POLITICSISRAEL
Israel: Netanyahu fires defense minister
5 hours ago5 hours ago
Yoav Gallant was the first Cabinet member to break ranks with Benjamin Netanyahu over plans to overhaul the judiciary. His dismissal prompted further protests, and a diplomat’s resignation.
https://p.dw.com/p/4PGsg
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant after he called on the government to halt its controversial judicial overhaul.
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided, this evening to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Gallant,” his office said.
The decision was followed by more protests in Tel Aviv and other cities on Sunday evening against the proposed reforms.
Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan set up bonfires and block a highway during a protest moments after the Israeli leader fired his defense minister, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, March 26, 2023. Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s judicial overhaul plan set up bonfires and block a highway during a protest moments after the Israeli leader fired his defense minister, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, March 26, 2023.
Protest organizers had already called for a week of rolling demonstrations, and Gallant’s dismissal added extra impetus to those taking place on SundayImage: Oren Ziv/AP Photo/picture alliance
The use of water cannons was reported at several of the protests, including one outside Netanyahu’s private residence in Jerusalem.
A water cannon is used as people attend a demonstration after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the defense minister and his nationalist coalition government presses on with its judicial overhaul, in Jerusalem, March 26, 2023.A water cannon is used as people attend a demonstration after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the defense minister and his nationalist coalition government presses on with its judicial overhaul, in Jerusalem, March 26, 2023.
Water cannons were also used in Jerusalem by law enforcementImage: Ronen Zvulun/REUTERS
Soon after Gallant’s dismissal, Israel’s consul general in New York, Asaf Zamir, announced his resignation on Twitter.
“Today’s decision to fire the Minister of Defense, convinced me that I can no longer continue representing this Government,” Zamir wrote.
What had Gallant said?
Gallant, who is a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party, on Saturday called on the government to stop its plans to overhaul the judiciary.
“We must stop the process in order to start a dialogue,” Gallant said in a televised speech, saying Israel’s security was at risk.
Israeli military leaders had also criticized the proposal.
Gallant, formerly a leading general, was the most senior member of Netanyahu’s more centrist Likud party to date to urge the prime minister to abandon the plan.
Netanyahu dismisses defense minister: DW’s Tania Krämer
02:56
Why are the reforms contentious?
The government announced the planned changes in January arguing they were needed to restore a balance between the executive and judicial branches, claiming that judges had become too interventionist.
The judicial overhaul would give the government sway in choosing judges and limit the Supreme Court’s power to strike down laws.
Opponents of the legal changes say the right-wing ruling coalition is seeking to erode the separation of powers in Israel, putting the country on a path toward autocracy.
lo, msh/jsi (AP, AFP, dpa, Reuters)
