As rifts in the ruling coalition over the hotly contested initiative began to appear, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called his defense minister following rumors the official intended to block the far-right government’s plans for a judicial makeover.
Defence Minister Yoav Gallant was scheduled to make a statement, but it was postponed after the prime minister’s office called him in on Thursday. According to Israeli media, Gallant intended to demand an end to the plans in order to preserve discipline within the ranks.
In a televised speech, Netanyahu vowed to control the judiciary but gave no indication that he would back down. Although Netanyahu stated that he intended to reach a solution with the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have been protesting the plans in the streets for months, he did not provide any details on how to do so.
Jewish Power, one of the most radical groups in Netanyahu’s alliance, criticized the top Likud official Gallant for being willing to go against the grain.
It stated that Gallant had “removed himself from the rightist camp.”
In the past, Gallant has expressed concern over a wave of Israelis who have vowed not to report for military reserve duty if the reforms go forward, stating that the occurrence could erode national cohesion and war readiness.
After being called by the prime minister, he reaffirmed this in a briefing to Netanyahu on Thursday, according to the defence ministry.
The revamping of the judiciary has also raised questions about the health of democracy in Israel abroad. This week, senior Finance Ministry officials issued an economic backlash warning. On hearing that Gallant was dissident, the shaky shekel rose in support.
Netanyahu: ‘Enough is enough’
In a statement that echoed the concerns of both sides in the constitutional dispute, Netanyahu proclaimed, “Enough is enough.”
I will do everything it takes to find a solution for the sake of our country, putting aside all other considerations.
He appeared committed to pursuing what he called “responsible judicial reform,” which would restrict certain Supreme Court authority and increase parliamentary oversight of judge nominations. A bill ratifying next week is one such measure.
But he also gave guarantees that the measure would protect people’s rights. Without going into further detail, Netanyahu stated that a proposal to allow the house to override some Supreme Court decisions by a thin majority of members “won’t happen.”
On Thursday, protesters hit the streets once more.
Water cannons were deployed by police while attempting to clear a highway, and some demonstrators were taken away. On a wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, protesters unfurled a huge facsimile of the nation’s Declaration of Independence and heckled a cabinet minister.
Avidan Friedman, who was covering his head with a Jewish prayer shawl, declared, “We are fighting for our lives as a Jewish people together in the state that we have been constructing for 75 years.
We are fighting because, according to our feelings, the current situation is tearing us apart, and we are pleading with the administration to stop.
Critics worry that Netanyahu wants to put the judicial branch behind the legislative and executive branches. The revamp, according to Netanyahu, strives to balance the branches of government. Netanyahu is now on trial for corruption accusations he denies.
Israeli opposition figure Yair Lapid attacked the apparent division inside the Likud and denounced the premier’s statements as “lies.”
“I appeal to Likud’s responsible members: Stop trying to make us a non-democratic nation. He tweeted, “Listen to the hundreds of patriotic supporters who have taken to the streets.
Source – Aljazeera
