Israel

Tens of thousands demonstrate after the removal of Yoav Gallant - who spoke out against controversial judicial reforms.

She added that "fundamental changes" to a democratic system should be "pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support". "Netanyahu can fire Gallant, but he can't fire reality or fire the people of Israel who are fronting up to resist the coalition's madness," Mr Lapid added. After he was fired, Mr Gallant took to Twitter to reaffirm: "The state of Israel's security has always been and will always be my life's mission." The prime minister wants to get the new legislation through parliament by the end of the week. Mr Netanyahu - who was out of the country at the time of Mr Gallant's TV appearance - said he no longer had faith in him as defence minister. Mr Netanyahu says the reforms are designed to stop the courts over-reaching their powers and that they were voted for by the public at the last election.

We are deeply concerned by today's developments out of Israel, which further underscore the urgent need for compromise. As the President recently discussed ...

We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens. 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. As the President recently discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant broke ranks and urged his own government to halt a highly-contested plan to overhaul the judicial system.

"I believe it is my duty to ensure that Israel remains a beacon of democracy and freedom in the world." "State security cannot be a card in the political game. Crowds gathered outside Mr Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem, at one point breaching a security cordon.

Dismissal of Yoav Gallant, a senior figure in the ruling Likud party, brings tens of thousands on to streets of Tel Aviv.

Avi Dichter, a former chief of the Shin Bet security agency, is expected to replace Gallant. “I believe it is my duty to ensure that Israel remains a beacon of democracy and freedom in the world.” Police scuffled with demonstrators and sprayed the crowd with a water cannon. It also seeks to pass laws that would grant parliament the authority to override supreme court decisions and limit judicial review of laws. Culture minister Micky Zohar, a Netanyahu confidant, said the party would support him if he decided to pause the judicial overhaul. Netanyahu’s move on Sunday underscored his determination to press on with the overhaul which has also angered business leaders and raised concerns among Israel’s allies.

Israel's leader, Benjamin Netanyahu, has fired the country's defense minister. That deepened the country's crisis over proposed judicial reforms that even ...

[expressed deep concern](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-03-25/ty-article/.premium/israels-defense-minister-gallant-publicly-calls-to-halt-judicial-overhaul/00000187-19cd-d4ca-afff-19cd6ae60000) that the heated political debate is infiltrating the rank and file of the IDF. The reservists’ active participation in the protests and their vocal opposition to the government’s plan have clearly made an impact on the defense minister. Should Netanyahu’s government request that institutions like the IDF act in contradiction to decisions made by the High Court, it is unclear to which authority these institutions would adhere. Gallant called for an immediate halt in the judicial overhaul legislation process. As the country inches closer towards a constitutional showdown between the executive and legislative branches and the judicial branch, the presence of former members of elite military units in these protests is evidence that the crisis’ implications extend far beyond the domestic political arena. While the number of Israelis serving as reservists has decreased over the years due to cutbacks and people finding That crisis intensified on March 26, when [Netanyahu fired the country’s defense minister](https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-03-26/ty-article-live/.premium/senior-likud-members-hint-at-opposing-judicial-overhaul/00000187-1c81-d4ca-afff-1d89ee5b0000), who had – less than 24 hours before – called on the government to delay its plans to reform the judiciary. [have brought together](https://time.com/6258288/israel-protests-judicial-reforms/) groups representing almost all sectors of Israeli society. The reserves are designed to provide reinforcements during emergencies and maintain preparedness through routine training and security assignments. But among protesters is a group of individuals rarely seen at anti-government protests over the country’s almost 75-year history: [Israeli Defense Forces reservists](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/elite-officers-in-israels-military-plan-walkout-on-sunday-in-protest-of-judicial-system-overhaul). Critics and protesters say the plan undermines the 75-year delicate balance between Yet it’s not simply the persistence and size of the protest that is evidence of the crisis.

Israel is set for one of the most pivotal days in its domestic history, with parts of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition debating whether to ...

Mr. The court also supported the eviction of all Israeli settlers from Gaza in 2005 — a pivotal moment that cemented the settler leadership’s desire for a judicial overhaul. Netanyahu said he was stepping into the fray to find a solution that would both ensure majority rule and safeguard individual rights, “and in order to prevent a rift in the nation.” “The reform of the justice system must not be stopped and we must not surrender to anarchy,” Mr. A looming constitutional crisis resulting from the overhaul could lead to the resignation or firing of the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, and a more compliant replacement could order a review of the case against Mr. Deri had been appointed to the powerful positions of interior minister and health minister in the new government before Mr. The government also wants to weaken the authority of the attorney general, the government’s independent legal counsel, among other things. In a sign of rifts in Mr. As the leader of Shas, an ultra-Orthodox Sephardic party and the second-largest party in the coalition after Mr. The law previously barred any politician convicted of a crime and sentenced to prison from taking a ministerial role for seven years after release. The coalition holds a majority of 64 in the 120-seat Parliament. to race through the formalities needed to pass the first part of the overhaul into law.

Thousands took to the streets on Sunday after Benjamin Netanyahu sacked his defence minister for opposing the controversial changes.

The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you. The eyes of the whole world are on you.” The eyes of the entire Jewish people are on you. Avi Dichter, a former chief of the Shin Bet security agency, is expected to replace Gallant. “I believe it is my duty to ensure that Israel remains a beacon of democracy and freedom in the world.” Yoav Gallant had [called on the prime minister to scrap the proposals](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/25/tel-aviv-demonstrations-against-benjamin-netanyahu-judicial-overhaul-israel) which have divided the country, led to mass protests and sparked growing discontent within the military.

Israel's President Isaac Herzog has called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ruling coalition to halt its divisive judicial changes plan, ...

“What the government wants to do is not to correct or to fix or amend the judicial system, so that it will be more just. They want to take control over the judicial system,” said Ofer Cassif, an Israeli politician and Knesset member for the leftist Hadash party. “State security cannot be a card in the political game. They also say that Netanyahu, on trial for corruption charges, has a conflict of interest. Culture Minister Micky Zohar, a Netanyahu confidant, said the party would support him if he decided to pause the judicial overhaul. Israeli media said leaders in Netanyahu’s coalition were to meet on Monday morning.

Israeli prime minister likely to put controversial legislation on hold amid mass protests overnight.

Supporters of the changes, introduced almost immediately after the new government entered office in December, say they are needed to better balance the branches of government and combat a perceived leftwing bias in the court’s rulings. Only one in four voters support the judicial overhaul, according to recent polling by Israel’s Channel 12. Even as protests raged across the country overnight, a parliamentary committee continued to approve parts of the legislation, meaning the bills can go to the Knesset plenum for new readings. Critics say they will give politicians too much power over the judiciary by allowing a simple majority in the Knesset to overrule almost all of the court’s decisions, and give politicians a decisive say on appointments to the bench. In a tweet, Rothman urged supporters of the overhaul to take to the streets and “not to give up on the people’s choice”. [dramatic night of protests](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/26/benjamin-netanyahu-fires-defence-minister-yoav-gallant-judicial-overhaul) sparked by Netanyahu’s decision to sack his defence minister [for opposing](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/25/tel-aviv-demonstrations-against-benjamin-netanyahu-judicial-overhaul-israel) the judicial plans, and builds on significant pushback from the military, Israel’s vital hi-tech sector, and allies in the US.

PM Netanyahu is expected to speak on his controversial judicial changes, reports say, after protests hit the country.

The move by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signaled he will move ahead with a contentious plan to overhaul Israel's judicial system — a plan that ...

The Movement for Quality Government said the court had given Netanyahu and the attorney general a week to respond. "The prime minister will be forced to bow his head before the law and comply with the provisions of the law." Netanyahu and his allies say the plan will restore a balance between the judicial and executive branches and rein in what they see as an interventionist court with liberal sympathies. The government also plans to push for parliamentary authority to override Supreme Court decisions with a basic majority and limit judicial review of laws. Gallant cited the turmoil in the ranks of the military over the plan. On Saturday, he called for a pause in the controversial legislation until after next month's Independence Day holidays, citing the rift's threat to Israel's national security.

Tens of thousands of Israelis poured into the streets of cities to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu firing his defense minister for challenging the ...

That declaration prompted the attorney general, Gali Baharav-Miara, to warn that Netanyahu was breaking his conflict of interest agreement. Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets over the past three months to demonstrate against the plan in the largest demonstrations in the country's 75-year history. Instead, Justice Minister Yariv Levin, a close confidant of Netanyahu, is spearheading the overhaul. A growing number of Israeli reservists, including fighter pilots, have threatened to withdraw from voluntary duty if the laws are passed. It also seeks to pass laws that would would grant parliament the authority to overturn Supreme Court decisions and limit judicial review of laws. It said he was not above the law. Netanyahu's dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant signaled that the prime minister and his allies will barrel ahead this week with the overhaul plan. They also say that Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption charges, has a conflict of interest. "I see how the source of our strength is being eroded," Gallant said. Culture Minister Micky Zohar, a Netanyahu confidant, said the party would support him if he decided to pause the judicial overhaul. Police scuffled with protesters and sprayed the crowd with a water cannon. Inon Aizik, 27, said he came to demonstrate outside Netanyahu's private residence in central Jerusalem because "bad things are happening in this country."

Sunday night saw news scenes of unrest, after Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who became the first member of the ruling Likud Party to speak ...

Netanyahu’s planned reforms could lead to a “brain drain” in Israel and discourage international students, the statement added. This is the time that we together say ‘enough’ and it doesn’t matter if we are right or left,” Histadrut said in a statement. The cities Beersheba, Haifa and Jerusalem also saw unrest. Peter Lerner, head of international relations at Histadrut, the Israeli trade union umbrella group representing some 700,000 workers, tweeted a video of cheering activists. Gallant had warned that divisions over the plans threatened Israel’s security. It was not clear when or even if he would speak on Monday.

Mass protests have erupted in Israel in recent months over controversial judicial reforms pushed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

This is not a political moment, this is a moment for leadership and responsibility." It is proof that this government has lost its brakes," he said, calling on Netanyahu to walk back his firing of his defense minister. "We must all strive to stabilise the government and coalition." The planned overhaul would significantly weaken the country's judiciary and make it harder to remove Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, from power. McDonald's Israel says it has closed branches as part of the strike action. "Stop this judicial process before it is too late," Arnon Bar-David, Israel's Histadrut union leader, said in a televised speech, addressing Netanyahu directly.

Israeli politics descended into turmoil, with Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline government facing a spiralling backlash to its bitterly contested plans to ...

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Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's judicial overhaul has sparked unprecedented opposition from across Israeli society. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP's ...

Netanyahu’s dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant appeared to signal that the prime minister and his allies will barrel ahead this week with the overhaul plan. Netanyahu returned to power late last year after a protracted political crisis that sent Israelis to the polls five times in less than four years. Netanyahu had reportedly spent the night in consultations and was set to speak to the nation, but later delayed his speech. He denies wrongdoing and has dismissed accusations that the legal overhaul is designed to find him an escape route from the trial. The developments were being watched in Washington, which is closely allied with Israel yet has been uneasy with Netanyahu and the far-right elements of his government. A parliamentary committee approved the legislation on Monday for a final vote. To the abyss,” Arnon Bar-David, the union group head, said in a rousing speech to applause. Universities across the country said they were shutting their doors “until further notice.” Israeli media reported that a lawyer representing Netanyahu in his corruption trial threatened to quit if the overhaul was not halted. [anger at Netanyahu's decision to fire his defense minister](https://apnews.com/article/israel-legal-courts-corruption-netanyahu-40c11160c9a93cc717dcf61eed52dda6) after [he called for a pause](https://apnews.com/article/israel-politics-army-judicial-overhaul-97f8e6e7b88da4b4a36dea47030e8adc) to the overhaul. The protesters say they are fighting for the very soul of the nation, seeing the overhaul as a direct challenge to Israel's democratic ideals. The firing of his defense minister at a time of The overhaul, driven by Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, and his allies in Israel's most right-wing government ever, has plunged Israel into one of its worst domestic crises.

A day earlier, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu fired his Defence Minister Yoav Gallant after he called the government to halt the ...

Bigger and fiercer protests break, with tens of thousands taking to the streets. The government dismisses the protests as the left refusing to accept the results of November’s election. Netanyahu says the changes are needed to curb activist judges who overreach their powers to interfere in politics. [tells Netanyahu](/news/2023/3/24/israeli-govt-shows-signs-of-split-over-pms-judiciary-plans) that his personal involvement in plans to change the country’s judiciary is illegal. [the first reading](/news/2023/3/14/controversial-judicial-law-passes-first-vote-in-israeli-knesset) of the judicial changes bill. [thousands of people](/gallery/2023/3/27/photos-mass-protests-erupt-in-israel) taking to the streets in Tel Aviv to protest Gallant’s dismissal.

(JTA) — Israel was filled with surreal images Sunday night as thousands of people lit bonfires and gathered to protest in the streets against Prime Minister ...

At least [one protester brought a tent](https://twitter.com/crawlings13/status/1640142892780998658), seemingly intending to stay the night. Three police officers [were injured](https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/article-735425) while clearing the highway. [protests coalesced](https://www.timesofisrael.com/we-are-not-afraid-mass-protests-erupt-nationwide-after-netanyahu-fires-gallant/) soon after Netanyahu announced Gallant’s firing in a brief statement at 9 p.m. Galant’s termination led even more Netanyahu allies to urge a halt to the controversial legislation, something the prime minister is now [reportedly considering](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-and-deri-in-favor-of-halting-overhaul-legislation-report/) after months of standing his ground. Netanyahu has a 64-member majority in Israel’s parliament, the Knesset and had planned to bring a major piece of the overhaul to a final vote as soon as Monday. Another minister indicating his support for a pause is former Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat.

At its core, the judicial overhaul would give the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, and therefore the parties in power, more control over Israel's judiciary.

But his decision to fire Gallant on Sunday, a day after the defense minister called for a pause in the government’s drive to overhaul the country’s judicial system, sparked turmoil. Instead of having the vast majority of the appointed seats on the committee, the government-appointed members would have a one-seat majority. Would the Supreme Court strike down the laws, and if so, how would the government respond? Complicating matters further, should the bills pass parliament the Supreme Court must then potentially decide on laws curbing its own power. According to polling released in February by the Israel Democracy Institute, only a minority of Israelis support the reforms. As part of a deal with the court to serve as a prime minister despite being on trial, Netanyahu accepted a conflict of interest declaration. Protest organizers say they plan to intensify their demonstrations until the legislation is halted. Members of the typically apolitical high-tech sector have also spoken out against the reforms. Israel’s Supreme Court has no influence on what happens in Gaza, which is ruled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Several former Mossad chiefs have also spoken out against the reforms, warning division over the issue is harming Israeli security. The Attorney General determined that the declaration meant Netanyahu could not be involved in the policy-making of the judicial overhaul. They argue the Supreme Court has overstepped its role, getting into issues it should not rule on.

Mass protests broke out in Israel on Sunday after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired defense minister Yoav Gallant over his opposition to a ...

Israel’s Supreme Court has no influence on what happens in Gaza, which is ruled by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. At the same time, Palestinian activists have argued that the high court has further entrenched Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, having never considered the legality of Israeli settlements there, even though they’re considered illegal by most of the international community. Last year, for example, the court halted the evictions of Palestinian families in the flashpoint neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in East Jerusalem, where Jewish groups have claimed ownership of land the families have lived on for decades.

Protesters have called for the reforms to be scrapped and for the Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to resign. His political rivals have spearheaded the ...

The government argues that voters elected it on a promise of reforming the judiciary and attempts to stop it are undemocratic. One reform has already been passed into law - removing the power of the attorney general to pronounce a sitting prime minister as unfit for office. Since the start of the year, huge weekly protests have been held by people opposed to the government's reform plans.

Protesters clash with the police during a rally against the Israeli government's judicial reform in Tel Aviv, Israel on March 27. Ahmad Gharabli/AFP/Getty ...

“The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you. Justice Minister Yariv Levin, who has strongly advocated for the reform to be pushed through, opened the door to the possibility of a delay on Monday. The eyes of all the Jewish people are on you. Opponents say the plans threaten the foundations of Israeli democracy. The eyes of the whole world are on you. Some military reservists have pledged to pull out of their service in opposition to the plans, which critics say would undermine the independence of the judiciary. We have been taken hostage by a bunch of extremists with no brakes and no boundaries,” he said. All takeoffs from Israel’s main airport, Ben Gurion Tel Aviv, were halted for several hours because of the strike. Gallant argued for a halt to the judicial reforms in a speech Saturday night, when Netanyahu was out of the country on an official visit to the United Kingdom. For the sake of the unity of Israelis, for the sake of committed responsibility I call on you to halt the legislative procedure immediately.” We are brotherly people,” he said on Twitter. In a statement issued later, Lapid called the past 24 hours “madness,” “loss of control” and “loss of direction.”

A large crowd of people gather around a fire in a protest at night in Israel. Workers have threatened to paralyse the Israeli economy in strikes and protests ...

"We've never been closer to falling apart. "We must not halt the reform in the judicial system and we must not give in to anarchy," Mr Itamar Ben-Gvir said. However, as Mr Netanyahu remained silent, signs emerged that he would soon delay the divisive program. "Democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the US-Israel relationship," Ms Watson said in a statement. "Where are we leading our beloved Israel? The growing resistance to the plan came hours after tens of thousands of people took to the streets around the country in a spontaneous show of anger at Mr Netanyahu's decision to

JERUSALEM (AP) — A powerful partner in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government says the country's proposed judicial overhaul has been delayed ...

“When there’s an opportunity to avoid civil war through dialogue, I, as prime minister, am taking a timeout for dialogue,” Netanyahu said in a nationally televised address. In a statement, Ben-Gvir said the interim period would give time for a compromise agreement to be reached with the political opposition. [judicial overhaul plan](https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/tens-of-thousands-in-israel-protest-in-effort-to-stop-netanyahus-planned-overhaul-of-nations-judiciary), saying he wanted to give time to seek a compromise over the contentious package with his political opponents.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday his controversial plans to weaken the judiciary will be delayed after widespread strikes and protests ...

The cabinet vote would then need to be ratified by a super majority in the parliament. Netanyahu was also condemned by his opponents and a host of former Israeli prime ministers. the vote, in order to give time for discussion,” he added. “We’ve never been closer to falling apart. But months of sustained protests over the plans drew global attention and rocked the country. Netanyahu added that he is “aware of the tensions” and is “listening to the people.”

His proposed changes provoked an outpouring of anger from nearly all parts of Israeli society.

He had previously called for an immediate halt to the plans. In the heart of Jerusalem, around the Knesset, supporters and critics held counter-protests. The prime minister denies any wrongdoing and claims he is the victim of a "witch hunt". He accused an "extremist minority" of trying to divide the nation, and criticised military reservists who had opposed the bill by saying they wouldn't report for duty. His own part in the country's upheaval was not acknowledged. From the main airport to shops and banks - even in hospitals - services were stopped.

Ian Bremmer's Quick Take: In Israel, the demonstrations, people's power taking to the streets, particularly in Tel Aviv, are unprecedented.

Very little in terms of the Palestinian issue that we've seen over the course of the past weeks, but a lot in terms of women's rights that also have taken a significant hit over the course of this new government and lots of other social issues that are significant to large numbers, particularly of young people in Israel today. Of course, the other side of the coin is that if he pulls back, is he going to maintain support? All of this has led to huge moves against the Israeli shekel, against Israeli ETFs, against the Israeli investments in the markets that we've really not seen. If Netanyahu persists and decides that he's going to go ahead with this reform, it would not only be a significant erosion for Israeli democracy, but it would also be an enormous hit for the Israeli economy. That means you're not getting a Big Mac today in Israel because all of the McDonald's are closed. This is a population of less than 10 million in Israel, and hundreds of thousands are saying that they strongly oppose the efforts by Bibi Netanyahu and his coalition government to rest control of the judiciary, allowing the parliament to overturn judicial decisions from the Supreme Court and also allowing more control of executive appointments to Supreme Court justices.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed judicial overhaul unleashed the most intense social unrest in Israel in decades before he announced that he ...

A lower rating could make investors hesitant to do business in Israel and potentially lead companies with operations in Israel, including the world's leading tech giants, to scale back their presence. The pause Netanyahu declared could help ease the tensions and buy him some time to find a compromise. In security-obsessed Israel, Gallant, a gruff retired general, is among the most respected members of the new Cabinet. They also say Netanyahu has a deep conflict of interest in trying to reshape the legal system while on trial. After taking power, key figures in Netanyahu’s Likud Party along with his governing partners pledged to quickly overhaul the country’s judicial system, which critics say is driven by a desire to push their ideological agendas with less judicial oversight. The head of the country’s largest trade union responded by saying it would call off a general strike that threatened to grind the country's economy to a halt.

The right-wing government's push to get more control of the judiciary system thrust Israel into a crisis. The pushback led Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ...

That would set up a potential constitutional crisis, with two branches of government refusing to agree on what the law is. They say that their way of life is in danger and that women's rights could suddenly be limited under the new government plan. Instead, the country operates according to a set of basic laws. The immediate crisis is somewhat abated by the prime minister's decision to call off Monday's vote, but it's unclear if Netanyahu can hold together his coalition. The government also wants to give itself a more direct hand in selecting the country's judges — a process that involves a judicial selection committee. Yes, and it's possible that the Supreme Court could eventually rule on them. The prime minister is on trial for three criminal cases alleging corruption. The turmoil eventually prompted Netanyahu to freeze the legislation. Currently, politicians have a minority vote on the selection committee. Netanyahu postponed the final vote of the legislation that had been slated for Monday. The push for more control widely is seen as a preemptive step toward enacting a controversial legislative agenda. Then came word that Netanyahu would put the plan on hold.

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Monday he would postpone a controversial reform that would give parliament more control over the ...

According to [The Times of Israel](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-27-2023-2/), all flights were grounded at the country’s main international airport, while public hospitals only provided emergency care. On [Sunday](https://www.politico.com/news/2023/03/26/netanyahu-israel-fires-defense-minister-00088873) evening, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in cities across the country to oppose Netanyahu’s dismissal of his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, for challenging the reform, announced by the prime minister’s office in a brief statement. [said](https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-march-27-2023-2/) in a press statement delivered shortly after 8 p.m. He added that “out of national responsibility,” he is delaying the final readings of the divisive judicial appointments bill until the next session of the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, which starts in early May. [three months](https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-65004993). [weeks of mass protests](https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-65004993) against the legislation.

Israel's political crisis has escalated into uncharted territory after the country's largest trade union an...

"The eyes of all the people of Israel are on you. The eyes of all the Jewish people are on you. Gallant said pressing ahead with the proposals could threaten Israel's security. We are brotherly people," he said on Twitter. "For the sake of the unity of Israelis, for the sake of committed responsibility I call on you to halt the legislative procedure immediately." "The security of the State of Israel has always been and will always remain the mission of my life," he said. [political](http://9news.com.au/politics)crisis escalated into uncharted territory on Monday after as its largest trade union announced a "historic" strike shutting down transportation, universities, restaurants and retailers in protest against Netanyahu's plan. In his speech on Saturday, Gallant said the pause was needed "for the security of Israel", citing the refusal of some Israel Defence Forces reservists to train in protest at the government plans. The eyes of the whole world are on you. In a statement issued later, Lapid called the past 24 hours "madness", "loss of control" and "loss of direction". He wrote on Twitter that Netanyahu might be able to fire the minister but "cannot fire the people of Israel who are standing up to the insanity of the coalition". "I call on all the demonstrators in Jerusalem, on the right and the left, to behave responsibly and not to act violently.

For months, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been taking to the streets across the country to protest far-reaching changes to Israel's legal system.

Opponents say the plan threatens the foundations of Israeli democracy. The nation's largest labor union called an end to the strike after Netanyahu's announcement. [Tensions rose further this past weekend](https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/26/middleeast/israel-judicial-overhaul-legislation-intl/index.html) when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant over his opposition to the planned overhaul, prompting mass street protests and widespread strike action.

Veteran leader suspends divisive overhaul after plan for judicial reform plunges Israel into biggest crisis in decades.

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For weeks now, one question has loomed large in the battle between the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and protesters trying to block his ...

The Shin Bet’s Unit 730 is in charge of the prime minister’s security. [public](https://www.timesofisrael.com/public-losing-faith-in-idf-but-trusts-it-more-than-any-other-institution-poll/) [opinion](https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/israel/society/119546-160711-israelis-trust-the-military-but-not-the-government-study) [surveys](https://jewishstudies.washington.edu/israel-hebrew/civil-military-relations-in-israel-politics-state-society/), the Israeli military is the most trusted national institution in the country. In the first few weeks of the government, as the protests were gathering pace, the question of who the security forces would obey—the government or the Supreme Court—was only whispered. “The heads of Mossad and Shin Bet very rarely appear in public, so they can remain silent. It prompted a new round of protests and a nationwide strike and forced Netanyahu to delay the legislation. Three of the four said they would have obeyed the courts. But the protests have expanded to include top economists, the normally non-political but highly influential high-tech sector, and thousands of officers in the reserve forces, who signed He still commands a majority in parliament that includes factions that—each for their own reasons—want to see the Supreme Court sidelined. To appease one faction in his coalition that had pushed for a quick vote in parliament, Netanyahu also agreed to consider forming a new security force under the direct authority of Itamar Ben-Gvir, the far-right national security minister. More worrying for the security establishment, thousands of reservists announced they would not report for duty, including fighter pilots and intelligence officers in Israel’s vital cyber units. The proposed laws could dramatically alter the country’s power structure and are made possible because of a historic lacuna: Israel has no written constitution regulating the balance of power between the judiciary, the parliament, and the executive branch. [insubordination](https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-top-brass-said-to-warn-reservist-no-shows-could-impact-readiness-within-a-month/) among military reservists, and handwringing about the future of Israel’s democracy.

Netanyahu announced on Monday that he will delay his government's plans to overhaul Israel's courts amid massive protests and an unprecedented general ...

[crisis for Israel’s democracy](https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2023/3/16/23639947/palestine-netanyahu-israel-protests-ehud-olmert). Netanyahu and his allies are pursuing a shock doctrine that amounts to [crippling the Israeli governance system](https://www.vox.com/2023/3/22/23648925/trump-indictment-arrest-israel-protest-netanyahu-comparison) and radical changes to the way the occupation of the West Bank is administered. [overhaul the country’s judicial system](https://www.vox.com/world-politics/2023/3/27/23658569/israel-protests-netanyahu-judicial-overhaul) amid an [unprecedented general strike and massive protests](https://www.vox.com/world-politics/23629744/why-israelis-protesting-netanyahu-far-right-government-judiciary-overhaul) that brought airport departures, universities, and shopping centers to a halt.