Mass protests in Israel after Netanyahu ousts defense minister opposed to judicial overhaul


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, on Sunday, after Gallant called on him to drop a proposed overhaul of the country's judicial system.
Israel's right-wing government is proposing changing the way the country's Supreme Court judges are picked, giving appointees and representatives of the government an automatic majority on the committee. This would "effectively [allow] the government to choose the judges," The New York Times writes. Additionally, the parliament would be able to override the Supreme Court's ability to strike down laws it deems unconstitutional.
During a speech on Saturday, Gallant said the overhaul needed to be halted "for the security of Israel," citing several Israel Defense Force reservists saying they would stop training in protest. There have been protests in Israel ever since the controversial plan was first announced, and Netanyahu's dismissal of Gallant — the first member of the ruling Likud party to publicly oppose it — sparked demonstrations in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other parts of Israel on Sunday night, with tens of thousands of protesters hitting the streets and blocking roadways. Several universities also announced a strike starting Monday.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Since Gallant's removal, three government ministers from Likud have said they would support Netanyahu pausing the overhaul. "When the house is on fire, you don't ask who is right, but pour water and save its occupants," Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar tweeted. "If the prime minister decides to stop the legislation in order to prevent the rift created in the nation, we must support his position." Israel's Consul General in New York, Asaf Zamir, submitted his resignation, calling Gallant's firing "a dangerous decision" and admitting he has "become increasingly concerned with the policies of the new government, and in particular, the judicial reform it is leading."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Museum head ousted after Trump sword gift denial
Speed Read Todd Arrington, who led the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum, denied the Trump administration a sword from the collection as a gift for King Charles
-
Trump declares ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels
speed read This provides a legal justification for recent lethal military strikes on three alleged drug trafficking boats
-
Supreme Court rules for Fed’s Cook in Trump feud
Speed Read Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in her role following Trump’s attempts to oust her
-
Judge rules Trump illegally targeted Gaza protesters
Speed Read The Trump administration’s push to arrest and deport international students for supporting Palestine is deemed illegal
-
Trump: US cities should be military ‘training grounds’
Speed Read In a hastily assembled summit, Trump said he wants the military to fight the ‘enemy within’ the US
-
US government shuts down amid health care standoff
Speed Read Democrats said they won’t vote for a deal that doesn’t renew Affordable Care Act health care subsidies
-
YouTube to pay Trump $22M over Jan. 6 expulsion
Speed Read The president accused the company of censorship following the suspension of accounts post-Capitol riot
-
‘Used correctly, the drug is safe’
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day