Today, Prime Minister Netanyahu resigned the Minister of National Defence. There are large anti-government protests in Israeli cities. What's going on out there? I invitation you to a broader context.
1. Protests in Israel began in January 2023. All due to the controversial improvement of the judiciary that the government proposed.
2. The reforms focus on the following issues:
– the government would have a decisive influence on the choice of judges, including ultimate Court judges;
– Kneset (parliament) would have the right to “reject” the ultimate Court’s judgments by simple majority (61 out of 120 Members);
– The powers of the ultimate Court would be limited, in peculiar the SN could not regulation on the legality of the Fundamental Rights of Israel (Israel has no constitution, Fundamental Rights function as quasi-constitution);
3. Since January, erstwhile only a proposal for change appeared, the government has been under the fire of opposition and non-governmental organisations and citizens with more liberal views, who began to organize protests. The protests have attracted thousands of people from the beginning.
4. Netanjahu seems to have an ambivalent attitude towards reform. On the 1 hand, it supports reform, but on the another hand it fears the reaction of society and allies. Doubts about the improvement were expressed not only by the United States but besides by "Arab partners". Netanjahu fears that the improvement will lead to political isolation of the country. At the same time, however, "Bibi" does not have much choice. The improvement is very popular among his ultra-right coalitions, thanks to which he formed a government after last year's elections. Besides, the improvement is in Bibie's hand (he himself has a bribery trial)
5. The opposition to improvement has late gained strength. any reservists, who refused to take part in military exercises, joined the protests.
6. The attacks against Netanjah himself and his household besides intensified. In early March, protesters found Netanjah's wife in a barbershop and held a demonstration before the plant. As a result, Shin Bet took over the full Netanjahu household with protection.
7. As social opposition grew, any of the more average politicians of the ruling coalition began to express their concerns about improvement more or less. For a long time, it has been said that Bibi is wondering whether to suspend the reform.
8. The problem, however, is the ultra-nationalists who want to push through the improvement and on which the majority of Parliament is supported.
How the ultranationalist reaction was, we saw it yesterday.
9. defence Minister Yoav Gallant called on Netanjahu yesterday to suspend the debate on the improvement for a period due to the confusion these ideas bring among the soldiers. Ultranationalists immediately accused Gallant (notabene of Likudu's long-standing policy) of treason. Fearing that Gallant could resign himself, Netanyahu himself stripped him of his position as Minister of Defence.
10. The situation in Israel is on fire. Protests are just the tip of the iceberg. In the West Bank, we inactive see escalation and attacks on Israeli settlers and Palestinians. The normalisation of Iran-Saudi Arabia relations is besides a problem for Israel.
Netanjahu is simply a sober player. His behaviour is highly calculated, and his support for Gallant's improvement and dismissal is surely not motivated solely by force from ultranationalists. From a political point of view, the improvement of the judiciary is very convenient for Bibi – especially since he is inactive under trial for bribery.
If there's a chance of improvement and at the same time maintaining government unity, Bibi will.
However, if the coalition begins to fall apart (a question as to how the unity of the government will affect Gallant's release), then Netanajahu may suspend the improvement for a while and wait for a more convenient situation to push the controversial bill through Kneset.
Anyway, before Israel, another hard week
