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| Mass Israel protests after Netanyahu fires defence minister | Mass Israel protests after Netanyahu fires defence minister |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Tens of thousands have taken to the streets across Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defence minister. | Tens of thousands have taken to the streets across Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defence minister. |
| Yoav Gallant had spoken out against controversial plans to overhaul the justice system. | Yoav Gallant had spoken out against controversial plans to overhaul the justice system. |
| In Jerusalem, police and soldiers used water cannon against demonstrators near Mr Netanyahu's house. | In Jerusalem, police and soldiers used water cannon against demonstrators near Mr Netanyahu's house. |
| A week of disruption had already been planned over the new law. | A week of disruption had already been planned over the new law. |
| The reforms include plans that would give the government full control over the committee which appoints judges. | The reforms include plans that would give the government full control over the committee which appoints judges. |
| They would also make it harder for courts to remove a leader deemed unfit for office, which has angered many who consider it in the interests of the incumbent, Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an ongoing trial for corruption. | They would also make it harder for courts to remove a leader deemed unfit for office, which has angered many who consider it in the interests of the incumbent, Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces an ongoing trial for corruption. |
| Israel's PM vows to continue with legal reforms | Israel's PM vows to continue with legal reforms |
| After protesting outside Mr Netanyahu's home, the demonstrators - many flying Israeli flags and banging pots and pans - then evaded police forces to arrive at Israel's parliament, the Knesset. | After protesting outside Mr Netanyahu's home, the demonstrators - many flying Israeli flags and banging pots and pans - then evaded police forces to arrive at Israel's parliament, the Knesset. |
| One government employee told the BBC that she felt Mr Netanyahu "crossed every line we have as a democratic country". | One government employee told the BBC that she felt Mr Netanyahu "crossed every line we have as a democratic country". |
| "We're defending the last bit of democracy we have and I can't go to sleep this way. I can't do anything until we stop this craziness", she said. | "We're defending the last bit of democracy we have and I can't go to sleep this way. I can't do anything until we stop this craziness", she said. |
| Mr Gallant is a former soldier, who for weeks has heard from reservists who were unhappy with the proposed law change. | Mr Gallant is a former soldier, who for weeks has heard from reservists who were unhappy with the proposed law change. |
| In early March, fighter pilots in an elite Israeli Air Force squadron vowed not to attend training, in an unprecedented protest against the government. | In early March, fighter pilots in an elite Israeli Air Force squadron vowed not to attend training, in an unprecedented protest against the government. |
| They later agreed to attend and hold talks with their commanders. | They later agreed to attend and hold talks with their commanders. |
| Mr Gallant spoke out against the law on Saturday, where he said members of the Israeli Defence Forces were angry and disappointed. | Mr Gallant spoke out against the law on Saturday, where he said members of the Israeli Defence Forces were angry and disappointed. |
| Mr Netanyahu - who was out of the country at the time of Mr Gallant's TV appearance - said he no longer had faith in him as defence minister. | Mr Netanyahu - who was out of the country at the time of Mr Gallant's TV appearance - said he no longer had faith in him as defence minister. |
| The prime minister wants to get the new legislation through parliament by the end of the week. | The prime minister wants to get the new legislation through parliament by the end of the week. |
| The two politicians are a member of the same Likud party and while the defence minister won the backing of some fellow members, others on the far right called for him to go. | The two politicians are a member of the same Likud party and while the defence minister won the backing of some fellow members, others on the far right called for him to go. |
| After he was fired, Mr Gallant took to Twitter to reaffirm: "The state of Israel's security has always been and will always be my life's mission." | After he was fired, Mr Gallant took to Twitter to reaffirm: "The state of Israel's security has always been and will always be my life's mission." |
| Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid described Mr Gallant's sacking as "a new low" for the government. | Israel's opposition leader Yair Lapid described Mr Gallant's sacking as "a new low" for the government. |
| "Netanyahu can fire Gallant, but he can't fire reality or fire the people of Israel who are fronting up to resist the coalition's madness," Mr Lapid added. | "Netanyahu can fire Gallant, but he can't fire reality or fire the people of Israel who are fronting up to resist the coalition's madness," Mr Lapid added. |
| Responding on Sunday, the US government said it was "deeply concerned" by Mr Gallant's removal. | |
| "As the president recently discussed with Prime Minister Netanyahu, democratic values have always been, and must remain, a hallmark of the U.S.-Israel relationship," said White House spokeswoman Adrienne Watson. | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Israel | Israel |
| Benjamin Netanyahu | Benjamin Netanyahu |