JERUSALEM: Amidst rising public protests, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant has urged the government to halt legislation aimed at judicial reforms, stating the bitter dispute over the proposed measures posed a danger to national integrity and security”.
Gallant said in a televised statement that the deepening split was seeping into the military and security agencies, which was a clear, immediate, and real danger to the country’s security and he will not facilitate that.
Others in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s hard-right coalition governing had voiced some misgivings about the controversial judicial shake-up, Gallant’s was the first cabinet member to object to it with a clear voice.
At the same time, two fellow Likud party lawmakers, Yuli Edelstein and David Bitan, announced support for Gallant and echoed his call that judicial reform should be made with a broad agreement.
It was still being determined whether Netanyahu, concluding a visit to London and aiming to finalise legislation on at least one bill in the coming week, would heed their passionate call.
On trial on corruption charges, Netanyahu was under pressure from other cabinet members who pushed him to proceed with the bill that would grant the ruling coalition more say in selecting judges, which detractors say would undermine judicial independence.
Highlighting tensions within Netanyahu’s cabinet, far-right minister for police Itamar Ben-Gvir asked Netanyahu to fire Gallant, who he said had caved to opposition pressure.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid praised Gallant’s “brave voice” and said he was ready to discuss reforms once the government stopped the legislation.
With a solid 64-seat majority in the Israeli parliament, the coalition government would still have enough votes without Gallant unless more lawmakers back down from the proposed changes.
