More than 100,000 Israelis protested outside the Knesset in Jerusalem today, as tens of thousands of others took to the streets at separate rallies nationwide, amid a general strike called by the largest labor union and entities in the private sector.
Marking the first such action in the nation’s history, medical facilities, local and regional councils, universities and other institutions declared a general strike alongside the Histadrut Labor Union.
The sectors joined forces in a widescale show of solidarity against the government’s judicial reform plan, in addition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s firing of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last night for warning of repercussions to Israel’s security if the proposal is passed by the parliament.
The nation has been gripped by weekly and increasingly raucous nationwide demonstrations when just days after taking office, the Netanyahu coalition introduced a sweeping “reform of governance” to limit Supreme Court rulings against government moves or Knesset laws, while increasing politicians’ input over nominations to the bench.
Israel’s right-wing 37th government, an alliance between the Premier’s Likud party with several smaller religious and hard-right nationalist factions, asserts it holds the mandate for changes, deemed necessary to curb overreach by activist judges and restore balance between the legislative, executive and judiciary.
Proponents say the plan would rein in Supreme Court overreach and restore balance between the branches of government.
The court’s defenders say it plays a vital role in holding the government to account in a country that has no formal constitution, and that the government’s overhaul would weaken the courts, endanger civil liberties and harm the economy. The proposal has drawn fierce condemnation from Opposition Members of Knesset (MKs), legal officials, military reservists and advocacy groups – further broadening already deep political divisions in Israeli society.
Prime Minister Netanyahu has dismissed the protests as refusal by leftist adversaries to accept the results of the 1 November’s election which resulted in one of the most right-wing governments in Israel’s history. He has ardently defended the judicial overhaul.
Gallant was the most senior member of Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party to say he would not back the judicial overhaul, pointing to the impact rising numbers of military reservists refusing duty are also affecting regular forces and undermining national security.
“Citizens of Israel, 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 uniform, I have risked my life dozens of times for the State of Israel,” said Lieutenant General Gallant, stressing, “And at this time, for the sake of our country, I am willing to take any risk and pay any price.”
Netanyahu responded almost immediately by issuing a curt statement announcing dismissal of his administration’s top defense official.
A key bill of the reform is expected to be brought for ratification this week in the Knesset, where he and his allies wield 64 out of 120 seats.
But how – or even whether – that as yet-unscheduled vote will proceed has been thrown into question by Likud dissenters.
The Prime Minister had announced he would give a nationwide address this morning, which was delayed indefinitely.
Netanyahu suspends judicial reform
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Monday evening that he was temporarily freezing the bill that would alter the makeup of the Judicial Appointments Committee and was willing to give a "real opportunity to real dialogue" over the government's judicial reforms, which have thrown the country into turmoil and unprecedented civil unrest.
The statement came after hours of tense negotiations as National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir threatened to quit the government if the legislation did not proceed on schedule, and as tens of thousands of judicial reform opponents protested outside the Knesset. Netanyahu ended up ensuring Ben-Gvir's approval after pledging that the cabinet in its coming meeting on Sunday would approve the transfer of Israel's National Guard to Ben-Gvir's ministry.
Netanyahu said that either way, his government would bring a reform that will "return the balance that was lost between the [government] branches," while "safeguarding and even strengthening individual rights."
The prime minister criticized an "extreme" minority amongst the opponents of the reforms, likening them to the mother who is willing to sacrifice her child in the well-known biblical story of Solomon's Trial. Refusal to deploy for reserve duty signals "the end of our country," and those who support this, or who call for anarchy and violence, are willing to tear the country apart, Netanyahu said.
The prime minister added that the country was on a "dangerous path," and that he would not allow it to descend into civil war. He thanks pro-reform camp for attending a large rally outside the Knesset on Monday evening, and asked that they "continue acting responsibly and not deteriorate into provocations."
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also released a statement on Monday night in support of Netanyahu's postponement of the judicial reform legislation.
The government will approve at its next meeting a decision to form a National Guard and subjugate it to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, in exchange for Ben-Gvir's party, Otzma Yehudit, promising not to leave the government over Netanyahu's intention to postpone the legislation of the first judicial reform bill.
"The reform will pass," tweeted Ben-Gvir on Monday night. "The National Guard will be established. The budget I requested for the National Security Ministry will be passed in its entirety."
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