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Jerusalem (CNN) Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has dramatically severed his position with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for a moratorium on the government’s move to reform Israel’s judicial system as a matter of national security.
In a speech Saturday night when Prime Minister Netanyahu was out of the country on an official visit to Britain, he became the first government minister to call for the controversial bill to be put on hold.
Gallant is a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party. His comments could open a rift in Israel’s already delicately balanced coalition and mean the plan can’t move forward.
He said the moratorium was necessary “for the security of Israel.”
“A statement of denial that undermines the IDF and undermines the security system should be stopped immediately,” Gallant said, adding that some Israeli Defense Forces reservists were training in protest against the government’s plans. He mentioned that he refused to
As he delivered his speech, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators were marching across the country against the plan for the 12th straight week.
Under the proposal, the government would control the appointment of judges and Congress would have the power to overturn decisions of the Supreme Court.
The government argues the change is necessary to see the Supreme Court as closed, elitist and no longer representative of the Israeli people. Opponents say the plan threatens the foundations of Israeli democracy.
Reservists’ protests are viewed as a matter of special concern by the Israeli government.
Shortly after the Defense Minister’s comments, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gubir called on Netanyahu to sack Gallant.
“Gallant called for resistance tonight, succumbing to blackmail and intimidation from all anarchist gangsters. [Israel Defense Forces] As a bargaining tool,” Gvir tweeted.
“Galant was elected by a vote of right-wing voters and is in fact pushing a left-wing agenda.In a moment of truth he collapsed under pressure from the media and protesters. I am asking you to dismiss me.”
Putting further pressure on Netanyahu, the Israeli High Court on Sunday gave him a week to respond to a petition seeking to hold him in contempt of court.
The legal action by the Israeli Quality Government Movement came after the Attorney General told Netanyahu he had committed illegal acts, violated a court-imposed conflict of interest order, and was personally involved in judicial reform.
Proposal faces opposition from Israeli society at large
Part of the bill, which effectively strips the courts of the power to declare a prime minister incompetent, has already passed.
Critics say Netanyahu is pushing for change because of his own ongoing corruption trial. Netanyahu denies this.
Netanyahu himself shows no signs of backing down. In his speech on Thursday, he said he would address concerns “on both sides”, but he pledged to continue with his reform plan.
Likud lawmaker Danny Dannon said it was too early to know if there were enough rebels within the party to block legislation, telling CNN: We won’t know until party members meet in the Knesset or parliament,” he said.
Netanyahu and his allies control 64 seats in a 120-seat parliament, so in theory five Likud rebels could wrest an absolute majority from the coalition. However, legislators can abstain or be absent, reducing the number of votes needed for a law to pass.
Or, as Danone told CNN, “We don’t really need 61.”
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