Politicians, some of whom are members of the Likud party reacted Saturday evening to Defense Minister Yoav Galant who called for a halt to the legislation of the reform of the judicial system in favor of dialogue, and in order to prevent the rift in Israeli society from deepening.
In the meantime, Minister Avi Dichter, without any coordination with Galant, is acting independently in order to convince the Likud ministers and the Prime Minister to postpone the legislation until after Independence Day and the upcoming national holidays.
"Netanyahu’s changes are causing a ‘growing social rift’ that present an immediate security threat, says Likud party member Yoav Galant"
— Carol Anne Grayson (@Quickieleaks) March 26, 2023
Have you lost the plot @RishiSunak @Keir_Starmer welcoming #Netanyahu with open arms?#ApartheidIsrael https://t.co/3Wih8QM2zP
Knesset member Tali Gottlieb from the Likud said: "What do you think, Minister of Defense? Will they ever let you change the structure of the committee for the appointment of judges? Will they ever let you break up the power games between the representatives of the bar association and the supreme judges on the committee? They won't change today or tomorrow. So is the reason for surrender? Probably the flattery and caressing of the left are more delightful than one can imagine."
On the other hand, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Yuli Edelstein said: "I thank my friend, Defense Minister Yoav Galant for joining the path I have been leading for weeks. The majority of the people want and understand the need for changes in the judicial system, but this must be done with patience, dialogue, and broad discourse in order to reach a broad consensus. The State of Israel is strong and will continue to be strong - together."
2. after the PM. Galant's speech to the nation is a challenge to Netanyahu, who has not agreed to stop the legislation until now. Galant's main argument is security and the upcoming national days. Israel is witnessing an unprecedented wave of protests (photo: @tomerappelbaum), pic.twitter.com/wB2kLnVJZT
— נדב איל Nadav Eyal (@Nadav_Eyal) March 25, 2023
The chairman of the Israel Beiteinu party, MK Avigdor Lieberman, who is a right-wing liberal sitting with the opposition tweeted: "I congratulate Defense Minister Galant for his call to stop the legislation and expect the rest of his Likud members to join and stop the madness. The time has come for the government to put the citizens of Israel at the top of the list of priorities and work to preserve security, the economy, and the State of Israel as a Jewish, Zionist, and liberal state."
Opposition Chairman MK Yair Lapid, posted on his Twitter account and wrote: "This evening Defense Minister Galant is leading a brave and vital step for the security of the State of Israel. The coup d'état is seriously damaging national security and it is his role and responsibility to stop the dangerous deterioration. This is the moment of truth. I call on the government to stop everything, not pass the change in the committee for the appointment of judges this week and the Deri law, and let's hold talks at the president's house. I salute the hundreds of thousands of defenders of the land, the Israeli patriots who take to the streets to fight for Israeli democracy."
