What's happening at the Defense Ministry: "All Katz cares about is videos. Netanyahu doesn't count him"
A senior defense official reveals that Defense Minister Israel Katz's office is completely political, and that Prime Minister Netanyahu has neutralized him. The minister focuses on videos and Likud primaries, and even left a cabinet discussion for a wedding. The latest storm: the dismissal of Central Command chief Avi Bluth live on air, against the backdrop of his struggle for a hunger-striking settler.
A senior defense official paints a grim picture of Defense Minister Israel Katz's performance: his office is completely political, with almost no professionals, and he is mainly busy promoting himself ahead of the Likud primaries. According to the official, Prime Minister Netanyahu has neutralized Katz, prevented him from meeting with international figures, and the minister compensates by releasing videos and statements with superlatives like "I ordered" and "I instructed," even when they have no connection to reality. The official calls this "a desecration of God's name." The latest storm: Katz announced live on Channel 14 the dismissal of Central Command chief Avi Bluth, against the backdrop of a military restraining order against a hunger-striking settler. Katz, preparing for the primaries, flatters Likud members and fights for the settler. A Likud source close to Katz defends him, but even on the right, harsh criticism was voiced, including from the head of the Beit El council and reserve Major General Ofer Winter. Katz is positioning himself as a potential successor to Netanyahu, having served as foreign, defense, and finance minister. He avoids confrontation with Netanyahu, a lesson he learned in the past. His political activity includes meetings with party members, visits to branches, and weddings, and he uses the Defense Ministry as a platform to appeal to Likudniks.