By dismissing his defense minister, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has consolidated his hold over his coalition by removing his main internal criticjb casino, making it easier for him to set wartime policy in the short term.

But the move also comes with long-term risks. By firing a popular rival who had opposed some of his most divisive policies, Mr. Netanyahu has fueled criticism that he thinks his personal survival is more important than the national interest.

The departing minister, Yoav Gallant, had broken with Mr. Netanyahu by pressing for a cease-fire with Hamas, saying it was the only way to free dozens of Israeli hostages held by the group in Gaza. On the domestic front, Mr. Gallant had pushed to scrap an exemption from military service for ultra-Orthodox Jews, a measure that risked collapsing Mr. Netanyahu’s government because it angered its ultra-Orthodox members.

“Netanyahu saw Gallant as the opposition within his own coalition,” said Nadav Shtrauchler, a political analyst and former strategist for Mr. Netanyahu. “Now, it will be easier for him to go in his own direction, not just politically, but militarily and strategically.”

Mr. Netanyahu swiftly denied that he would use Mr. Gallant’s departure to fire other senior members of the security establishment. Still, commentators speculated that after replacing Mr. Gallant with Israel Katz, who is expected to be a more pliant defense minister, Mr. Netanyahu would find it easier to remove the military chief of staff, Herzi Halevi.

On a similar note, the re-election of Donald J. Trump on Wednesday may temper any backlash in Washington over Mr. Gallant’s dismissal. The Biden administration saw Mr. Gallant as a trusted partner, especially as its relations with Mr. Netanyahu soured, but the election result has further reduced its influence over the prime minister’s thinking.

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