Protests in Israel after the dismissal of the defense minister for criticizing the judicial reform

thousands of peoples took to the streets tonight in the capitals of Israel as protests against the sudden dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, brought this Sunday over his criticism of the prime minister’s judicial reform amid strong social backlash. Benjamin Netanyahu himself announced the dismissal around 8:30 p.m. with the explanation that his colleague was in the cabinet “The government has turned its back”, Israeli media reports. In a short statement, the leader simply explained the loss of confidence in Gallant, who will retain his status as a representative of the ruling Likud party.

On Saturday, the minister publicly argued for paralyzing the reform process and giving more space for dialogue, convinced that it has become a “threat to Israel’s security”. Law it keeps the population divided and those differences would shift the ranks of the army and the interior of the barracks, according to what was condemned by Gallant, who thus became the first cabinet member to openly show his differences with Netanyahu in a judicial review.

Apparently, the minister seemed encouraged by warning signs like refusing thousands of reservists to enlist if the new law moves forward. Hundreds of them have already taken that refusal into effect, causing unease at the General Staff because the Israeli armed forces need reservists to function in all branches. However, it seems that the Prime Minister turned a deaf ear to this concern. We must all strongly oppose those who refuse to serve in the army, he said in a message on social networks a few minutes after announcing the dismissal of the minister.

The echoes on the street are already noticeable. after the demonstration on Saturday in which 650,000 people participated, citizens came out this Sunday evening to protest against Netanyahu’s reform with shouts in favor of democracy. Mobilizations arose spontaneously in different cities after Gallant’s removal from office, and in several of them incidents began to occur at midnight. Some roads remain closed with barricades set on fire, and security forces are trying to control protesters elsewhere.

On the political level, and considering the unstable right-wing and extreme right-wing coalition that supports the government, it is not very clear whether the former defense minister will be assigned to another position in the government. Leader of the opposition Yair Lapidattacked Netanyahu, accusing him of firing his minister “just because he warned him of the threat he posed to Israel’s security» judicial reform, which is taking new steps this Monday with the presentation of a bill that will allow greater influence on the selection of Supreme Court judges.