Amid broad protests by Israelis over increasingly authoritarian Prime Minister Bibi "BombBomb" Netanyahu's move to make Israel's judiciary less independent and more responsive to Netanyahu's will, the Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was fired today for opposing the Netanyahu right-wing coalition's plan. Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets of Israel in the past few weeks to oppose the authoritarian plan, which would shield Netanyahu from prosecution for his corruption. The reaction from opposition leaders was swift:
"In a tweet, opposition head Yair Lapid said that Gallant's firing, 'just because he warned of a threat to Israel's security, is a new low for this anti-Zionist government. Netanyahu can fire Gallant, but he can't fire reality and he can't fire the Israelis who are standing up against this coalition's insanity.'
'The prime minister is a danger to Israel's security,' Lapid alleged.
Netanyahu proved on Sunday that Israel's security is not his chief priority, former IDF chief of staff MK Gadi Eisenkot. "Gallant's dismissal is a disgrace to Netanyahu's legacy and a dangerous bet on all of our lives."
'We face a clear and immediate danger to Israel's security,' former defense minister MK Benny Gantz wrote in reaction to Gallant's dismissal. 'This evening, Netanyahu put politics and himself above security.'" (our emphasis)
The U.S. and its western allies have expressed deep concern over Netanyahu's undermining of Israel's independent judiciary, apparently to deaf ears for now. Netanyahu's provoking a greater crisis in Israel now with the firing of Gallant.
(photo: Nir Elias / Reuters)
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