"They used to do dismissals with style here": Minister Katz shares video of Saddam Hussein
Defense Minister Israel Katz shared a video on X featuring Saddam Hussein, accompanied by a sarcastic comment about "dismissals with style." The post sparked controversy amid reports regarding the potential replacement of Central Command Chief Avi Bluth.
After announcing last night (Sunday) in a live broadcast the replacement for Central Command Chief Avi Bluth - and stating this morning that he did not call for his dismissal - Defense Minister Israel Katz shared a post on X in which Saddam Hussein is seen calling out the names of "disloyal" party members, who are subsequently taken out of the hall and arrested. "They used to do dismissals with style here," was written as a joke above the video shared by the Defense Minister.
The video of Saddam Hussein was filmed just two days after he seized power in Iraq, providing a terrifying glimpse into how he intended to run the country. On July 22, 1979, the new president of Iraq gathered the top brass of the ruling Ba'ath party for a special assembly. The event, filmed entirely on video cameras by Saddam's direct order, turned within minutes from a routine political gathering into a show of terror: Saddam took the podium, claimed he had uncovered an extensive network of "disloyal members" collaborating with hostile elements, and began calmly reading out the names of 68 alleged conspirators. One after another, under the watchful and terrified eyes of their colleagues, the attendees were taken out of the hall by security personnel.
The fate of the dismissed was decided in a flash: the 68 detainees were put on a quick trial on charges of treason, and on August 1, 1979, hundreds of senior party members were executed - a move that marked the absolute purging of the ranks and deepened the dictator's absolute grip on Iraq.
The remarks come against the backdrop of Minister Katz's announcement during an interview on Channel 14 regarding the replacement of Bluth with the current head of the Manpower Directorate, Dado Bar Khalifa. The announcement followed Bluth's appeal against Katz's decision to cancel a restriction order for Tal Yinon Dardik, who is suspected of abusing Palestinians.
The Defense Minister claimed this was done on the recommendation of the Chief of Staff, but the IDF stated that his words "were not coordinated with the Chief of Staff," adding that he does not intend to replace commanders in key positions during this sensitive period. This morning, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir announced that he would not appoint major generals until the beginning of 2027 due to the election system in Israel. Consequently, Central Command Chief Major General Avi Bluth will continue in his position.
Katz stated this morning that "the attempt to present my words as if I called for the dismissal of the Central Command Chief in the broadcast is an absolute lie, as part of a political campaign directed against the government." He insisted that the recommendation for Bar Khalifa had been received and approved months prior. "This is not a real storm but a media attempt to divert the discussion from the real question: what will happen if Yair Golan becomes Defense Minister? There is a fear that they will return to appointing people of the old concept, which could harm Israel's security. With me, this did not happen, and will not happen."
