It is uncertain whether he will announce that the parliamentary decision on the restructuring of the judiciary will be stopped. According to Israeli media reports, Netanyahu will announce a stop – but there have been similar assumptions in the past. No matter what Netanyahu decides, the coalition might break up. He would also lose the chance to continue governing, as provided for in the legislative package, even if he were convicted in the corruption process once morest him.
However, Netanyahu’s lawyer has now announced that he will no longer defend him in court in the case that has been going on for years if the head of government does not pull the ripcord and suspend the restructuring of the judiciary. This demanded once once more, in addition to the hundreds of thousands of protesters who took to the streets once more in the evening and at night, and President Yitzchak Herzog. Conversely, Justice Minister Jariv Levin and the right-wing extremist parties are threatening consequences in the event of a freeze. Levin, for example, is threatening to resign.
“Hands on the Wheel”
Netanyahu had countered international concerns regarding forming this most radical and far-right coalition in Israel’s history, saying he had “his hands on the wheel.” Admittedly, his critics saw things differently from the start: the right-wing parties were the only parties that were still willing to cooperate with the indicted head of government. He was therefore at their mercy, according to the argument of the opposition. It remains to be seen whether Galant’s expulsion will turn out to be a decisive turning point for this coalition.
Escalation with the expulsion of Galant
The already explosive situation had radicalized further from one moment to the next on Sunday when it was announced that Netanyahu had fired his defense minister and fellow party member Galant. He was the only one in the government who had previously publicly advocated freezing the restructuring of the judiciary. The post of defense minister is considered the most prestigious in Israel following that of prime minister.
Concerned that the protests by militiamen – thousands of them are already refusing to go to exercises as a sign of protest – would spread further, he issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu for a temporary stop. At the end of last week, Galant presented the head of government with assessments by the military chiefs, according to which the protests by the militiamen might at least partially jeopardize the army’s operational readiness.
Urgent Appeal
“For the sake of the unity of the Israeli people, for the sake of responsibility, I call on you to stop the legislative process immediately,” President Herzog wrote on Twitter on Monday night. According to media reports, Netanyahu consulted with several ministers late into the night. Nevertheless, one of the cornerstones of the restructuring of the judiciary – the procedure for the appointment of judges – is to be finally decided in the Judiciary Committee in the morning. Before Netanyahu’s speech, the coalition leaders discussed once more.
Several ministers who were not present at the nightly deliberations spoke out in favor of suspending the conversion in the morning. The goal of the reform project is correct, but the way to get there needs to be reconsidered and “not worth a civil war,” the Jerusalem Post quoted Economics Minister Nir Barkat as saying.
Israel: Again demos once morest judiciary restructuring
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Israel on Sunday once morest the controversial judicial reform and the dismissal of the defense minister. The minister was fired by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu following he was critical of the reform.
Heaviest protests so far
After Galant’s expulsion became known, tens of thousands spontaneously gathered in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv to protest Netanyahu’s decision. They blocked the central road to Jerusalem. For the first time, numerous fires were lit on the street, and the police used violence once morest the demonstrators. It was probably the most violent protests so far.
There were also protests in other Israeli cities during the night. Demonstrators also gathered in front of Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem. They broke through a roadblock next to the prime minister’s home. There were also protests in the northern city of Haifa and in Beer Sheva in the south of the country.
US ‘deeply concerned’
The US reacted with concern to developments in Israel and called for a compromise. “We are deeply concerned by today’s developments in Israel, which underscore the urgent need for a compromise,” the White House said on Sunday evening (local time). Democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of US-Israel relations. “We continue to urge the Israeli leadership to find a compromise as soon as possible.”
First diplomat resigns
The Israeli Consul General in New York, Asaf Zamir, resigned in protest at Galant’s dismissal. That was “a dangerous decision,” Zamir said on Twitter. The process has made him realize that he “can no longer represent this government”.