Protests erupted across Israel Sunday night after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacked his Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for calling for a halt to controversial judicial reform, warning it was a threat to national security.
The fight over the proposals, which would significantly weaken the powers of the judiciary, has plunged Israel into an escalating political crisis, unnerving investors, alarming its allies and sparking the biggest wave of protests in more than a decade.
Further demonstrations erupted after news of Gallant’s sacking broke on Sunday, with thousands of Israelis blocking Tel Aviv’s main highway, and others clashing with police outside Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem. Israeli media reported protests in more than 150 locations.
As anger mounted, a group of universities announced they would go on strike from Monday morning, and Israel’s consul general in New York resigned in protest.
On Saturday, Gallant became the most senior figure in Netanyahu’s hardline government to call for a halt to sweeping reform, warning that the polarization it has caused is undermining the military. Thousands of reservists have threatened not to show up for training in protest of the plans.
Benjamin Netanyahu sacked Yoav Gallant as defense minister © AFP via Getty Images
Barely 24 hours later, Netanyahu’s office said in a brief statement that it had decided to fire Galant. “We must stand firm against anyone who refuses to serve,” Netanyahu wrote on Twitter.
Galant, a former Israeli army officer, said the country’s security “has always been and always will be my life’s mission.”
Gallant’s decision to cut ranks highlighted escalating tensions within the coalition over the proposed changes, which would give the government and its allies greater control over the appointment of judges, and limit the Supreme Court’s power to overturn laws.
Supporters say the changes are necessary to rein in an activist judiciary that has pushed a partisan left-wing agenda. But critics see the reform as a fundamental threat to Israeli checks and balances that will weaken protections for minorities, foster corruption and harm the economy.
Yair Lapid, head of Yesh Atid, the largest opposition grouping, called Galant’s dismissal “a new low” for “a government that harms national security and ignores the warning of all security officials.”
He wrote on Twitter: “Netanyahu can dismiss Galant, but he cannot shoot reality and he cannot fire the people of Israel who stand up to the madness of the coalition.”
His criticism was echoed by other opposition parties and former security officials. Eitan Ben Eliyahu, the former head of the Air Force, said that Netanyahu had “declared civil war.” Announcing his resignation, New York Consul Assaf Zamir said government reform “undermines the very foundation of our democratic system”.
However, hardliners in Netanyahu’s coalition celebrated. Itamar Ben Gvir, the ultranationalist security minister, who called for Galant’s dismissal after his statement on Saturday, congratulated Netanyahu.
Ben Gvir said: “Whoever surrenders to the military opponents cannot remain in office, even for a moment.”
Netanyahu said Thursday that the government will press ahead with the reform, and will present the amendment giving it greater control over judicial appointments in Parliament to a final vote this week.
Two other lawmakers from Netanyahu’s coalition, Yuli Edelstein and David Bitan, backed Gallant’s call for a delay on Saturday. But to block the legislation, many members of the coalition would have to vote against it. The government controls 64 seats in Israel’s 120-seat parliament.