Israel’s Security and Army are at Risk by External Factors, including its Policies, says White House

The White House expressed concern about what is happening in Israel after the dismissal of Defense Secretary Yoav Gallant from his post due to his opposition to the judicial amendments.

“What happens in Israel will affect its security and its army,” he said.

Israeli consul in New York resigns

In turn, Israel’s consul general in New York announced his resignation today, Sunday, in protest of Galant’s dismissal, while Assaf Zamir said in his resignation letter: “I cannot work in a Netanyahu-led government.”

He also signaled that the political situation in Israel had reached a “critical point,” calling the decision to fire Galant “dangerous,” according to Israeli Y.net.

Zamir pointed out that the judicial amendments to the law, which Gallant called for an end to on Saturday, “undermine the foundations of the democratic system and threaten the rule of law” in Israel.

This comes after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from his post earlier today because he rejected judicial amendments, Al-Arabiya/Al-Hadath reported.

Local media also reported that Netanyahu called the Defense Minister before his dismissal and said he had lost confidence in him because he was working against the government and the ruling coalition.

Galant’s first statement

In his first statement since his dismissal, The Jerusalem Post quoted Gallant as saying, “The security of the State of Israel has been and always will be my life’s mission.”

The sacked defense minister recently spoke out against Netanyahu’s controversial plan to overhaul Israel’s judiciary. Yesterday, Saturday, he called for a halt to judicial amendment legislation to engage in dialogue with opponents, warning of “huge threats” with the arrival of what he considered “split” in the Israeli army.

“We need changes in the judiciary, but the main changes must be made through dialogue,” he said in a televised speech.

threat to Israel’s security

The dismissal provoked an angry reaction in the country. The Israeli opposition issued a statement holding the prime minister responsible for the threat to Israel’s security, saying: “The security of the country should not be a political game in the hands of Netanyahu.”

She urged members of the Likud party not to accept the post of Minister of Defense and said: “Whoever accepts the post of Minister of Defense dishonors himself.”

Demonstrations .. and dispersed with water from hoses

Thousands of Israelis also took to the streets today Sunday to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, while Israeli police dispersed protesters in Tel Aviv with water cannons.

Demonstrators approached Netanyahu’s home to protest the dismissal of the defense minister for his refusal to reform the judiciary, prompting the Israeli police to intervene, thwarting and confronting them.

Judicial system

Notably, Netanyahu’s ruling coalition is trying to push for changes to the judiciary that would give the government decisive influence in choosing judges and limit the power of the Supreme Court to strike down laws.

Supporters of the amendments say the plan will curb the Supreme Court’s abuse of power and restore the balance in the government’s hands.

For their part, opponents of the amendments believe it would weaken the judiciary, endanger civil liberties and hurt the economy.

The proposed amendments also sparked weeks of massive protests and alarms among Israel’s Western allies.