Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed Israel Katz as Israel’s new defense minister after dismissing Yoav Gallant over policy disagreements amid conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. Katz, previously the foreign minister, is a strong Netanyahu ally and unlikely to oppose his hard-line stance on cease-fire talks. Gideon Saar will succeed Katz as foreign minister. Katz’s tenure was marked by defending Israel against global criticism during wars with Hamas and Hezbollah, both backed by Iran. Katz criticized UN Secretary-General António Guterres for not condemning an Iranian missile attack on Israel.