GOVERNMENT

Yoav Gallant

Defense Minister

Israeli Defense Minister and former IDF General Yoav Gallant has braved a torrid year on both the domestic and international fronts. Ever mindful of Iran's military build-up on Israel's borders, in Sept. 2023, Gallant revealed an Iranian-constructed airfield in Lebanon, just 12 miles north of Israel's border before the world's media. "The land is Lebanese, the control is Iranian, and the target is Israel," Gallant said. "If it comes to a conflict, we will not hesitate to activate the lethal force of the IDF. Hezbollah and Lebanon will pay a heavy and painful price." In tandem, Gallant has also found himself at the center of the political disputes over the government's judicial reform program. As one of the more liberal members of the governing coalition, Gallant spoke out against the reforms, causing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire him, only to then hold off on executing that decision. "The security of the State of Israel is my life's mission," Gallant said at the time. "Clothed in the IDF's uniform, I have risked my life dozens of times for the State of Israel, and at this time, for the sake of our country, I am willing to take any risk and pay any price." (Photo: Wikimedia / Creative Commons License)