Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday fired his defense minister, a day after the high-ranking official called for a pause on a controversial judicial reform proposal that has fueled months of intense protests in the country and abroad.
The Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, said on Saturday night that the judicial overhaul posed a security threat to Israel. Military reservists have refused to sign up for duty and many more have threatened to do the same.
Demonstrations are sweeping across Israel protesting an effort by the government to overhaul the country’s judicial system. On Monday, Netanyahu’s far-right government plans to advance some of the most controversial elements of its proposal.
The proposal, pushed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his majority coalition of far-right lawmakers, could have wide-ranging implications for minority groups in the country, including Palestinians living in the West Bank and members of the LGBTQ community.
The blood-red ”Handmaid’s Tale” garb that for years showed up at left-leaning protests in the U.S. has become a fixture among protesters of the changes.
