Thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Sunday to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who had urged the government to halt a controversial plan to overhaul the justice system.
Demonstrators went to Netanyahu’s house to protest against the dismissal of the defense minister for his refusal to reform the judicial system, which prompted the Israeli police to intervene by preventing them and clashing with them.
As local media reported, protesters broke through barriers near Netanyahu’s home in Jerusalem
Also, huge crowds blocked the main highway in Tel Aviv as well as a group of demonstrators setting fire in the middle of it.
Also, demonstrators set fires in the middle of the main road in Tel Aviv. There were calls for a nationwide strike on Monday after the defense minister was sacked for opposing judicial reforms.
political game
In turn, the Israeli opposition issued a statement holding the prime minister responsible for threatening Israel’s security, saying, “The country’s security should not be a political game in the hands of Netanyahu.”
She called on members of the Likud party not to accept the position of Minister of Defense, and said, “Whoever accepts the position of Minister of Defense brings shame to himself.”
Dismissal due to his rejection of judicial amendments
This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacked Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from office earlier today because of his rejection of the judicial amendments, according to Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath correspondent.
Local media also reported that Netanyahu summoned the defense minister before his dismissal, and said he had lost confidence in him because he had worked against the government and the ruling coalition.
In his first statement after his dismissal, the newspaper (The Jerusalem Post) quoted Gallant as saying, “The security of the State of Israel was and always will be the mission of my life.”
The dismissed defense minister had recently opposed Netanyahu’s controversial plan to amend the Israeli judicial system. Yesterday, Saturday, he called for halting legislation related to judicial amendments to hold a dialogue with opponents, warning of the existence of “enormous threats” with the arrival of what he considered a “split” within the Israeli army. .
“We need a change in the judicial system, but the main changes must be made through dialogue,” he said in a televised speech.
threatens national security
Commenting on the dismissal decision, the leader of the Israeli opposition, Yair Lapid, said that Netanyahu threatens national security and poses a threat to Israel’s security.
The Israeli National Unity Coalition also said, “Never before has the defense minister been dismissed for warning him of a security threat,” adding, “Netanyahu is determined to throw Israel into the abyss.”
Netanyahu’s ruling coalition is trying to push through changes to the judicial system that would give the government decisive influence in choosing judges and limit the power of the Supreme Court to overturn laws.
Supporters of the amendments say the plan will curb the Supreme Court’s abuse of its powers and restore balance to the arms of government.
For their part, opponents of the amendments believe that it will weaken the judiciary, endanger civil liberties, and harm the economy.
The proposed amendments also sparked weeks of mass protests and alarm among Israel’s Western allies.
