Israel's defense minister fired after criticism of controversial judicial reform

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Joav Galant after he called for the controversial judicial reform to be halted. This was announced by a spokesman for Netanyahu's right-wing conservative Likud party on Sunday evening. There have been protests for months against the reform, which is intended to curtail the influence of the Supreme Court. The plans of the right-wing religious government have also triggered considerable criticism internationally.

The previous defense minister surprisingly called on his own government to stop the reform and to engage in dialogue with critics on Saturday evening. Galant warned that otherwise national security could be severely damaged. He pointed out that numerous reservists did not show up for duty in protest against the reform. Netanyahu's coalition wants to implement core elements of the reform in the next few days.

Whoever wins this tug-of-war, "on the street or in the Knesset," the state of Israel will be the "loser," Galant said in a speech. He pleaded for a break, at the same time he called for an end to the demonstrations.

Meanwhile, around 200,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv against the planned restructuring of the Israeli judiciary, as estimated by the Israeli media. "We are here today to demonstrate and join the hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Israelis who support the values ​​on which this country was founded," said high-tech executive Daniel Nisman, citing democracy and tolerance. "That's all we can hope for, that he (Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu) leads us away from the brink," the 36-year-old told AFP.

In Jerusalem, thousands of demonstrators marched past President Isaac Herzog's residence. "It's very bad for our country," said 80-year-old protester Harriet Scher, who had slung an Israel flag around her shoulders. The reforms "will have a very negative impact on marginalized groups - on lesbians, gays and the Arab population". "It will not be good for the country if they (the politicians) have total control of the Supreme Court," she added.

Mass protests against the reform have been taking place in Israel for eleven weeks. Israel's most important allies, including the United States, have also questioned the reform plans. Overall, the reform plans of the far-right governing coalition aim to limit the powers of the judiciary. Netanyahu describes the reform as necessary to restore balance in the separation of powers. Critics fear that the separation of powers will be abolished and that democracy will be undermined.