Status: 03/25/2023 22:27
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu wants to restructure the judiciary quickly – despite all the mass protests. Defense Secretary Gallant was the first cabinet member to call for a stay. He sees the country’s security in jeopardy.
Israeli Defense Minister Joaw Gallant has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to suspend the controversial restructuring of the judiciary. “We have to interrupt the process to start a dialogue,” Galant said in a surprisingly scheduled speech. He spoke of a period of time until Israel’s Independence Day on April 26th.
resistance in the armed forces
Gallant said the government’s move had also sparked unrest within the Israeli military and posed a clear and imminent threat to the country’s security. He has heard troubling statements from army commanders in recent weeks.
He spoke of “anger, pain and disappointment with an intensity I’ve never experienced before”. In his speech, the Minister of Defense referred to numerous cases of reservists who did not show up for duty in protest against the reform of the judiciary. “We must stop any form of disobedience to orders,” he demanded.
“Called to stop this judicial reform immediately”, Christoph Limpert, ARD Tel Aviv, on Israeli Defense Minister Gallant’s statement
tagesschau24 19:00, 25.3.2023
Gallant insists on dialogue
Mass demonstrations must stop. Calling for dialogue with the opposition, the minister said the government should not move forward with its plans until parliament convenes after a break in April. “The threats around us are great,” warned Galant. He was referring to the ongoing conflict with the Palestinians and the Iranian nuclear program.
Like Netanyahu, Gallant belongs to the Likud party. On Thursday, the head of government had summoned the minister for an interview. Gallant then said that he had briefed the Prime Minister on the national security implications of the change in law. The media had already reported that Gallant had asked Netanyahu to cancel the project. After the meeting, Netanyahu stated that he was determined to proceed with reform.
200,000 people protest in Tel Aviv
The focus of the reform is the procedure for selecting judges. The government wants to increase its own influence and limit the powers of the Supreme Court. She justified this with the accusation that the judges had interfered in politics. Critics accuse Netanyahu’s government of conservatives, religious fundamentalists and far-right nationalists of wanting to restrict the independence of the judiciary.
Netanyahu wants to implement core elements of the reform in the coming days. Critics see the separation of powers in jeopardy and warn of a national crisis. Mass protests have now lasted three months. According to media reports, nearly 200,000 protesters gathered again today in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv. In Jerusalem, thousands of demonstrators marched in front of President Isaac Herzog’s residence.
Violence in the West Bank is on the rise
In Israel, where security concerns play a very important role, there is great concern that the protests could contribute to destabilizing the country. Violence is also steadily increasing in the occupied West Bank. Two Israeli soldiers were shot and wounded by a Palestinian in the town of Hawara on Saturday, the military said. In the city, Israeli settlers torched Palestinian homes and cars after a fatal attack on two other settlers in February.