Judiciary conversion
Israel’s defense minister seeks ‘consensus’
Demonstrators march on a highway towards Jerusalem to protest against the controversial judiciary reform. photo
© Ohad Zwigenberg/AP/dpa
Government plans in Israel have been dividing large sections of society for months. This brings thousands of angry people onto the streets.
Shortly before a decisive vote in parliament, Israel’s defense minister Joav Galant got involved in the dispute over the conversion of the Justice turned on. “Galant is currently taking measures to achieve a broad consensus and to ensure the security of the State of Israel,” his office said when asked.
Earlier, Israeli television channel 12 reported that Galant was working to postpone a vote scheduled for Monday on a key element of his government’s controversial plans.
According to the report, he wants Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to have more time to reach a compromise with his opponents. On Friday, more than 1,000 Air Force reservists wrote a letter saying they would no longer be on duty if the law were passed. According to media reports, the letter triggered concerns within the military that it would no longer be fully operational in the area. A military spokesman wrote on Twitter that the impact is currently being reviewed.
Several government ministers condemned the reservists’ threat and stressed that they would not accept it. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich wrote on Facebook: “A country that submits to the threats of generals becomes, in effect, a country ruled by a military junta.”
Netanyahu sacked Galant in March after he publicly called for the plans to be halted and warned that national security could be seriously damaged. His dismissal was followed by violent protests and a general strike. The head of government then suspended the plans, and Galant’s dismissal was later reversed.