Naftali Bennett calls for dialogue, avoiding violence amid a rift over government’s judicial change plan
Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has warned that Israel is in the most danger since the 1973 Yom Kippur War due to mass protests against a government plan for judicial reform.
Bennett tweeted late Sunday that Israel is “in greater danger than ever since the Yom Kippur War,” in which Israel fought both Egypt and Syria.
He urged the government to engage in dialogue and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remove Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from his post.
Gallant called on the government to halt its massive judicial reform project on Saturday, citing threats to state security as a result of widespread military protests.
Following Gallant’s opposition to a key government initiative, Netanyahu fired him on Sunday evening.
The next day, Israel saw massive protests that lasted until dawn.
In addition to the military, the contentious reforms have sparked months of public outrage, with demonstrators labeling the initiative a government power grab.
“It doesn’t matter who is correct or incorrect,” Bennett said. “I urge all demonstrators and Israeli citizens to protest peacefully and without violence. We are siblings.”
Netanyahu, who is on trial for corruption, claims that his plan will strengthen democracy and restore the balance between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
