Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sacked Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after he called for a halt to a proposed judicial reform in the country that sparked a split in society and nationwide protests.
⠀
On Saturday, Gallant delivered a televised address to the nation in which he expressed concern about the impact of judicial reform on the security of the state in light of the fact that many reservists refuse to serve in the army in protest. Gallant called for the suspension of the legislative process and the search for ways to dialogue.
⠀
Galant became the first key minister in the Netanyahu government to publicly call for a suspension of judicial reform. The statements of both ministers can be regarded as the beginning of a split within the ruling coalition, which is opposed to strong protest moods in society.
⠀
Earlier, the organizers of the protest movement against judicial reform in Israel announced a “week of paralysis”, which implies large-scale protests throughout the country. Israelis have been protesting judicial reform for the twelfth week in a row. By Saturday evening, the number of demonstrators who had joined the protests in Tel Aviv had reached 200,000.
⠀
Various groups of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reservists repeatedly wrote open letters to the government demanding a halt to judicial reform and refused to serve in the reserves in protest. Among the IDF units that refused to continue their service were elite units and air force pilots.
⠀
The package of laws proposed by the Netanyahu government will significantly limit the powers of the Supreme Court, giving the government control over the appointment of judges. At the same time, the Israeli prime minister expressed readiness for a dialogue with the opposition on judicial reform.
