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Hundreds of thousands take to the streets in night-long protests throughout the country, following Gallant’s dismissal after warning against the dire defense repurcussions of the judicial overhaul. Today: mass protests and strikes. Netanyahu expecetd to announce legislation’s hault
| 27/03/2023 
Protesting in Tel Aviv, last night. Photo; REUTERS/Amir Cohen
**Breaking: This morning, Netanyahu is expected to announce a legislation hault.
Israeli citizens flooded the streets across the country starting late yesterday evening and almost all through the night, making their voices heard in a spontaneous protest after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Minister of Defense, Yoav Gallant.
Gallant was sacked less than 24 hours after his public call to stop the highly-contested judicial overhaul – or rather the regime overhaul – which has been ripping Israeli society apart at the seams for the past three months, since it was presented.
Immediately following Gallant’s dismissal, hundreds of thousands of people from all over Israel spontaneously left their homes and took to the streets, full of fear and anger, armed with flags, chanting for democracy and calling “Bibi to prison!” Major roads were blocked. On the Ayalon Freeway in Tel Aviv, the busiest road in the country, protestors lit bonfires. In Jerusalem, near Netanyahu’s residence, police forces activated water cannon vehicles. Extreme right-wing supporters of the overhaul, who are already known for their brutality against protestors, added fuel to the flames by brutally attacking protestors.
During this long night, one event followed the other. Israel’s universities announced a general strike today (Monday). High-schools joined them. Israel’s General Consul in New York resigned. Heads of local authorities announced that they would start a hunger strike. The Histadrut – Israel’s national trade union center, the most powerful union in the country, is expected to announce this morning it is joining the strike.
It is worthwhile to mention that Gallant, as Minister of Defense, only reiterated the bells that have been sounding for the past three months (since the overhaul was announced) warnings by the Mossad, the Shin Bet, the top military echelons, about the danger in going forward with this overhaul and the threats it is posing to Israel.
Gallant did not even get the chance to vote against the laws that are expected to be voted on only later this week, nor abstain, nor call to shelve the plans completely. He simply voiced his professional concern, backed up by countless experts, asking to take a breather.
All the while, at the Knesset, the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee – the leading force of this overhaul, continued working, advancing overhaul laws such as the one that would enable convicted felon, former interior minister Arye Deri, return to the government, as if everything happening in the outside world had nothing to do with it.
This morning, the Committee is reconvening and promoting a ‘business as usual” façade, but at the moment it is unclear what will happen. While the more moderate ministers and Members of Knesset are calling for a pause, the extreme right-wingers, those behind the overhaul and those with the most to gain from its completion, are calling to charge full steam ahead.
At the time of Gallant’s announcement, Netanyahu was in London, wrapping up a highly-criticized weekend in the British capital, where he was constantly followed by protestors. The “shame! shame!” cries from hundreds of protestors, as he made his way from the car to 10 Downing Street, sounded around the world.
Prior to his departure to the UK, Netanyahu got what he wanted, when the Knesset passed a law that would prevent the attorney general from declaring him unfit for office, making it almost impossible for him to be impeached. Netanyahu is facing three indictments (bribery, fraud, breach of trust) and is currently standing trial. This law still needs to overcome the Supreme Court hurdle, and the current estimate is that the court will deem it illegal.
Israel’s opposition leader, Yair Lapid: Gallant’s dismissal solely for sounding the alarms on the harm to Israeli security is a new low by an anti-Zionist government that is harming national security and ignoring the warnings issued by all defense entities.”
US National Security Council Spokesperson, Adrienne Watson: We are deeply concerned by today’s developments out of Israel, which further underscore the urgent need for compromise. As the President recently discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship. Democratic societies are strengthened by checks and balances, and fundamental changes to a democratic system should be pursued with the broadest possible base of popular support. We continue to strongly urge Israeli leaders to find a compromise as soon as possible. We believe that is the best path forward for Israel and all of its citizens. U.S. support for Israel’s security and democracy remains ironclad.
Israel’s president, Isaac Herzog, who has been trying to figure out a solution over the past weeks, also called this morning to stop legislation and enter a dialogue. But it might be too late. The people are angry. Israelis will not compromise on their democracy. Civil society has woken up, and has reported for duty to protect its freedom.
Photos: SK Group
| 13/04/2023 
Parade in Tehran on Iranian Army Day, April 2022. Photo: Iranian Army / WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS
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