Israel’s New War Cabinet: Key Figures in Charge of Security Amid Multi-Front Crisis

The Knesset plenum. (Shutterstock) (Shutterstock)

With Israel under relentless threat from Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran-backed forces, Prime Minister Netanyahu has shifted key defense roles.

By Pesach Benson, TPS

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, created a shift not just at Israel’s Defense Ministry but also at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

That’s because Foreign Minister will replace Gallant, while Gideon Sa’ar, currently a Minister Without Portfolio, will become Foreign Minister.

Katz and Sa’ar are now tasked with spearheading Israel’s multi-front war and diplomacy against Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and Tehran’s proxies in Yemen, Iraq and Syria. Here’s a look at who they are.

The Top Diplomat

Gideon Sa’ar is an Israeli politician and lawyer known for his conservative yet pragmatic approach to politics. Born on December 9, 1966, in Tel Aviv, Sa’ar built his political foundation within the Likud party, where he served as a close ally to Netanyahu. He began his political career as a legal advisor to the Israel Defense Forces and later worked as a journalist before fully committing to politics.

His tenure in the Likud party saw him rise rapidly through the ranks, leading to prominent roles, including Minister of Education from 2009-2013 and Minister of the Interior from 2013-2014.

Sa’ar gained a reputation for being a strong supporter of Israel’s security and nationalist policies, advocating for a tough stance on Iran, terrorism, and issues related to Judea and Samaria.

However, he diverged from Netanyahu’s approach on several key matters, including the extent of both judicial reform and the 2018 Nation-State Law which defined Israel as a Jewish state. Sa’ar also supported and enshrining the principle of equality into Israel’s quasi-constitutional Basic Laws.

Sa’ar also argued that Netanyahu’s corruption trial hindered the government’s effectiveness and called on the Prime Minister to temporarily step down while mounting his legal defense. By 2019, he became a leading voice in challenging Netanyahu’s leadership within Likud. This internal dispute eventually led Sa’ar to leave Likud in 2020 and establish his own political party, New Hope.

New Hope, positioned as a right-wing alternative to Likud which appealed to Israelis who were disillusioned with Netanyahu but still supported conservative policies.

The party secured six Knesset seats in the 2021 elections, positioning Sa’ar to play a critical role in forming the coalition government led by Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid. Sa’ar was appointed Minister of Justice, where he pursued reforms aimed at strengthening checks and balances in the Israeli judicial system.

In July 2022, Sa’ar formed an alliance with Benny Gantz called National Unity, which won 12 Knesset seats but did not join Netanyahu’s governing coalition.

After Hamas’s October 7 attack, Sa’ar and four other National Unity members joined the emergency war government. But Sa’ar quit the government in March saying he had not been appointed to the war cabinet and had no influence.

Moving to Defense

Israel Katz is a prominent Israeli politician from the Likud party, known for his loyalty to Netanyahu and for extensive experience in government — particularly in the fields of infrastructure, transportation, and finance.

Born on September 21, 1955, in Ashkelon, Katz studied political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he became actively involved in the Likud youth movement. His early political experience included serving as a leader in the settlement movement, which sought to strengthen Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria.

Katz entered the Knesset in 1998, establishing himself as a trusted ally of Netanyahu. He has held several key ministerial roles, including Minister of Agriculture, Minister of Transportation, and Minister of Finance.

Katz’s longest tenure was as Minister of Transportation from 2009 to 2019, where he made significant strides in modernizing Israel’s infrastructure. Under his leadership, Israel saw extensive developments in public transportation, including the expansion of the country’s rail network, road infrastructure, and the implementation of new highways and railway lines, notably the fast train route connecting Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

In 2020, Katz was appointed Minister of Finance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, tasked with stabilizing Israel’s economy during the crisis. His economic approach focused on securing relief packages for businesses and workers, though he faced criticism for not adequately addressing Israel’s long-term economic challenges, such as the rising cost of living and housing.

A staunch nationalist, Katz has consistently advocated for a hardline approach toward security and Palestinian relations, opposing significant concessions in peace negotiations. Katz supports expanding Israeli ties with Arab states.

He served in the Israel Defense Force’s Paratroop Brigade from 1973-1977.

After the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023, Hezbollah began firing rockets and launching drones at northern Israel communities daily. More than 68,000 residents of northern Israel are displaced from their homes. Hezbollah leaders have repeatedly said they would continue the attacks to prevent Israelis from returning to their homes.

According to United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended the 2006 Second Lebanon War, the terror group is forbidden from operating in southern Lebanon.

At least 1,200 people were killed, and 252 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas’s attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the 97 remaining hostages, more than 30 have been declared dead. Hamas has also been holding captive two Israeli civilians since 2014 and 2015, and the bodies of two soldiers killed in 2014.