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A2 UP FRONT
Monday 27 March 2023
Netanyahu fires defense minister, sparking mass protests

Continued from Front came less than a day af- with liberal sympathies.
ter Gallant, a former senior But critics say the constella-
In a brief statement, Ne- general, called for a pause tion of laws will remove the
tanyahu’s office said late in the controversial legisla- checks and balances in
Sunday the prime minis- tion until after next month’s Israel’s democratic system
ter had dismissed Gallant. Independence Day holi- and concentrate power in
Netanyahu later tweeted days, citing the turmoil in the hands of the governing
“we must all stand strong the ranks of the military. coalition. They also say that
against refusal.” Gallant had voiced con- Netanyahu, who is on trial
Tens of thousands of Israe- cerns that the divisions in for corruption charges, has
lis poured into the streets in society were hurting mo- a conflict of interest.
protest after Netanyahu’s rale in the military and em- Tens of thousands of peo-
announcement, block- boldening Israel’s enemies. ple have taken to the
ing Tel Aviv’s main artery, Israelis opposed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial “I see how the source of streets over the past three
transforming the Ayalon overhaul plan block a highway during a protest moments after our strength is being erod- months to demonstrate
highway into a sea of blue- the Israeli leader fired his defense minister, in Tel Aviv, Israel, ed,” Gallant said. against the plan in the larg-
and-white Israeli flags and Sunday, March 26, 2023. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant had While several other Likud est demonstrations in the
lighting a large bonfire in called on Netanyahu to freeze the plan, citing deep divisions in members had indicated country’s 75-year history.
the middle of the road. the country and turmoil in the military. they might follow Gallant, Leaders of Israel’s vibrant
Demonstrations took place (AP Photo/Oren Ziv) the party quickly closed high-tech industry have
in Beersheba, Haifa and sprayed the crowd with a because “bad things are ranks on Sunday, clearing said the changes will scare
Jerusalem, where thou- water cannon. happening in this coun- the way for his dismissal. away investors, former top
sands of people gathered Inon Aizik, 27, said he came try,” referring to the judicial Galit Distal Atbaryan, Ne- security officials have spo-
outside Netanyahu’s pri- to demonstrate outside overhaul as “a quick legis- tanyahu’s public diploma- ken out against the plan
vate residence. Police Netanyahu’s private resi- lative blitz.” cy minister, said that Netan- and key allies, including
scuffled with protesters and dence in central Jerusalem Netanyahu’s decision yahu summoned Gallant to the United States and Ger-
his office and told him “that many, have voiced con-
he doesn’t have any faith cerns.
in him anymore and there- In recent weeks discontent
fore he is fired.” has even surged from with-
Gallant tweeted shortly af- in Israel’s army – the most
ter the announcement that popular and respected
“the security of the state of institution among Israel’s
Israel always was and will Jewish majority. A growing
always remain my life mis- number of Israeli reserv-
sion.” ists, including fighter pilots,
Opposition leader Yair La- have threatened to with-
pid said that Gallant’s dis- draw from voluntary duty in
missal “harms national se- the past weeks.
curity and ignores warnings Israel’s military is facing a
of all defense officials.” surge in fighting in the oc-
Israel’s consul general in cupied West Bank, threats
New York City, Assaf Zamir, from Lebanon’s Hezbollah
resigned in protest. militant group and con-
Avi Dichter, a former chief cerns that archenemy Iran
of the Shin Bet security is close to developing a nu-
agency, is expected to clear-weapons capability.
replace him. Dichter had Violence both in Israel and
reportedly flirted with join- the occupied West Bank
ing Gallant but instead an- has escalated over the
nounced Sunday he was past few weeks to heights
backing the prime minister. unseen in years.
Netanyahu’s government Manuel Trajtenberg, head
is pushing ahead for a of an influential Israeli
parliamentary vote this think tank, the Institute for
week on a centerpiece of National Security Studies,
the overhaul — a law that said that “Netanyahu can
would give the governing dismiss his defense minis-
coalition the final say over ter, he cannot dismiss the
all judicial appointments. It warnings he heard from
also seeks to pass laws that Gallant.”
would grant parliament the Meanwhile, an Israeli good
authority to override Su- governance group on Sun-
preme Court decisions with day asked the country’s
a basic majority and limit Supreme Court to punish
judicial review of laws. Netanyahu for allegedly
Netanyahu and his allies violating a conflict of in-
say the plan will restore a terest agreement meant
balance between the judi- to prevent him from deal-
cial and executive branch- ing with the country’s judi-
es and rein in what they see ciary while he is on trial for
as an interventionist court corruption.q