to report from all parts of the West Bank. They no longer presented themselves as employees of “Al Jazeera“, but as independent media workers.
In May of last year, the Israeli government suspended “Al Jazeera“'s operations in Israel. The television station's offices in the Jewish state were closed, its equipment confiscated, the channel was removed from cable and satellite TV operators, and its website was blocked.
In the West Bank, the popular channel initially enjoyed the support of the Palestinian Authority.
However, tensions appear to have escalated after prolonged clashes in the city of Jenin, where armed groups, including members of the Islamist group “Hamas“, have been fighting heavy battles with Palestinian Authority security forces for nearly a month.
“Al Jazeera“ has been criticized by the Palestinian Authority and the Fatah movement led by President Mahmoud Abbas for what they say is covering the conflict unilaterally, siding with armed factions opposing the authorities, DPA reported.