Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sacked the defense minister after he called on Saturday evening to freeze the mechanism for reforming the judicial system, which the government is seeking, for a month. The Prime Minister’s Office said in a brief statement that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Gallant from his post.”
On Sunday, the Israeli Supreme Court gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a week to respond to a petition submitted by a non-governmental organization demanding that he be convicted of “contempt of court.”
The Supreme Court indicated that Netanyahu has until April 2 to respond to a petition filed by the “Movement for Quality Government in Israel” to the Supreme Court, accusing the prime minister of “contempt of court” in connection with a televised speech on Thursday.
In his speech, the Prime Minister renewed his determination to move forward with his project to amend the judicial system, pledging to “put an end to the division among the people” in the midst of mass demonstrations against the project currently before Parliament, which has been going on for nearly three months.
The project sparks protests and demonstrations involving thousands, as its opponents see that it aims to undermine the judiciary in favor of the political power, warning that it poses a threat to the democratic system.
On the other hand, Netanyahu and his allies on the far right and extremists consider the project necessary to restore the balance of power between elected officials and the Supreme Court, which they say is politicized.
According to the petition filed by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel and seen by Agence France-Presse, Netanyahu, who has previously been indicted in a number of corruption cases, violated an agreement concluded with the judiciary stipulating that an accused prime minister cannot take measures in an area that To put him in a position of conflict of interest, according to a decision issued by the Supreme Court in 2020.
The non-governmental organization called on the Supreme Court, the highest judicial body in the country, to “impose” against the prime minister “a fine and a prison sentence or any other punishment required by the matter, in accordance with the rules in force in cases of contempt of court.”
On Friday, the judiciary warned Netanyahu that his interference in the project to amend the judicial system, which is dividing the country, is “illegal” in light of his continued trial on charges of corruption.
“As Prime Minister and accused of criminal offenses, you must refrain from taking actions that raise concerns of a conflict of interest between your personal interests in connection with the criminal proceedings and your position as Prime Minister,” said Chancellor Ghali Bahravmiara’s letter to Netanyahu.
Netanyahu had announced in his speech that Israeli lawmakers were scheduled to vote on key provisions in the draft amendment to the judicial system “next week”, especially the mechanism for appointing judges.
Counselor Mayara affirmed, “The prime minister should refrain from initiating any action related to judicial changes, including the composition of the judge appointment committee.”