On March 9, 2023, Israeli Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant makes a statement to the press at Israel Aerospace Industries IAI headquarters near Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. On Saturday, Gallant called for the government to halt legislation on changes to the judiciary. PHOTO AFP JERUSALEM -- Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant called for the government to halt legislation on changes to the judiciary, saying that the bitter dispute over the measures poses a danger to national security.
The military and security agencies are seeing a deepening split, and this is a real danger to Israel's security. I will not facilitate this," Gallant said in a brief televised statement.
Gallant was the first public objection by a senior cabinet member, despite the fact that others in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right governing coalition have voiced some misgivings about the contentious judicial shake-up.
Legislation at this time must be stopped, Gallant said.
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At least two fellow Likud party lawmakers, Yuli Edelstein and David Bitan, came out in support of Gallant and echoed his call for justice reforms to be made, but with broad agreement.
It was not clear whether Netanyahu, wrapping up a visit to London and aiming to finalize legislation on at least one bill in the coming week, would heed their call.
Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, is under pressure from others in his cabinet who want him to proceed this week with a bill that would give the ruling coalition more sway in choosing judges, a bill that critics say would undermine judicial independence.
There were tensions in Netanyahu's cabinet, and far-right police minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged the premier to fire Gallant, who he said had caved to opposition pressure.
The Opposition leader Yair Lapid praised Gallant's brave step and said he was ready for talks on the reforms once the government stops the legislation.
With a majority of 64 seats in parliament, the coalition would still have enough votes without Gallant, unless more lawmakers back down from the proposed changes.
The judicial overhaul plan, announced on January 4, has plunged Israel into its worst political crisis in years, as mass protests have swept the country.
There has been concern about a serious economic backlash abroad and warnings about a serious economic backlash.
Gallant has previously expressed concerns about a wave of Israelis who pledged not to listen to call-ups for military reserve duty if the reforms go ahead, saying that it could weaken war-readiness and national cohesion.
The opposition does not seem to have weakened, despite Netanyahu's pledge to enshrine civil rights in law and defer some parts of the overhaul during parliament's April recess.
Israeli media said around 200,000 Israelis rallied against the plan in Tel Aviv on Saturday, with tens of thousands more across the country. The protester Hila Bron, 41, said we are here fighting for our democracy.