Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Now Trump has won the election. What happens to his legal cases?

 

                Donald J. Trump (Getty Images)


(BBC) Trump is the first person with a felony conviction to serve as president


Donald Trump will be the first president to take office while several criminal cases against him are pending.


His ascent to the highest office in the US while facing dozens of criminal charges has left the country in uncharted territory.

Many of his legal problems will go away when he steps into the White House. Discussions already have started between Trump's team and the office overseeing federal cases about how to wind those down, according to the BBC's US news partner, CBS.

Here's a look at what could happen with each of the four legal challenges he faces.


New York hush-money conviction

Donald Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in May in New York.

A jury of New Yorkers found him guilty of all counts in connection with a hush-money payment made to an adult film star.

Judge Juan Merchan pushed back Trump’s sentencing from September to 26 November, after the election.

He could still go forward with the sentencing as planned despite Trump’s win, said former Brooklyn prosecutor Julie Rendelman.

But legal experts said it is unlikely that Trump would be sentenced to prison as an older, first-time offender.

If he was, his lawyers would appeal the sentence immediately, arguing that jail time would prevent him from conducting official duties and that he should remain free pending the appeal, Ms Rendelman said.


“The appellate process in that scenario could go on for years,” she said.




January 6 case


Special counsel Jack Smith filed criminal charges against Trump last year over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden.


Trump pleaded not guilty.


The case has been in legal limbo since the Supreme Court ruled this summer that Trump was partially immune from criminal prosecution over official acts committed while in office.


Smith has since refiled his case, arguing Trump’s attempts to overturn the election were not related to his official duties.


This is one of the cases which could be wound down under current discussions.



As president-elect, Trump's criminal problems from the case now “go away”, according to former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani.


“It’s well established that a sitting president can’t be prosecuted, so the election fraud case in DC District Court will be dismissed,” he said.


Mr Rahmani said that if Smith refuses to dismiss the case, Trump can simply get rid of him, as he has pledged to do already.


“I would fire him within two seconds," Trump said during a radio interview in October.


Classified documents case


Smith also is leading a case against Trump over his alleged mishandling of classified documents after he left the White House, charges Trump denies.


He is accused of storing sensitive documents in his Mar-a-Lago home and obstructing Justice Department efforts to retrieve the files.


The judge assigned to the case, Trump-appointee Aileen Cannon, dismissed the charges in July, arguing Smith was improperly appointed by the Justice Department to lead the case.


Smith appealed the ruling, but with Trump set to take office, talks are now underway about ending the case.


Mr Rahmani said he expects the classified documents case will meet the same fate as the election case.


“The DOJ will abandon its Eleventh Circuit appeal of the dismissal of the classified documents case,” he said.


Georgia election case


Trump is also facing criminal charges in Georgia over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state.


That case has faced a number of hurdles, including efforts to disqualify District Attorney Fani Willis over her relationship with an attorney she hired to work on the case.


An appeals court is in the process of weighing whether Willis should be allowed to stay on the case.


But now that Trump is the next president, the case could face even more delays, or possibly dismissal.


It is expected to be paused during Trump’s time in office, according to legal experts.


Trump’s attorney Steve Sadow said as much when asked by the judge if Trump could still stand trial if elected.


“The answer to that is I believe that under the supremacy clause and his duties as president of the United States, this trial would not take place at all until after he left his term in office,” he said.




Credit: BBC

2024 Anglican Synod, Amadi harps on God as the ultimate thinker

 

... Laments government's poor roles in education, health, infrastructure

... Donates N25m for church development


The St Mary's Anglican Church, Umuokoro, Ngor Okpala, was boisterous as it played host to the 2024 synod of the Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion Egbu Diocese. The keynote speaker and enterprising businessman, Dr Matthew Chima Amadi, explored the opportunity to establish the fact that God was the ultimate thinker. 




Presenting an address entitled: "Nzube Chukwu — God is a thinker:  Development as a godly mandate", Amadi showcased his deep knowledge of theology. 

According to him, "Throughout the Bible, God is portrayed as a thinker and planner. O nweghị ihe gbárá ya gharịị. The nature of God as a thinker is deeply embedded in the biblical account of creation, showcasing divine wisdom, intentionality, and purpose. Genesis 1 gives us a glimpse of the mind of God, highlighting His ability to bring forth a well-thought-out, structured creation where everything He made was deemed "good" (Genesis 1:31). Ihe niile o mere dị mmá. 


"As creationists, we are introduced to an intelligent designer or developer in Genesis who developed the magnificence and awe inspiring beauty we call the universe out of nothing or from a void. This divine act of creation reflects God's perfect thinking qualities, demonstrating that development is not just a human pursuit but an act with celestial underpinnings".


Amadi, a calculating and evergreen when it comes God, morality and modernity, employed his deep knowledge of the Bible to as a great thinker. He said, "The story of creation demonstrates God’s wisdom and forethought. The sequence of creation is not random but follows a structured, carefully thought out design. On the first day, God created light, separating it from darkness. On subsequent days, He methodically introduced the sky, land, vegetation, celestial bodies, animals, and finally, humanity. After each act of creation, God reflects on His work and declares it “good” (Genesis 1:31). 

This repetition of affirmation underscores the perfection of His design and the intentionality behind every element of creation".


He argued that God's purpose for humanity was quite purposeful. He said, "The divine thought behind creation is not just seen in the order of events but also in the purpose behind them. Humanity is not an afterthought but the culmination of God's creative work. In Genesis 1:26, God says, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” This declaration reveals God’s intention to create humans as stewards of His creation, charged with the responsibility of overseeing the earth. From the very beginning, God’s thinking has centered on the development and flourishing of humanity, both as individuals and as a collective society. Therefore, as human beings created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), we are endowed with the capacity to think, innovate, and develop as part of our divine nature. Chineke kere anyị n’oyiyi ya. Anyị gá na-eche echiche, na-arụsi ọrụ ike, iji ṅomie ya".


Standing before his huge audience and relying on his oratory prowess, Amadi urged his listeners to reckon with God because the creator is the ultimate thinker. "The prophet Amos wrote that the One who forms the mountains and creates the wind also, “…reveals His thoughts…” (Amos 4:13) to humanity. As beings created in the image of God (Genesis 1:27), humanity is endowed with the capacity to think, plan, and create, reflecting God's own nature. This likeness places upon us the responsibility to develop the world in ways that mirror God's righteous thinking. Just as God created the world with purpose and structure, we are called to contribute to human development—morally, spiritually, and societally, with the same intentionality and vision'.


Narrating the ultimate power of God, Amadi who practically understands the soverign ways of God, Amadi enthused thus, "The nature of God as a thinker and creator places a responsibility on humanity to imitate His intentionality in our own lives. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” This instruction calls believers to approach every aspect of life work, relationships, personal growth, and societal contributions with the same thoughtfulness and dedication that God displayed in creation. In Romans 12:2, Paul urges Christians to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind,” a reminder that human development begins with the transformation of our thinking. As we align our minds with God’s wisdom and purpose, we are empowered to contribute meaningfully to the world around us, reflecting the divine image in our actions and decisions".

In his avowed description of God as a pathway to modernity and development, Amadi, a man of letters and community development, stated as follows; "In modern discourse, societal development is often framed in secular terms as economic growth, technological innovation, or social infrastructure. However, when viewed through the lens of Scripture, societal progress takes on a spiritual dimension. Just as God’s creation was designed to flourish in harmony and order, human societies are meant to be spaces where justice, peace, and righteousness prevail. 


"The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that true progress is rooted in God’s moral laws. Isaiah 9:7 speaks of the coming Messiah, saying, “Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” This passage connects the reign of Christ, a time of ultimate societal flourishing, with the principles of justice and righteousness. As such, any effort to develop society that disregards these core values is ultimately flawed. Indeed, these values bụ mgbọrọgwụ na ntọala mmepe".


He added, "God’s thoughts, as revealed in His Word, provide the blueprint for what societal progress should look like. Governments and leaders are called to rule justly, reflecting the righteous governance of God. Citizens are called to contribute to the common good, living out the virtues of compassion and love for neighbor. In this sense, societal development is not a secular pursuit but a spiritual one, deeply tied to the wisdom and plan of God. Maka na ọ bụrụ na Chukwu echeghị obodo, onye nche na-eche n'efu".


As a matter of urgency, Amadi made it known that there could be no government without the permission of God. In his submission,  "Government derives its authority from God to promote good and restrain evil. This mandate is expressly stated in Romans 13:1-7. Elsewhere, Paul urges that prayers be made “for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life” (1Timothy 2:1-2). Paul understood the need for Christian participation in government. 


"The biblical command found in Genesis 1:28, where God instructs humanity to “be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it,” is a profound charge that extends far beyond procreation. This directive reveals a deeper call to responsible leadership and societal stewardship. In these few words, God entrusts humanity with the task of overseeing and managing the earth in a way that reflects His righteous and ordered nature. This mandate shows that human beings, created in God's image, are called to lead, cultivate, and steward both the natural world and the societies they build in ways that promote and reflect God’s original design.


"The command to “fill the earth” points to humanity’s responsibility to populate the earth, but this is not merely a biological imperative—it is also a social and spiritual one. To “fill the earth” means to spread and cultivate communities, civilizations, and cultures that mirror the goodness, justice, and order of God’s creation. It includes the establishment of societal structures, economies, and governance systems that contribute to the development and flourishing of human life".


Amadi explained that, this context, leadership becomes central to fulfilling the mandate of Genesis 1:28. Whether in governance, community leadership, or even family structures, leaders are called to guide others in a way that honors God’s vision for creation. 


Amadi reflected on the fact that religion often fosters a strong sense of community and unity, essential for peace-building and conflict resolution. For example, South Africa’s transition from apartheid was supported by religious leaders such as Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who advocated for peaceful reconciliation. In Rwanda, religious organizations have been involved in the post-genocide healing process, contributing to rebuilding trust and social cohesion.


Amadi said, "In a country like Nigeria, where about 98.7% of its population practice either Christianity or Islam, it is indisputable that religion plays a significant role in the lives of its citizens. Moreover, it is impossible not to recognise the effects of religion on different aspects of society such as family, education and in this case, politics.  Since Nigeria’s attainment of her political independence in 1960, the country has continued to contend with many challenges in nation building.


Making his contributions on politics, Amadi didn't mince words in acknowledging that the entire South East was engulfed with sordid political narrations since 1999 as the zone was the worst hit in all facets of governance. 


Taking Imo Sate as his lead, Amadi pointed out that the area had been a hot bed of crminalism where bloody violence, kidnapping, armed robbery and araon had been the order of the the day in place of orderliness, tranquility and social justice. 


Roundly condemning what he called "education backwardness", Amadi called on the elite class who now sent their wards to private schools and overseas for education, to have a rethink. He advised the government to bring back the lost glories of public school as way of reviving the standard of education in the state. He totally frowned at the demolition of the state owned library near the Imo State Government House, replacing it with a church building. 


And, on healthcare delivery, the keynote speaker observed that any people or nation that jokes with the health institution has already got ready for extermination. He lamented the ugly situation where the country's best medical practitioners, most of time from Imo, are continually moving to Europe, America and Asia in what is nationally known as japa. He pleaded with both the federal and state leaders to take health matters seriously. 


It will be recalled that Amadi, in conjunction with his friends, made a donation of N25m for church development.


Present at the occasion were the Anglican Bishop of Egbu Diocese Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Enyinnaya Okoroafor and his beloved wife, Rt. Rev. Chukwuma Chinekezi Oparah, JP, Bishop of Owerri Diocese, Rt. Rev. Chamberlain C. Ogunedo, JP, Bishop of Mbaise Diocese, Rt. Rev Chijioke B.N Oti, Bishop of Diocese on the Lake, Rt. Rev. Geoffrey Chukwunenye, Bishop of Oru Diocese, Rt. Rev. Emmanuel Maduwuike , JP,  Bishop of Ikeduru Diocese, Rt. Hon. Dr. Matthew Nwogu, Members, representing Aboh Mbaise/Ngor Okpala Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, member, representing Ideato North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Blyden Amajirionwu, former Member, IMHA, Chief Henry Onwukwe (Apitti), Rt. Hon. Uche Ogbuagu, former Member IMHA among others.

We Won’t Force People To Be Nigerians – Abike Dabiri-Erewa Speaks as Kemi Bedenoch Ignores Her Message

 

(Channels Television) Chairman and CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has stated that Nigeria will not compel Kemi Badenoch, the newly elected leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, to identify with her Nigerian roots.

Dabiri-Erewa, whose office oversees activities of Nigerians in diaspora, disclosed that her office has reached out to Badenoch a few times and got no response.

“It depends on if she identifies the Nigerianess in her. We have reached out to her once or twice without any response, so we don’t force people to accept to be Nigerian,” Dabiri-Erewa said on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief programme on Wednesday when asked if the government has identified with Badenoch.

“If you appreciate the Nigerianess in you and you want to work with us, we are open to everybody, but we cannot force you to appreciate the Nigerianess in you. You remember the Miss Universe Nigeria in South Africa.

“Until she got into a little problem with South Africa she identified with Nigeria, and she identified with Nigeria, came to Nigeria and we hosted her. As long as that blood is in you, you are a Nigerian.

“So, it depends on Kemi to decide whether appreciates the Nigerianess in her, whether she wants to work with Nigeria, but we cannot force anybody.”

The Conservatives on Saturday elected Badenoch as its new leader, replacing Rishi Sunak, who quit after the party’s disastrous showing in the July general election.

Badenoch, 44, came out on top in the two-horse race with former immigration minister Robert Jenrick, winning 57 percent of the votes of party members.

Badenoch, who becomes the first black leader of a UK-wide political party, said it was an “enormous honour” to assume the role, but that “the task that stands before us is tough.”

“We have to be honest about the fact we made mistakes” and “let standards slip,” she said.

“It is time to get down to business, it is time to renew,” she added.

Badenoch was born in London in 1980, but spent her childhood living in Lagos, Nigeria, and in the United States, where her mother lectured.

She returned to the UK at the age of 16 to live with a friend of her mother’s due to the deteriorating political and economic situation in Nigeria, which had affected her family.




Credit: Channels Television 

Dollar and Bitcoin soar as Trump wins presidency


Getty Images


The US dollar has surged as Donald Trump is now projected to have won the presidency and will re-enter the White House.

Bitcoin has also hit a record high while traders bet on potential tax cuts, increased tariffs, and rising inflation under Trump's second term.

This election result will have a major impact on the global economy.

The Republican Party is also set to take control of the Senate, although there are still votes left to count.

The dollar has soared by about 1.5% against a host of different currencies, including the pound, euro and the Japanese yen.

In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index ended the session up by 2.6%, while Australia's ASX 200 closed 0.8% higher.

The major US stock indexes also look likely to open sharply higher. That came after the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all closed more than 1% higher on Tuesday.

Why is Bitcoin going up?

Trump has pledged to make the US the "bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world".

The value of Bitcoin has also jumped by $6,000 (£4,645) to a record high of $75,371.69, surpassing the previous high of $73,797.98 seen in March this year.

Trump has previously said he plans to put billionaire Elon Musk in charge of an audit of governmental waste.

Mr Musk has long been a proponent of cryptocurrencies and his company Tesla famously invested $1.5bn in Bitcoin in 2021, although the price of the digital currency can be very volatile.

Tesla's Frankfurt-listed shares rallied over 14% at the open on Wednesday. Mr Musk, Tesla's top shareholder, has supported Trump throughout his electoral campaign.

Experts are, however, predicting a turbulent day elsewhere on financial markets as a response to global uncertainty and Trump's potential plans for the economy.

"Many of his measures will be inflationary and likely to lead to a rise in bond yields, putting pressure on the Federal Reserve in its quest to bring interest rates down," said Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter Investors.

Donald Trump previously said he would dramatically increase trade tariffs, especially on China, if he became the next US president.

"Trump’s global trade policies are causing particular angst in Asia, given the strong protectionist platform on which more aggressive tariffs on imports into the US have been pledged," said Katrina Ell, director of economic research at Moody's Analytics.

Trump's more isolationist stance on foreign policy has also raised questions about his willingness to defend Taiwan against potential aggression from China.

The self-ruling island is a major producer of computer chips, which are crucial to the technology that drives the global economy.

In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite Index ended the day down 0.1%, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng was down by around 2.23%.

Trump's tax-cutting agenda has been broadly welcomed by large corporates in the US.

"We should see pro-business policies and tax cuts, in turn possibly driving up inflation and less rate cuts," said Jun Bei Liu, portfolio manager at Tribeca Investment Partners.



 Credit: BBC



    

US Election: Donald Trump is coasting to victory

 

...As Kamala Harris cancels election night party with path to victory so narrow






Kamala Harris of the Democrat party has 214 electoral college votes.


Donald Trump of the Republican party has 267 electoral college votes.


Kamala Harris of the Democrat party has62,206,424 votes(47.2%)


Donald Trump of the Republican party has67,434,197 votes(51.2%)










(BBC) Donald Trump has won Pennsylvania, North Carolina and Georgia and taken a lead over Kamala Harris in most of the other four battleground states that will decide the winner of the US election, BBC's US partner CBS projects.


CBS says Wisconsin is leaning towards Trump and he is ahead in the other so-called Rust Belt state of Michigan. The results are not final.


Incomplete returns also suggest Trump has a lead in Nevada, while the race remains tight in the other sun belt battleground of Arizona.


In more good news for Trump's fellow Republicans, the party is projected to win majority control of the Senate.




Latest election result updates


As expected, Trump has won conservative strongholds from Florida to Idaho, while Harris swept liberal states from New York to California, CBS projects.


The Democrat was expected to spend election night at Howard University in Washington DC, where she was an undergraduate, but it emerged after midnight that she would not attend.


Following the announcement by campaign co-chairman Cedric Richmond, the crowd all but disappeared from Harris HQ at the historically black college.


The party-like atmosphere of a few hours earlier at Howard had already turned sour as two swing states were called for Trump.


From Harris HQ, Democratic fundraiser Lindy Li told the BBC that it is "pretty grim right now".


"People are getting increasingly anxious," she said, "but there is still a pathway. I am still holding on to that, but this is not the night we wanted."


Trump was expected to appear shortly at his campaign watch party in West Palm Beach, Florida, where the mood was celebratory.


Elon Musk, the world's richest man and Trump mega-donor, is spending election night with the Republican nominee.


Whichever way it goes the result will be historic - giving America its first woman president or marking a seismic political comeback for Trump.


Whoever takes the White House may have their hands tied by Congress, which is also up for grabs in Tuesday's vote.


CBS projects Republicans will win control of the Senate after wresting two seats in West Virginia and Ohio from the Democrats and beating off a stiff challenge in Texas.


Neither party seemed to have an overall edge in the House, which Republicans narrowly control.


Around 86 million voters cast their ballots early amid one of the most turbulent campaigns in recent American history.


Vice-President Harris, 60, only became the Democratic Party candidate in July, after President Joe Biden withdrew from the race under pressure from within the party.


Trump, 78, was the target of two assassination plots - narrowly avoiding a sniper's bullet in Pennsylvania.


The former president said he felt "very confident" as he voted earlier on Tuesday near his home in Palm Beach, Florida, with his wife, Melania.


"If I lose an election, if it's a fair election, I'm going to be the first one to acknowledge it," he said.


He posted earlier on his social media platform, Truth Social, saying "law enforcement coming" to Philadelphia because of "massive cheating".


Philadelphia's police department told BBC Verify they were unaware of any electoral fraud. The city's top prosecutor said the allegation had "no factual basis whatsoever".


Both sides have armies of lawyers on standby for legal challenges on and after election day.


If Harris won, she would become the first woman, black woman and South-Asian American to win the presidency.


Trump would become the first president to win non-consecutive terms in more than 130 years. He is also the only president to be impeached twice and the first former president to be criminally convicted.


CBS exit poll data suggests Harris may have under-performed with women.


Some 54% of female voters cast their ballots for her, the numbers indicate. But Joe Biden won the support of 57% of women in 2020.


Law enforcement agencies nationwide are on high alert for potential violence.


About 30 bomb threats hoaxes targeted election-related locations nationwide on Tuesday, more than half of them in the state of Georgia alone, reports CBS.


Credit: BBC

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

The whispered secret that could win Donald Trump the 2024 US Election'

 

By nytimespost


 


Outside a polling station on election day in the US swing state of Wisconsin a grandmother is reluctant to tell the Express who she plans to vote for.

Looking around she drops her voice to a whisper. Leaning her head a little closer she stated: “I’m voting for Donald Trump.”

“I have a son with four children and he just can’t afford to improve his house in the way he should. Under Trump things were better,” she added with a nod of the head.

Told like a dirty secret that required instant and significant justification, her reluctance to broadcast voting intentions could be underwood given the district was quite heavily Democrat.

But it made me wonder; how many of these silent Trump voters are out there?

For both the media and people in general, loud visible trends are far easier to identify and understand than subtle, quiet undercurrents.

But in politics this phenomenon should not be underestimated, especially when it comes to votes for right-wing parties.

Ahead of the British General Election of 1992 polls had all predicted the Labour Party would win.

However, these projections proved to be totally wrong and the Conservative Paty won a conclusive majority.

It turned out that voters had told pollsters one thing about who they intended to vote for in pre-election questions and a when the day came did something completely different.

The phenomenon has become known as the ‘shy Tory factor’ and there are many examples in the years that followed of similar trends.

Speaking to the two sides of the US Election it’s clear that Democrats are feeling far more confident than their opponents.

“They’re just saying it’s close because they need to make sure people turn out to vote,” a campaigner told me in Millwaukee, “Harris is going to win easily.”

“…when Harris wins. And she will win,” said another, “they’re going to be unhappy.”

Republicans on the other hand were much more circumspect many described it as being “close” or a “nail-biter.”

That is with the exception of a man with a giant Donald Trump display in his yard.

“I think it’s going to be a landslide” he said, “he’ll win every single one of the states.”

But as America takes to the polls today, you have to wonder whether the shy-Trump factor will prove significant.

“I’m not a psychiatrist [but] I think there are folks who are hesitant because of the potential angry response from [those] voting the other way,” Dr Christopher Pagel told us in a small town in southern Wisconsin.

“It feels like there’s more vandalism of Trump signs than there are on the other way.

“There’s a higher chance of there being a verbal altercation if folks are announcing [who they are voting for. None of my friends wear any Trump paraphernalia in [the Democrat-heavy area of] Dane County just because we don’t want the confrontation.

“I know folks who have a Maga hat they’ll put it on their mantelpiece kind of facing away from the street, trying to keep it a little a little secretive.”

Pagel believed that this silent block of voters would have an impact on the election that may well be being underestimated.

“I guarantee you there’s going to be a disparity between the percentage of folks who have yard signs versus the results in that county,” he added.

“I am confident there are a lot of Trump supporters who have nothing in their yard, don’t have any bumper stickers on the car and they’re just quietly going to vote how they want.

“In my neighborhood, it’s about 4 to 1 Harris versus Trump signs. But it’ll be interesting to see what the results for my for my little village are.”

At this stage, it’s all just wishful thinking and speculation. We’ll know when the votes start to be tallied whether the silent Trump voters have raised their voices in the space it matters most: the voting booth.



Credit: NEW YORK TIMES POST


    

Netanyahu fires Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, protests erupt across country By




By nytimespost

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday dismissed his popular defense minister, Yoav Gallant, in a surprise announcement that came as the country is embroiled in wars on multiple fronts across the region. The move sparked protests across the country.


Netanyahu and Gallant have repeatedly been at odds over the war in Gaza. But Netanyahu had avoided firing his rival before Tuesday as the world’s attention was focused on the U.S. presidential election. Netanyahu cited “significant gaps” and a “crisis of trust” between the men in his Tuesday evening announcement.


“In the midst of a war, more than ever, full trust is required between the prime minister and defense minister,” Netanyahu said. “Unfortunately, although in the first months of the campaign there was such trust and there was very fruitful work, during the last months this trust cracked between me and the defense minister.”


In the early days of the war, Israel’s leadership presented a unified front as it responded to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack. But as the war has dragged on and spread to Lebanon, key policy differences have emerged.


While Netanyahu has called for continued military pressure on Hamas, Gallant had taken a more pragmatic approach, saying that military force has created the necessary conditions for at least a temporary diplomatic deal that could bring home hostages held by the terrorist group.


Many of the families of the hostages, along with tens of thousands of people who have joined anti-government protests, accuse Netanyahu of scuttling a deal in order to maintain his hold on power. Netanyahu’s hard-line partners have threatened to bring down the government if he makes concessions to Hamas, raising the risk of early elections at a time when the prime minister’s popularity is low.


“Firing Gallant in the middle of a war is an act of madness,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said on X. “Netanyahu is selling Israel’s security and the Israeli army soldiers for a disgraceful political survival.”


The grassroots forum representing hostage families said Gallant’s dismissal is “a direct continuation of the ‘efforts’ to torpedo the abductee deal.” It called on the new defense minister, Israel Katz, to make an “explicit commitment” to end the war and reach a deal to bring home their loved ones.


Within hours, thousands of protesters gathered in central Tel Aviv, blocking the city’s main highway. The crowd, many holding blue and white Israeli flags and others blowing whistles and pounding drums, gathered around a small bonfire in the middle of the road. About 1,000 other demonstrated outside Netanyahu’s home in Jerusalem. Protesters gathered and blocked roads in several other spots across the country.


The dismissal comes at a delicate time. Israeli troops remain bogged down in Gaza, over a year after invading the territory, while Israeli ground troops are pressing ahead with a month-old ground invasion against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.


Israel has also clashed with Iranian-backed groups in Iraq, Syria and Yemen, and is facing the possibility of another strike by Iran. Iran has vowed to avenge an Israeli strike that came in response to an Oct. 1 Iranian missile attack, itself a reprisal for earlier Israeli attacks on Iranian-linked targets.


Israel’s Channel 12 TV said that Netanyahu’s decision was prompted by Gallant’s decision this week to send out thousands of draft notices to young ultra-Orthodox men.


Under a longstanding and controversial arrangement, religious men are exempt from military service, which is compulsory for most Jews. This system has bred widespread resentment among the secular majority, and Israel’s Supreme Court has ordered the government to scrap the system. Netanyahu, whose governing coalition depends on ultra-Orthodox parties, has not yet implemented the order.


Earlier Tuesday, Gallant had visited Israeli troops stationed near the Lebanese border, where he talked of the need to enlist ultra-Orthodox soldiers, saying it was needed to improve security and national solidarity. “This is the people of Israel. There is no one else.”


Channel 13 TV said Netanyahu had also taken advantage of the U.S. election, when American attention is focused elsewhere, to dismiss his rival.


The White House on Tuesday declined to comment on the firing but called Galant “an important partner on all matters related to the defense of Israel.”


“As close partners, we will continue to work collaboratively with Israel’s next Minister of Defense,” the White House National Security Council said.


Gallant, a former general who has gained public respect with a gruff, no-nonsense personality, said in a statement: “The security of the state of Israel always was, and will always remain, my life’s mission.”


He was expected to deliver a statement on national television later Tuesday.


A previous attempt by Netanyahu to fire Gallant in March 2023 sparked widespread street protests against Netanyahu. He also flirted with the idea of dismissing Gallant over the summer but held off until Tuesday’s announcement.


Katz, his replacement, currently serves as foreign minister and is a longtime Netanyahu loyalist and veteran Cabinet minister. Katz thanked Netanyahu and pledged to lead the security establishment to victory in the wars against Israel’s enemies.


Katz, 69, was a junior officer in the military decades ago and has little military experience, though he has been a key member of Netanyahu’s Security Cabinet over the years. Gideon Saar, a former Netanyahu rival who rejoined the government in September, will take the foreign affairs post.


Netanyahu has a long history of neutralizing his rivals. In his statement, he claimed he had made “many attempts” to bridge the gaps with Gallant.


“But they kept getting wider. They also came to the knowledge of the public in an unacceptable way, and worse than that, they came to the knowledge of the enemy — our enemies enjoyed it and derived a lot of benefit from it,” he said.




Credit: NEW YORK TIMES POST


Now Trump has won the election. What happens to his legal cases?

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