Israel’s prime minister dismissed defense minister Galant after he called for the controversial judicial reform to be halted.
(Photo: dpa)
Jerusalem, Tel Aviv According to a coalition member, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is postponing the debate on the controversial judicial reform until next month. The right-wing extremist Jewish Strength party said in a statement on Monday that the relevant discussions on the project should take place in the next parliamentary session. The reform should thus be adopted “through dialogue”.
The Israeli parliament will take a break next week. The judicial reform pushed by Netanyahu has led to a domestic political crisis and massive protests.
Before that, there was a general strike across the country: Numerous shops and Israeli embassies will remain closed on Monday, and hardly any plane will take off from Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu triggered the massive protest with the dismissal of Defense Minister Joav Galant on Sunday evening. Galant had previously called for talks with critics and a halt to controversial plans for judicial reform, and warned of a threat to Israel’s security.
Israel’s right-wing religious government has been pushing ahead with this reform with all its might for weeks. The coalition around Netanyahu accuses the Supreme Court of excessive interference in political decisions.
Here, people are demonstrating in Jerusalem against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to overhaul the judiciary.
(Photo: dpa)
In the future, for example, Parliament should be able to overturn decisions of the Supreme Court with a simple majority. In addition, the composition of the body for appointing judges is to be changed. Critics see the separation of powers in danger, some even warn against the creeping introduction of a dictatorship.