![]() Israel’s consul-general in New York said he was resigning over the dismissal. Netanyahu’s nationalist-religious coalition has been plunged into crisis over the bitter divisions exposed by its flagship judicial overhaul plans Īdding to the pressure, the head of the Histadrut labour federation, the umbrella organisation for hundreds of thousands of public sector workers, said he was “astonished” by Gallant’s removal and promised a “dramatic” announcement on Monday. Netanyahu crossed a red line tonight,” they said, calling on the Likud party not to have a hand in “the crushing of national security”. “State security cannot be a card in the political game. Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz issued a joint statement condemning Netanyahu’s moves. Shortly afterwards, Gallant, 64, wrote on Twitter: “The state of Israel’s security has always been and will always be my life’s mission.”Īs protesters poured into the streets, police used water cannons to push them back from Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, while in Tel Aviv - where hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets since the beginning of the year - protesters lit a large bonfire on a main highway.Ĭlashes were reported in Tel Aviv as police moved in to clear the highway and put out the fires. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided this evening to dismiss Defence Minister Yoav Gallant,” it said. In announcing Gallant’s dismissal, Netanyahu’s office did not name a replacement nor give any other details. “At this time, for the sake of our country, I am willing to take any risk and pay any price,” Gallant said in his televised address. Netanyahu made the decision to sack Gallant after the former navy admiral warned on Saturday that the overhaul plans risked “a clear, immediate and tangible threat to the security of the state” and called for them to be halted. ![]() ![]() Israeli protesters block a highway in Tel Aviv, Israel, Sunday, Ma ‘Red line’ ![]() Later in the day, the grassroots protest movement said it would hold another mass demonstration outside the Knesset, or parliament, in Jerusalem. Israeli media said leaders in Netanyahu’s coalition were to meet on Monday morning. Culture Minister Micky Zohar, a Netanyahu confidant, said the party would support him if he decided to pause the judicial overhaul. Gallant had been the first senior member of the ruling Likud party to speak out against it, saying the deep divisions were threatening to weaken the military.īut as droves of protesters flooded the streets late into the night, Likud ministers began indicating a willingness to hit the brakes. Netanyahu’s dismissal of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant signalled that the prime minister and his allies will barrel ahead this week with the overhaul plan. ![]() The unrest deepened a monthslong crisis over Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the judiciary, which has sparked mass protests, alarmed business leaders and former security chiefs, and drawn concern from the United States and other close allies. Protesters in Tel Aviv, many wearing blue and white Israeli flags, blocked a main highway late on Sunday and lit large bonfires, while police scuffled with protesters who gathered outside Netanyahu’s private home in Jerusalem. Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in cities across Israel in a spontaneous outburst of anger on Sunday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly fired his defence minister for challenging his judicial overhaul plan. Israeli media outlets are now reporting that Netanyahu is expected to announce a to pause his judicial overhaul plan, despite calls from some of his ministers, such as the far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for him to not back down.īut the pressure on Netanyahu is mounting, with the country’s main labour union announcing a general strike, and calling for the prime minister to withdraw his plan. The appeal on Monday by the head of state, who normally does not get involved in politics, underlines the alarm that the proposals have caused and comes after a dramatic night of protests across Israel. Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ruling coalition to halt its divisive judicial changes plan, “for the sake of the unity of the people of Israel, for the sake of responsibility”. ![]()
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