Jerusalem (CNN) Israel’s Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has dramatically broken ranks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for a pause in the government’s campaign to reform Israel’s judicial system.
The minister’s speech on Saturday night, when Netanyahu was out of the country on an official visit to Britain, made him the first government minister to call for an end to controversial legislation that would undermine the independence of the courts.
Gallant is a member of Netanyahu’s Likud party. His comments drive a crack in Israel’s already delicately balanced coalition government that could mean plans cannot go forward.
He said the pause was necessary “for Israel’s security.”
“Any demonstration of refusal that consumes the IDF force and damages the security system must be stopped immediately,” Gallant said, referring to the refusal of some Israel Defense Forces reservists to train in protest of the plans of the government.
As he delivered his speech, hundreds of thousands of protesters were across the country protesting against the plans for the 12th week in a row.
Under the proposals, the government would have control over the appointment of judges and parliament would gain the power to overturn Supreme Court decisions.
The government argues that the changes are essential to rein in the Supreme Court, which it sees as insular, elitist and no longer representing the Israeli people. Opponents say the plans threaten the foundations of Israeli democracy.
The protest by military reservists is seen as a particular concern for the Israeli government, as they are regularly called up to train and serve, even in times of peace.
Shortly after the defense minister’s comments, Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called on Netanyahu to fire Gallant.
“Gallant gave in tonight to blackmail and threats from all those anarchists who call for resistance and use (Israel Defense Forces) as a bargaining tool,” Gvir tweeted.
“Gallant was elected by votes of right-wing voters and in practice promotes a left-wing agenda. At the moment of truth it collapsed under pressure from the media and protesters. I ask the prime minister to fire him immediately. “
Piling more pressure on Netanyahu, Israel’s High Court gave him a week on Sunday to respond to a petition calling for him to be found guilty of contempt of court.
The legal move by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel comes after the attorney general told Netanyahu that he acted illegally and violated a court-imposed conflict of interest order by saying he would become personally involved in the judicial review.
The proposals face opposition from all of Israeli society.
Part of the bill, which effectively strips courts of the power to declare a prime minister unfit for office, it has already been pushed through.
Critics say Netanyahu is pushing for the changes because of his own ongoing corruption trial; Netanyahu denies it.
Netanyahu himself has given no indication that he will back down. In a speech on Thursday, he said he would address the concerns of “both sides” but vowed to go ahead with the reform plans.
Likud lawmaker Danny Danon said it was too early to tell if there were enough rebels in the party to stop the legislation, telling CNN: “We’ll only know on Monday,” when party members meet in the Knesset. or parliament.
Netanyahu and his allies control 64 seats in the legislature of 120, so in theory five Likud rebels could deprive the coalition of an absolute majority. But lawmakers can abstain or absent, which reduces the number of votes a law needs to pass.
Or, as Danon told CNN: “You really don’t need 61.”
