Yoav Galant, ex-IDF chief nominee, named defense minister

Leading Likud member Yoav Galant (res. Gen.) is named defense minister in Binyamin Netanyahu’s 6th government that is to be sworn in on Thursday. Galant served as housing minister in the former coalition. In negotiations leading up to the coalition accord, the presumptive prime minister ignored critics and opened up a new ministerial post for Religious Zionist party leader Bezalel Smotrich within the defense portfolio to provide him with a role in the conduct of affairs in Judea and Samaria.