Protesters take to streets in Israel after Netanyahu fires Defence Minister

Following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for opposing his proposed judicial reforms, protesters gathered in Tel Aviv, according to a report from Al Jazeera on Monday.

Tens of thousands of protesters stopped a highway in Tel Aviv after the decision, while police and demonstrators fought in front of Netanyahu’s Jerusalem home. The upheaval aggravated a months-long issue over Netanyahu’s proposal to reform the nation’s court system, which has sparked widespread protests and frightened the US and other key allies.

The White House voiced alarm at Yoav Gallant’s dismissal in a statement issued on Monday and claimed that a compromise was urgently needed.

The White House released a statement saying, “We are deeply concerned by the developments out of Israel, which further underscore the urgent need for compromise. As the President (Joe Biden) recently discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, democratic values have always been and must remain, a hallmark of the US-Israel relationship.”
“Democratic societies are strengthened by checks and balances, and fundamental changes to a democratic system should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support. We continue to strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible. We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens. US support for Israel’s security and democracy remains ironclad,” the statement further said.

According to Al Jazeera, the prime minister and his allies will move on with the reform plan this week as a result of the dismissal of the defence minister.

During Netanyahu’s absence from the country for an official visit to the United Kingdom on Saturday, Yoav Gallant demanded a halt to the judicial reforms in a speech. According to a CNN story, several military reservists have vowed to leave the military in protest of the plans, which detractors have claimed would erode the independence of the judiciary.