Israel defense minister fired in legal reform row
After he opposed controversial plans to reform the justice system, Israel’s defense minister was fired.
Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister, summoned Yoav Galant to a meeting. He told him that he had lost faith in him as Defense Minister.
Months of protests followed the plan to limit the power of the judiciary.
Tens of thousands of protestors took to the streets on Sunday night after Mr. Gallant was fired.
In Jerusalem, police and soldiers used water cannons against demonstrators near Mr. Netanyahu’s house.
Protest leaders accuse Netanyahu of acting like a dictator and destroying Israel’s security.
It is now harder for courts and tribunals to remove an unfit leader, angering many who see it as in the best interests of Benjamin Netanyahu, the incumbent who is currently on trial for corruption.
The leader of the opposition, Yair Lapid, described Mr. Gallant’s sacking as a new low for the government, while Mr. Gallant himself has described the planned legislation as an “immediate and tangible danger” to state security.
In a brief televised statement on Saturday night, Mr. Gallant said members of the Israeli Defence Forces were angry and disappointed, with an intensity he had never seen before.
Shortly after his dismissal a day later, Mr. Gallant wrote on Twitter: “The state of Israel’s security has always been and will always be my life’s mission.”
The defense minister had won the backing of some fellow members of Mr. Netanyahu’s Likud party, but others on the far right had called for him to go.
The law is part of the right-wing coalition government’s contentious plan to limit the powers of the judiciary.
The reforms include plans that would give the government full control over the committee which appoints judges, which he has said will pass in the Knesset next week.
Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir supported Mr. Netanyahu’s move, saying, “The prime minister decided on the necessary step and I congratulate him for that.”
It includes enabling parliament to overrule decisions made by the Supreme Court – a move that critics say will undermine the independence of the judiciary and could be used for political ends.
But Mr. Netanyahu says the reforms are designed to stop the courts from overreaching their powers and that they were voted for by the public at the last election.
Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid described Mr. Gallant’s sacking as “a new low” for the government.
“Netanyahu can fire Gallant, but he can’t fire reality or fire the people of Israel who are fronting up to resist the coalition’s madness,” Mr. Lapid added.
Former defense minister Benny Gantz praised Mr. Gallant, who he said had put the security of the country above all interests.
