Israeli PM Netanyahu fires defence minister Gallant: Statement

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant a day after Gallant spoke out against the country’s planned judicial reforms, Netanyahu’s office has said.

Gallant, a senior member of Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud Party, became the first to break ranks late on Saturday by calling for the legislation to overhaul Israel’s judicial system to be frozen.

In a brief statement, Netanyahu’s office said the prime minister had dismissed Gallant. Netanyahu later tweeted “we must all stand strong against refusal”.

Gallant tweeted shortly after the announcement that “the security of the state of Israel always was and will always remain my life mission”.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Sunday, blocking a main highway, following the announcement.

The move signalled that Netanyahu will go ahead this week with the overhaul plan, which has sparked mass protests, angered military and business leaders and raised concerns among Israel’s allies.

Netanyahu’s government is pushing ahead for a parliamentary vote this week on a centrepiece of the overhaul – a law that would give the extreme-right governing coalition the final say over all judicial appointments.

Gallant had reportedly voiced concerns that the divisions in society were hurting morale in the military and emboldening Israel’s enemies across the region.

“I see how the source of our strength is being eroded,” Gallant said on Saturday.