In A Big Jolt To Israel PM Netanyahu, Defence Minister Calls To Halt Govt Proposed 'Judicial Reforms'

"I declare loudly and publicly, for the sake of Israel’s security, for the sake of our sons and daughters – the legislative process should be stopped", the Israeli Defence Minister asserted.

Tens of thousands of people took to streets protesting against the measures in Israel.

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New Delhi: In response to unprecedented protests, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant made a bold move on Saturday by urging the government to halt the controversial judicial overhaul legislation. This was despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence on proceeding with the proposed "reforms".

"The security of the State of Israel is my life’s mission. Over the course of my entire adult life I have dealt with Israel’s security day in and day out. Clothed in the IDF’s (Israel Defence Forces) uniform, I have risked my life dozens of times for the State of Israel. And at this time, for the sake of our country, I am willing to take any risk and pay any price", Gallant said in a televised speech, according to the news agency PTI.

"I declare loudly and publicly, for the sake of Israel’s security, for the sake of our sons and daughters – the legislative process should be stopped", he asserted, pointing to the visible diminishing morale of the army he could sense that is endangering Israel's security and unity.

Amid ongoing protests against the judicial overhaul process, thousands of soldiers, including those in critical divisions of the army, have called for a halt to reporting for reserve duty. They have emphasized that the proposed reforms pose a serious threat to Israel's democracy and could lead to dictatorship, 

Reluctant legislators in the ruling Likud party have refrained from expressing their opposition to the reforms, which have led to massive unrest drawing hundreds of thousands of protesters to the streets for three months now, fearing potential backlash from party members and political costs associated with defying the party leader and its position.

However, Yoav Gallant's bold call has encouraged other conscientious leaders in the party, including Yuli Edelstein, David Bitan, and Avi Dichter, to demand that the process be stalled.

Yuli Edelstein, who chairs the Knesset's powerful Foreign Affairs and Defence Committee, has expressed gratitude to Gallant for “joining the path I’ve been leading for weeks”. The increasing opposition within the party could signal a potential shift in the ruling coalition's stance on the controversial reforms.

“The majority of the people want and understand the need for changes in the judicial system, but this must be done with patience, dialogue, and broad discourse in order to reach a broad consensus,” he said in a statement.  

If the four decide to vote against the proposals then the government will not have the majority required to pass the legislation.

Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s proposals to shake up the judiciary by severely curbing the High Court of Justice’s judicial review powers and the government's efforts to cement political control over the appointment of judges have met with resistance not only in the streets of the country but also abroad with thousands of Jewish diaspora members protesting during Netanyahu's visits to Italy, Germany and UK.

Three key proposals being discussed are a move to legislate an "override clause" by which the Knesset can reinstate any law invalidated by the Supreme Court, put judicial appointments under political control as opposed to the current hybrid political-professional-judicial appointments panel, and split the role of the Attorney General as both the head of the state prosecution and the government’s legal adviser.

Speaking at the main rally Saturday evening in Tel Aviv, renowned historian Yuval Noah Harari said that the civil servants and military forces must obey the courts and not the government, should Israel end up in a constitutional crisis.

Holding Netanyahu responsible "for all that is happening", Harari said that "you are not an emissary. You are definitely not an angel. After 2,000 years, we still remember the pharaoh. And we will remember you. There’ll be no streets, squares or airports named after you. But we will tell the story of the man who tried to enslave us and failed”.

“You are surrounded by people with no backbone. But we have backbones...We will not be slaves. Next year we will be free people,” PTI quoted him saying.

Seen at the receiving end of international ire, including a rebuke from US President Joe Biden, Netanyahu has looked weak and perplexed but hesitant to step back from the proposed "reforms" because of fear of losing control of his ruling Likud party.

(With inputs from PTI)