TEL AVIV — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened on Monday an urgent news conference in Tel Aviv, reinstating to his position Defense Minister Yoav Gallant whom he fired two weeks ago. Taking reporters’ questions for the first time since assuming office over three months ago, Netanyahu blamed the recent security escalation on the previous government.

The unusual press conference by Netanyahu was convened for good reason. The long-held dream of Israel’s enemies to forge a united front against the Middle Eastern country appears to be coming true with militants in the Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria firing rockets into Israeli territory in recent days and deadly attacks against Israeli civilians and soldiers.

In a rare occurrence, a suicide bomber infiltrated Israel from Lebanon last month carrying enough explosives to mount a mass casualty attack in central Israel, which would have likely sparked a greatly feared major war with Hezbollah and other Iranian-allied forces. Luckily, the explosives did not kill anyone, instead injuring an Arab-Israeli citizen. The attacker was located and shot dead.

Tensions have also been greatly fueled by two Israeli police raids on Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan to disperse militants who had barricaded themselves inside. Disturbing video footage showing them beating worshippers with truncheons went viral and set off global Muslim fury.