Amid Calls for Firing, Gallant Visits Wounded Soldiers in Hospital

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva on Sunday afternoon and met with Elon Ben Na’ama and Uri Ben Zohar, the two IDF soldiers who were wounded in a terrorist shooting attack in Huwara on Motzoei Shabbos, and spoke with their families.

Gallant was accompanied by the director of the hospital, Dr. Eran Rothman, the director of the cardiac and thoracic surgery unit, Professor Dan Aravot, and the commander of the Kfir Brigade, Lt. Col. Sharon Altit.

One of the soldiers was seriously wounded in the attack, while the other was moderately wounded. The hospital reported Sunday morning that their conditions had improved and they were both in moderate condition.

The terrorists are believed to have fired at the soldiers from a passing vehicle. A manhunt is under way for the shooters.

This is the third terrorist shooting attack in Huwara in a month, after two Israeli brothers were murdered in late February and a man was seriously wounded a week ago.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is reportedly readying to fire Gallant after he publicly called for the government to halt its judicial overhaul blitz, breaking with the coalition and exposing internal misgivings over the push.

In place of Gallant, Netanyahu is reportedly considering tapping Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter, a former Shin Bet chief who has also reportedly backed suspending the overhaul push but who vowed Sunday to vote for it.