Defense Minister Out? Netanyahu Weighs Sacking Katz, Tapping Long-Time Rival Gideon Sa’ar for Key Post

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly contemplating a dramatic cabinet reshuffle that would see Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar appointed as the new Defense Minister, displacing Yisrael Katz, who would be moved to the Ministry of Energy. The potential rotation, reported by Israel Hayom today, follows escalating tensions and public disputes involving the Prime Minister, the Defense Minister, and the IDF Chief of Staff.

The dramatic consideration comes just one day after an intense public feud erupted between Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir over military dismissals within the General Staff. Netanyahu’s attempt to mediate the situation resulted in separate, non-reconciliatory meetings with both men.

Escalation and Exile

Sources close to the Prime Minister indicated that while a final decision remains pending, the timeline for replacing Katz could accelerate if the Defense Minister continues to act "independently" of Netanyahu. The relationship has reportedly soured over the past 24 hours, giving the Prime Minister’s office cause for concern.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister later issued a non-committal denial, stating: "It’s better not to listen to briefings from people with vested interests. The Prime Minister is determined to resolve the issues and he will resolve them in the best way possible." This response did little to dismiss the report, fueling speculation that a move is indeed imminent.

The reported plan involves a three-way portfolio swap:

Rotation or Retribution?

This specific rotation partly adheres to original coalition agreements, which stipulated that Katz and Cohen would trade roles in the government’s final year, with Cohen returning to Foreign Affairs and Katz returning to Energy.

However, the political landscape has shifted significantly since those agreements were signed, and government insiders are questioning whether this is a scheduled rotation or a political "exile" for Katz due to his mounting friction with the Prime Minister. Sources hint that the latter, a punishment for acting too independently, is a "good possibility." Katz only recently assumed the Defense portfolio following the controversial dismissal of Yoav Gallant.

Sa’ar's Complex Political Journey

The potential appointment of Sa’ar to the Defense Ministry marks the culmination of a long and politically complex courtship between the New Hope chairman and Netanyahu, men who have often been bitter rivals.

The Prime Minister had reportedly been preparing to fire then-Defense Minister Gallant and replace him with Sa’ar in September 2024. This move was initially met with skepticism due to Sa’ar's historically acrimonious relationship with Netanyahu. Sa’ar, a former Likud lawmaker, had been a harsh critic, with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid previously quoting him as saying his "principles do not allow me to support a leader who puts his personal good above everything." Furthermore, Sa’ar harshly criticized Netanyahu's initial attempt to fire Gallant in 2023, warning the Prime Minister was pushing Israel "into the abyss."

Despite this history, Sa’ar eventually returned to the government in late 2024, securing the Foreign Ministry after leaving the coalition earlier that year. The move to appoint him to the crucial Defense Ministry now suggests that the political expediency of aligning with Sa’ar outweighs the long-standing trust issues Netanyahu’s associates reportedly harbored toward him.