TEL AVIV: Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defence minister on Sunday, a day after Yoav Gallant called for a halt to the planned overhaul of Israel’s judiciary that has divided the country. Netanyahu’s office did not provide further details.
Gallant, a former army general, is a member of Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party. Dissent from the PM’s own party and cabinet has compounded months of unprecedented mass protests by Israelis who fear the package of reforms could endanger court independence. The PM, who is on trial on graft charges that he denies, says the overhaul will balance out branches of government. A key bill effectively giving his religious-nationalist coalition more control over the appointment of judges is expected to be brought for ratification this week in the Knesset, where he and his allies wield 64 out of 120 seats.
But how – or even whether – that as yet-unscheduled vote will proceed has been thrown into question by Likud dissenters. Gallant broke ranks on Saturday by publicly urging Netanyahu to suspend the legislation for a month. He said countrywide protests against the overhaul, which have included military reservists, were also affecting regular forces and undermines national security. “I will not facilitate this,” he said. Gallant’s statement was welcomed by Likud lawmaker David Bitan. Bitan estimated that as many as a third of his Likud colleagues preferred pausing the legislative push.
Gallant, a former army general, is a member of Netanyahu’s ruling Likud party. Dissent from the PM’s own party and cabinet has compounded months of unprecedented mass protests by Israelis who fear the package of reforms could endanger court independence. The PM, who is on trial on graft charges that he denies, says the overhaul will balance out branches of government. A key bill effectively giving his religious-nationalist coalition more control over the appointment of judges is expected to be brought for ratification this week in the Knesset, where he and his allies wield 64 out of 120 seats.
But how – or even whether – that as yet-unscheduled vote will proceed has been thrown into question by Likud dissenters. Gallant broke ranks on Saturday by publicly urging Netanyahu to suspend the legislation for a month. He said countrywide protests against the overhaul, which have included military reservists, were also affecting regular forces and undermines national security. “I will not facilitate this,” he said. Gallant’s statement was welcomed by Likud lawmaker David Bitan. Bitan estimated that as many as a third of his Likud colleagues preferred pausing the legislative push.