Israel, which is fighting a war on seven fronts, suddenly removed Defense Minister Yoav Galant, know who was given the responsibility.

Israel Katz: Amidst the state of war, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suddenly removed his Defense Minister Yoav Galant. Israel Katz has been appointed in his place. Know who is the new Defense Minister Katz…

Israel is currently fighting a war on seven fronts, the most important of which is against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Benjamin Netanyahu said he no longer trusts Yoav Galet's administration, including over the ongoing war in Gaza and Lebanon.

Who is Israel's new Defense Minister Katz?

• Born in 1955 in the Israeli coastal city of Ashkelon, Katz joined the army in 1973. Left the job in 1977 and served as a paratrooper. Unlike previous Defense Minister Gallant, he has not held any senior military command post. Before becoming Defense Minister in 2022, he was also a general.

• Katz has held several ministerial posts over the past two decades, including agriculture, transportation, intelligence, finance, and energy. He was appointed as the Minister of External Affairs in 2019.

• A member of Netanyahu's right-wing Likud party, Katz has been a member of the Knesset (parliament) since 1998. He served on several committees, including those on foreign affairs, defence, and justice.

• In October he ordered his ministry to launch legal action against French President Emmanuel Macron after Paris banned Israeli companies from participating in an upcoming military naval trade show.

• Katz has been a low-profile figure in Israel-US relations until US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's 11th visit to Israel on October 7 last year. US diplomats have held only a few meetings with Katz, while Blinken meets regularly with Gallant.