Israel Erupts in Protests Over Defense Minister’s Dismissal

 Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s abrupt decision to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has sparked unprecedented protests throughout Israel, intensifying the ongoing crisis over Netanyahu’s judicial reform plan.

Tens of thousands of Israeli citizens, from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, took to the streets in response, blocking highways and lighting fires in symbolic defiance of the government’s policies.

Gallant, a senior Likud party member and former general, publicly urged Netanyahu on Saturday to delay the judicial overhaul, warning that national security was at risk. This appeal followed growing concerns within the military, where a divide has emerged over the government’s controversial reforms, which would allow more political control over judicial appointments and limit the Supreme Court’s oversight. Gallant argued that such moves could weaken Israel’s military cohesion and embolden its adversaries

Following Gallant’s dismissal, protesters shut down the Ayalon highway in Tel Aviv, transforming it into a scene of defiant protest adorned with Israeli flags. Demonstrations spread to Haifa, Beersheba, and Jerusalem, where protesters gathered outside Netanyahu’s residence, demanding the resignation of government officials pushing the reforms. Police deployed water cannons to manage the crowds in some areas.

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Critics of the judicial overhaul assert that the proposed changes would erode the separation of powers and push Israel toward authoritarianism.

The U.S. and other allies have expressed concerns, urging Israeli leaders to seek compromise. The crisis has fractured Netanyahu’s coalition, and in a rare display of internal opposition, Israel’s Consul General in New York resigned in protest.