Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu summoned his Defense Minister Yoav Galant on Thursday after reports emerged that the minister wants to halt the government's plans to introduce controversial judicial reforms, which have caused a rift within the ruling coalition. A statement that Galant was supposed to make after being summoned by the Prime Minister's Office was canceled. Israeli media reported that Galant sought to call for stopping the government's plans on the grounds of maintaining order within the ranks of the military.
Netanyahu showed no sign of retreat during a televised speech in which he pledged to continue with his plans to limit judicial powers. He extended an olive branch to the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who have taken to the streets for months in opposition to government plans, but he did not provide any details to resolve the conflict.
Galant's apparent willingness to break ranks, being a prominent member of Netanyahu's conservative Likud party, drew criticism from the far-right Jewish Power party, a partner in Netanyahu's coalition government, which consists of religious and nationalist parties. The party stated that Galant "has distanced himself from the right-wing camp."
Galant previously expressed concerns about a group of Israelis pledging not to respond to summons for reserve military service if the proposed amendments are approved, stating that this phenomenon could weaken war readiness and national cohesion. The Ministry of Defense reported that he reiterated this during a briefing to Netanyahu on Thursday after being summoned.
The plans to amend the judiciary have also raised concerns abroad about the stability of the system in Israel. Senior officials in the Finance Ministry warned this week of a violent reaction in the economy. The already shaky shekel fell further following reports of Galant's opposition to the amendments. "I've had enough," Netanyahu stated in his announcement acknowledging the concerns of both sides of the constitutional dispute.
He added, "I set aside all other considerations, and for the sake of our nation, I will do whatever is necessary to reach a solution." He appeared determined to move forward with what he called a "responsible judicial reform," including a bill scheduled for a vote next week that would limit the powers of the Supreme Court and expand the government's authority in appointing judges.
Netanyahu also assured that individual rights would be protected by law. Without going into details, he stated that a proposal to empower parliament to override some rulings of the Supreme Court by a slim majority "will not happen."
Protesters took to the streets again on Thursday. The police used water cannons and pushed away some protesters while trying to open a highway. Demonstrators harassed a government minister and hung a massive version of the Declaration of Independence of Israel on a wall in the Old City of Jerusalem.
Avidan Friedman stated, "What we are doing here is fighting for our lives. We are fighting for our lives as a Jewish people living together in the state we have built for 75 years." He added, "We are fighting because we feel that what is happening now is tearing us apart, and we demand that the government stop."
Critics are concerned that Netanyahu seeks to subordinate the judiciary to the legislative and executive branches. The Prime Minister, who is on trial for corruption charges he denies, insists that the legal amendments aim to balance the branches of government.
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid dismissed the Prime Minister's statements as "lies" and attempted to leverage the evident division within the Likud party. He tweeted, "I call on responsible people in Likud: Stop trying to turn us into a non-democratic state. Listen to the hundreds of patriotic citizens who have taken to the streets."
