Controversial judicial reform – Israel’s defense minister wants to stop reform – mixed echo – News

  • Defense Minister Joav Galant’s call for a halt to the controversial judicial reform in Israel met with a mixed response.
  • At least two other members of his Likud party supported his request, Israeli media reports.
  • Other coalition members reacted with anger and even called for his dismissal.

Concerned about Israel’s ability to defend itself, Galant called on his own government to stop judicial reform in a speech on Saturday evening. He called for a dialogue with the opponents of the reform and spoke of a time frame until the Israeli Independence Day on April 26th. Otherwise, national security would be seriously damaged.

In his speech, the defense minister referred to numerous cases of reservists who did not show up for duty in protest against the judicial reform. However, organizers of the mass protests against the reform announced after Galant’s speech that the demonstrations would continue until the reform plans were completely abandoned.

Legend:

According to Joaw Galant, social divisions over the reform pose an immediate threat to the country’s security.

Archive image/EPA/ATEF SAFADI

The right-wing religious coalition around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to implement core elements of the reform in the next few days. The vote on a law that would give government politicians more influence in appointing judges could take place as early as Monday. It is still unclear how critics of the reform will vote within the government. The coalition has a majority of just four seats in parliament.

Critics see the separation of powers in danger

Netanyahu’s government accuses the Supreme Court of excessive interference in political decisions. It should therefore be possible in future for Parliament to overrule decisions of the Supreme Court with a simple majority. Critics see the separation of powers in danger and warn of a state crisis.

For three months there have been repeated mass protests. According to media reports, around 200,000 demonstrators gathered in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv on Saturday evening.

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