Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Joav Gallant on Sunday evening. Gallant had previously been the first member of the government to call for a halt to the controversial judicial reform and a dialogue with critics. Netanyahu’s party friend justified this with a threat to the country’s military capacity and security reform, because numerous reservists had refused service in protest against the judicial reform.
Netanyahu gave no reason for his move, the dismissal was only announced by a spokesman for the right-wing conservative Likud party. Who should succeed Gallant remained open on Sunday evening. Likud politician Avi Dichter is one of the possible candidates.
The prime minister is now expected to implement his plans to have key parts of the legislative package passed in the Knesset this week as planned. A vote is pending on the appointment of judges, which is to take place in future in a body in which the government has a majority.
Critics of the judicial reform see the separation of powers in danger
With his quick reaction, Netanyahu also wants to prevent members of his Likud party from aligning themselves with Gallants. According to Israeli media ministers, after the defense minister’s appeal, at least two Likud politicians also called for a halt to judicial reform.
On the night of Sunday, more than 650,000 Israelis across the country protested against the judicial reform – for the twelfth week in a row. The government accuses the Supreme Court of excessive interference in political decisions. In the future, Parliament should be able to overrule decisions of the Supreme Court with a simple majority. Critics see the separation of powers in danger and warn of a state crisis.
On Sunday evening there were demonstrations in front of the apartments and houses of politicians from the right-wing religious coalition. Another freeway was blocked. The army announced the postponement of a two-day workshop for its leaders to address the impact of the protests on the military.