Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to abruptly fire his defence minister for challenging his judicial overhaul plan has seen tens of thousands of protesters taking to the streets in cities across Israel in a spontaneous outburst of anger.
Protesters who stormed Tel Aviv, many wearing blue and white Israeli flags, blocked a main highway late on Sunday and lit large bonfires, while police scuffled with protesters who gathered outside Netanyahu’s private home in Jerusalem.
The upheaval exacerbated a months-long crisis over Netanyahu’s proposal to reform the judiciary, which has provoked widespread protests, scared corporate executives and former security commanders, and garnered worry from the United States and other key allies.
Yoav Gallant, the defence minister, was fired by Netanyahu, sending a message that the makeover plan would move through this week. Gallant was the first senior Likud party official to publicly criticise it, claiming that the party’s severe disagreements risked weakening the military.
But as droves of protesters flooded the streets late into the night, Likud ministers began indicating a willingness to hit the brakes. Culture Minister Micky Zohar, a Netanyahu confidant, said the party would support him if he decided to pause the judicial overhaul.
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Israeli media said leaders in Netanyahu’s coalition were to meet on Monday morning. Later in the day, the grassroots protest movement said it would hold another mass demonstration outside the Knesset, or parliament, in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu made the decision to sack Gallant after the former navy admiral warned on Saturday that the overhaul plans risked “a clear, immediate and tangible threat to the security of the state” and called for them to be halted.
“At this time, for the sake of our country, I am willing to take any risk and pay any price,” Gallant said in his televised address.
In announcing Gallant’s dismissal, Netanyahu’s office did not name a replacement nor give any other details. “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has decided this evening to dismiss Defence Minister Yoav Gallant,” it said.
Shortly afterwards, Gallant, 64, wrote on Twitter: “The state of Israel’s security has always been and will always be my life’s mission.”
As protesters poured into the streets, police used water cannons to push them back from Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, while in Tel Aviv — where hundreds of thousands have taken to the streets since the beginning of the year — protesters lit a large bonfire on a main highway.
Clashes were reported in Tel Aviv as police moved in to clear the highway and put out the fires.
Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz issued a joint statement condemning Netanyahu’s moves.