March 27, 2023 21:32
THE DAY – Netanyahu gives in and postpones judicial reform
Benyamin Netanyahu is postponing judicial reform to the next session of the Knesset after Passover in the name of “national responsibility” and to avoid a “civil war”. At the same time, he leaves the law on the table and invites the opposition to dialogue for the necessary “adjustments”.
At the end of the busiest 24 hours in Israel’s recent history, the prime minister – after postponing his speech by the whole day – finally decided to address the evening to a country paralyzed by a general strike that has been sweeping everything, including of departures of flights, stopped by Ben Gurion and Israeli embassies around the world. The fuse for the protests was lit after weeks of tensions on Sunday night by the sacking of Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant, who pleaded guilty to calling for the reform process to be halted while sharing its substance. A move that, starting from the night, triggered the largest protest rallies of the past few days, which culminated in the afternoon with around 100,000 people in front of the Knesset in Jerusalem.
A showdown to which the right reacted with another counter-demonstration in front of Parliament. The danger that the situation could descend into an irreparable state was palpable throughout the day, and for this reason talks within the government majority intensified, since the prime minister first had to convince the seditious ultra-right allies of the need to let the souls . After Netanyahu’s televised address, the union immediately called off the strike, while the opposition said it was ready to accept the prime minister’s outstretched hand.
Netanyahu first had to mediate with his national security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir (Jewish power), to open the government crisis. With him, as announced by the far-right leader himself, he agreed to pause the reform in order to consider the creation of a civilian national guard made up of volunteers at the next government meeting, reporting directly to the minister. A fixture of Ben Gvir he advanced in forming a government and dusted for the occasion. “I have agreed to lift my veto – wrote Ben Gvir – in exchange for this commitment”. A concession that analysts judge to be at least problematic given the already existing presence of the police, border guards, Shin Bet (internal security) and the army itself. The relationship with finance minister and leader of religious Zionism, Bezalel Smotrich, is even more complicated. “We must not stop the reform under any circumstances. We are the majority – he said announcing his presence at the right-wing demonstration in the Knesset – we must not give in to violence, anarchy, wildcat strikes and disobedience. We will not allow them to steal our votes and our state.”
After all, Netanyahu himself said in his speech that he had “convinced most of his government allies,” not all. There is therefore a misalignment in the positions, even if the choice appears to be made. On the other hand, Center leader Benny Gantz – invoked by Netanyahu himself in the speech – said he would appear for the dialogue at Head of State Isaac Herzog’s residence “with an open heart and a sincere soul”. “We must reject civil war,” he added, “no to violence and yes to agreements and dialogue.” A call against the violence, which Netanyahu himself insisted on, denouncing “a minority of extremists” and urging the army leadership to crack down on reservists opposed to opposing the reform in the name of civil disobedience. “I will support any initiative for a fair dialogue, but – stressed Gantz – we will not compromise on the principles of democracy”. And Yair Lapid did the same, agreeing to start a dialogue under the aegis of Herzog, who was among the first to salute Netanyahu’s frankness.
March 27, 2023 8:41 p.m
Clashes between reform protesters and police in Tel Aviv
Right-wing protesters who have gathered in support of the Netanyahu-led judicial review have faced local law enforcement during their counter-protest. Protesters threw a smoke grenade and other objects, including flagpoles, at nearby police officers and members of the media.
March 27, 2023 8:39 p.m
Reform advocates break through police blockade in Be’er Sheva
Hundreds of right-wing counter-protesters broke through a blockade on Rager Boulevard in Be’er Sheba and joined opposition protesters to protest the judicial review. The police intervened between the parties. Families and children are present at the right-wing demonstration, and for the most part the demonstration was orderly. But in the front row, next to the anti-revision demonstrators, are several hooded youths who are cursing and making threatening gestures.
March 27, 2023 7:56 p.m
President Herzog: “We need a responsible dialogue”
“The postponement of the reform is correct. This is the time to start a serious and responsible dialogue, urgently to restore calm and put out the flames,” Israeli leader Isaac Herzog said in a comment on Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu’s speech. “For our national unity and for the future of our children, we must enter into dialogue immediately and develop agreements that are as comprehensive as possible. Only in this way – concluded Herzog – will we be able to get Israel out of the crisis.”
March 27, 2023 7:55 p.m
Gantz: “Reform postponement? Better late than never”
“Better late than never”. This is how former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz, now leader of the centrist opposition party National Unity, commented on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s announcement on judicial reform.
March 27, 2023 7:49 p.m
The general strike of the unions was called off
The main Israeli unions have called off the general strike planned for tomorrow. This was announced by Arnon Bar David, head of Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut. The decision came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to postpone controversial judicial reform.
March 27, 2023 7:48 p.m
The opposition accepts the dialogue with Netanyahu
“I will face the dialogue at Head of State Isaac Herzog’s residence with an open heart and a sincere soul,” said Benny Gantz, leader of the centrist Mahane Mamlachti party, taking up the Prime Minister’s call to Benjamin Netanyahu. “We must reject civil war,” he added, “no to violence and yes to agreements and dialogue. I will support any initiative for a just dialogue, but we will not compromise on the principles of democracy.” Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist Yesh Aitd party, also said he was ready to start a dialogue under Herzog’s aegis.
March 27, 2023 7:39 p.m
Netanyahu: “Sooner or later the reform will pass”
“Most” of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s allies share his decision to postpone much-controversial judicial reform. Netanyahu himself said so, adding that one way or another, judicial reform will eventually happen.
March 27, 2023 7:25 p.m
Netanyahu: ‘We can’t afford civil war’
“I’m not ready to split the nation in half.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this in a speech to the country and referred to the tensions surrounding judicial reform. “Now I’m saying we can’t have a civil war. We are on the way to dangerous clashes in Israeli society, to a crisis,” the prime minister underscored live on television.