Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant on Saturday urged the government to halt its judiciary revision legislation to allow reform talks, days after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the government would pass a key part of the proposed restructuring next week.
“The security of the State of Israel is my life’s work,” said Gallant, a retired general who was once nominated to be the military’s chief of staff. “I have risked my life for the State of Israel dozens of times in the uniform of the IDF, and at this point I am willing to take any risk and pay any price for our country.”
The defense minister stressed that Israel faces “major threats — both near and far,” citing Iran’s nuclear program, Palestinian attacks and recent tensions with the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. “More than ever, we face unprecedented security challenges,” he said.
Gallant, who touted the military as a “source of pride” for military personnel and the nation as a whole, said he had been speaking with military officials about the overhaul plans in recent weeks.
“I hear their voices and I worry. The Israeli Defense Forces are not left out of the events taking place and the problems in Israeli society. Unprecedented feelings of anger, pain and disappointment have risen,” he said.
“And I see the source of our strength eroding,” Gallant warned. “The growing divide in our society permeates the IDF and the security agencies. This poses a clear, immediate and tangible threat to the security of the state. I will not allow this to happen.”
Hundreds protest outside Defense Minister Yoav Gallant’s home in Moshav Amikam on March 25, 2023. (Screenshot: Twitter)
Gallant declared himself a right-wing party, mentioning his membership of the ruling Likud party, on whose commitments he said he puts the country first. He then stressed his support for the adoption of changes in the judicial system.
“But significant national changes are achieved through dialogue,” he said.
“We must not damage our unit. There must be no doubt in the hearts of the mothers who will send their sons and daughters to serve in the IDF,” Gallant continued. “The victory of a single party, whether in the halls of the Knesset or on the streets of our cities, will result in a loss for the State of Israel.”
The defense minister called for “holding a unifying national process with broad participation, a process that will strengthen the State of Israel and preserve the strength of the IDF.” Gallant added that he had said privately in recent days that talks needed to be held due to the security situation, but is now speaking publicly.
“In the interests of Israel’s security, in the interests of our sons and daughters — the legislative process should be halted — so that the nation of Israel can celebrate Passover and Independence Day together and mourn Memorial Day and Holocaust Remembrance Day together,” he said.
He also called for an end to the protests – like the mass demonstrations on Saturday night and the rallies earlier in the day outside his home – saying: “Any refusal to serve in our military should be stopped immediately as it undermines the power of the IDF and harms our defense establishment,” amid growing warnings from reservists they could go off duty if the overhaul passes.
FILE: Israeli reserve soldiers, veterans and activists protest at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem on February 10, 2023 against the government’s planned judicial review. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
Gallant’s call to halt the legislation was backed by several Likud MPs.
MK Yuli Juwel, Chair of the Knesset’s powerful Foreign and Defense Committee, thanked Gallant for “joining the path I’ve been walking for weeks.”
“The majority of people want and understand the need for changes in the justice system, but this must be done with patience, dialogue and broad discourse to reach broad consensus,” he said in a statement.
MK David Bitan similarly said: “As I said a few weeks ago, the legislation should be stopped and negotiations started immediately and comprehensive agreements reached. I support the words of my friend the Secretary of Defense.”
Earlier on Saturday, it was reported that Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter had spoken to Netanyahu and other Likud MKs and asked for the legislative revisions to be extended until after Independence Day on May 26.
“There will be no going back,” Dichter, a former head of the Shin Bet security agency, was quoted as saying by Channel 12 News.
But other Likud members berated Gallant, and Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi accused him of “capitulating under pressure from the left.”
“The State of Israel is at a historic crossroads between democracy and dictatorship, and its defense minister has chosen dictatorship,” Karhi wrote on Twitter.
Echoing Karhi, Likud MK accused Tally Gotliv of showing Gallant “weakness and subservience”.
Likud coalition leader Ofir Katz said those who do not vote for judicial reform “have ended their career in Likud”.
Speaking on a Channel 14 talk show, Katz said Gallant made a mistake in demanding a paise.
“He’s wrong and wrong. Who do you think you need to talk to? Do you think there’s another side waiting for you?” Katz said.
Some of Netanyahu’s far-right allies also attacked Gallant, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir urging Netanyahu to fire him.
“I call on the Prime Minister to fire Gallant, who came with the votes of the right but gave in to pressure from those who threatened rejection [to serve in the military]and trying to stop the important reform,” Ben Gvir said in a statement.
The speech was praised by opposition figures.
“Secretary of Defense Gallant is taking a bold and important step for the security of the State of Israel tonight. The coup is seriously damaging national security and it is his role and responsibility to stop the dangerous deterioration,” opposition leader Yair Lapid said in a statement.
“This is the moment of truth. I call on the government: stop everything, do not pass the amendment in the Judges Appointments Committee and the Deri Law this week and come and have talks at the President’s residence,” he added.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant (left), Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi watch a joint US-Israeli military exercise at the Air Force Command Center, January 25, 2023. (Kobi Gideon/GPO)
Gallant’s speech came as the government moves ahead with its legislative plans. Netanyahu said in a speech Thursday night that he would tone down parts of the future restructuring, but also said he would vote next week to pass the bill to bring key Supreme Court appointments, including his presidency, directly under coalition control deliver. It is not yet clear when the vote will take place, although Tuesday has been posited as a possible target.
Netanyahu spoke after subpoenaing Gallant after widespread reports that the defense minister was planning a press conference on Thursday where he would have publicly called for the legislation to be halted.
Opponents of the revision have thwarted this bill, saying it will politicize the court, remove key controls on governance and do serious damage to Israel’s democratic character. In response, protest leaders on Friday announced an unprecedented nationwide “Week of Paralysis” to upend daily life in the country, including mass protests in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
The revision has met with increasing concern and objection from prominent public figures, including the President, lawyers, business leaders, Nobel laureates in economics, prominent security officials and many more. This week, senior Treasury Department officials warned of profound and lasting damage to the economy if the changes are implemented in their current form