Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacked his defense minister on Sunday, a day after calling for a month-long pause in the government’s controversial judicial reform process.
• Also read: 3 wounded by bullets in Tel Aviv, Israel: “Suspicion of terrorist attack”
• Also read: Three Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the West Bank
• Also read: In Jordan, Israelis and Palestinians pledge to ‘prevent further violence’
“Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided to impeach Defense Minister Yoav Galant,” the prime minister’s office said in a brief statement.
In a speech on Saturday night, Mr Galant, despite belonging to the same right-wing party as Mr Netanyahu, the Likud, said he feared persistent popular divisions over the issue would create a “real security threat”. Israel”.
Demonstrations have followed every week since the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, one of the most far-right in Israel’s history, unveiled a reform project that divided the country in January.
The reform, which is causing concern both at home and abroad, aims to increase the power of elected officials over judges. According to its critics, it endangers the democratic character of the State of Israel.
Mr Netanyahu and his far-right and ultra-Orthodox allies believe this reform project is necessary to restore a balance of power between elected officials and the Supreme Court, which they believe is politicized.
“We have to halt the legislative process for a month,” Mr Galant said on Saturday night ahead of a crucial week that was to be marked by different legislation and new mass demonstrations.
“I cling to the values of Likud (…), but major changes at the national level must be achieved through consultation and dialogue,” he added.
At the same time, the defense minister called for an end to the demonstrations.