Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday announced his government’s decision to halt judicial overhaul legislation temporarily. His decision came as tens of thousands of Israelis across the country took to the streets to protest the PM’s decision to sack Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who urged the government to halt plans to reform the judiciary.
For weeks, Israel has witnessed mass protests against the government’s proposal to change how the country’s robust judiciary functions.
Extremists Prepared to Tear Israel to Pieces
Saying that he is aware of the “enormous tension” building between two sides, Netanyahu noted that his decision was meant to douse the flames of discord. However, he warned that the protests were being fuelled by an “extremist minority” that is “prepared to tear our country to pieces.”
“It is using violence and incitement, it is threatening to harm elected officials, it is stoking civil war, and it is calling for refusal to serve, which is a terrible crime,” he said.
In this respect, Netanyahu stated that Israel would fail to exist without its military, and the latter cannot survive if people refuse to serve. “Refusal to serve is the end of our country,” he warned.
Preventing Civil War Through Dialogue
Stressing that he is “unwilling to cut the nation into two,” Netanyahu insisted that he would “leave no stone unturned” to find a solution. The PM said he is extending a hand to the opposition, urging them to act responsibly.
Tens of thousands of protesters gather in #TelAviv, #Israel to protest PM #Netanyahu's sacking of defence minister #YoavGallant after he urged the govt to halt judicial overhaul plans.#IsraelProtests pic.twitter.com/bBgREwcSUT
— Statecraft (@statecraftdaily) March 27, 2023
“When there is a chance to prevent civil war through dialogue […] I will give a genuine chance for genuine dialogue,” he said.
Netanyahu urged all critics to follow the lead of opposition member and former Defence Minister Benny Gantz, who promised to enter into a dialogue in good faith.
Sacking of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant
The immediate trigger for Netanyahu’s decision appears to be the outpouring of support for Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, who was sacked after urging the government to halt the judicial overhaul.
Tens of thousands of Israelis protested Gallant’s dismissal and demanded that the Likud party-led coalition reverse legislation aimed at increasing government control of the judiciary.
Protests have been going on for months over a bill aimed at radically altering Israel’s independent judiciary. Once passed, the Israeli government will have the power to appoint judges, something the opposition says will allow the state to influence judicial decisions.