In a dramatic television announcement before the citizens of an increasingly polarized country that this Saturday registered new protest demonstrations, the Israeli Defense Minister, Yoav Galant, has requested the freezing of the plan for changes in the judiciary promoted by his Government to reach a consensus In the next weeks.
“The fracture in our society is penetrating the Army and the security organizations. This poses a clear, immediate and tangible threat to national security. I will not allow it,” added the former officer and leader of the Likud who did not allow it, worried. He only requested the temporary halt of the legislative process in the Knesset but also the cessation of the protests that have increased week after week since the Minister of Justice, Yariv Levin, announced the controversial proposal in early January, a few days after the Benjamin government took office. Netanyahu.
Beyond his belonging to the party led by Netanyahu, the statement by the head of the portfolio responsible for the Army and who knows the challenges and threats to Israel’s security like few others has a far greater impact than that of any other member of the coalition. . His words raise the pressure on Netanyahu and have much more force than those pronounced by hundreds of thousands of Israelis who for the twelfth consecutive Saturday took to the streets to protest against what they define as laws that “end the separation of powers and the judicial independence”.
Faced with the possible political damage that his public demand could cause him on the right and especially in the Likud, Galant stated in his speech that his duty is first and foremost as Defense Minister: “Israel’s security is the mission of my life. Since I am an adult I dedicate day and night to security.Sent by the State in the Army uniform, I risked my life dozens of times and also at this moment, for the security of Israel, I am willing to risk and pay any price”. Galant was not mistaken as various ministers and deputies in the Likud and on the nationalist right were quick to criticize him for “caving in to the elites” or “turning his back on the will of right-wing voters”. Some even called for his removal while at least three Likud MPs supported his request.
Galant clarified that, like the rest of his colleagues in the coalition, he believes that changes are necessary in the judicial system since “the relationship between the judiciary, the executive branch and the Parliamentarian needs a balance” but he called for the initiatives in the Knesset to be halted. in the coming weeks so that it has greater support and above all to avoid a greater internal fracture. Galant has seen firsthand how hundreds of reservists from numerous units have announced in the last month that they will not report to (voluntary) service in protest for the advancement of laws. There is even fear that the protest will reach non-reservist soldiers in a country whose security is based in large part on the Army, which in turn is based on compulsory military service.” I declare publicly and loudly, for the security of faith our sons and daughters, this legislative process must be stopped to allow the nation to celebrate Pesach (Passover) and Independence Day together and also to be able to mourn together on Memorial Day (Israelis in wars and attacks ) and on Holocaust Day,” Galant said in a speech he was scheduled to give last Thursday. Then, however, Netanyahu convinced him not to do it and gave him a few days before stating in his own television intervention that the “reform will strengthen democracy” and ensuring that it will take into account the needs of all parties. In the end, however, Netanyahu ignored Galant and announced the continuation of a project that, even before it was approved, had already caused one of the biggest crises in his country’s 75-year history.
Galant did pay attention to the voices he hears in the Army and did not postpone his dramatic public request any longer, which earns him many points among the majority of Israelis who want a dialogue and loses many others in the Likud. However, several deputies from Netanyahu’s party supported his move, thus opening an internal division in Likud.
It should be remembered that due to the massive protests in the streets and the warnings coming from both the economic, technological and financial sectors as well as from all the heads of the security organizations about the negative effects of the judicial initiative, Netanyahu postponed the bulk of the proposals to the month of May after the resumption of Parliament. Everything except the law that gives a majority to the government coalition in the commission in charge of appointing judges, especially the Supreme Court, one of the entities that causes the most animosity in the hard core of the right, starting with Levin. The Government’s intention is for this amendment to be approved in the coming days before the parliamentary recess that begins in early April. A key week in the Knesset and on the street where massive protest demonstrations are planned.
Galant’s words reached the massive demonstration in Tel Aviv quickly. “I don’t know if they will listen to Galant and stop some laws that will change the democratic system and increase religious coercion and corruption,” said Rajel Levi, to EL MUNDO on Kaplan avenue, which again hosted an impressive tide of Israeli flags. “Democracy is in danger. Netanyahu, because of his personal problems due to the trial, opportunists and extremists want to have control of the judicial system,” said this Israeli accompanied by her two children.
According to the criteria of The Trust Project
