Netanyahu Fires Israeli Defense Minister Who Criticized Controversial Judicial Reform Plan

Thousands protested in Israel after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired a defense minister who had called for delaying a controversial plan to limit the powers of the country’s Supreme Court. 

Key Quotes: In a televised speech Saturday night, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the “internal rift” created by the judicial reform proposal was “a clear, immediate, and tangible danger to the security of the state,” and said "the legislative process should be stopped." Explaining the decision to fire Gallant, Netanyahu’s office said he "did not coordinate his words with the Prime Minister in advance and thus sabotaged efforts to reach a solution." The reform plan’s opponents condemned the decision; on Sunday, opposition leader Yair Lapid called Netanyahu a “danger to the security of the State of Israel.”

For Context: Netanyahu’s governing coalition is considering proposals that would, among other things, allow the Israeli parliament to override Supreme Court decisions with a simple majority vote. Thousands have protested against the proposals for weeks, and hundreds of members of Israel’s security forces said they would refuse to serve if the plan was implemented. The Biden administration has expressed “concern” over the plan on multiple occasions. 

How the Media Covered It: Coverage was widespread across the spectrum. While Netanyahu is often a polarizing figure in U.S. politics, coverage on all sides included more quotes criticizing Netanyahu than supporting him.