Israel’s defense minister again embroiled in controversy over judicial reform

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Israel’s defense minister said he was taking steps to “ensure the security” of the country, after media reports he was trying to delay a judicial overhaul that has caused thousands of reservists to threaten to stop volunteering for military service.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Friday evening that Yoav Galant was trying to persuade government and opposition leaders to extend the current parliamentary session by delaying a vote until next week on the first part of the controversial overhaul being pushed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline government until a consensus is reached.

In response, Galant’s office stated that he was “taking measures to reach a broad consensus and ensure the security of the State of Israel, while keeping the military out of political discussion”.

The defense minister’s intervention comes amid growing public mobilization against the overhaul, with more than 1,100 reservists in Israel’s air force publishing a letter threatening to stop presenting themselves for duty if government plans to rein in the judiciary become law.

The air crew’s letter followed similar threats from reservists in other parts of Israel’s armed forces, sparking nervousness among senior officials about the military’s preparedness.

In an unusually candid acknowledgment of the concerns, the military’s chief spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said earlier Friday that reservists’ failure to report for duty “harms” (military) and state security.

“In the past days, it has become clear that solidarity has been damaged, (in a way) that will take a long time to heal,” he said.

However, hardliners in the government reacted with fury to the letter. Ultranationalist Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir accused the Reserveists of trying to “hold the Israeli government hostage and impose a political minority position on it”.

“We will not bow down to this dangerous attempt to create anarchy,” he said.

Government officials insist that the bill to be passed next week is one of several measures needed to curb an overly powerful judiciary that they believe has a partisan, left-wing agenda. This would prevent Israel’s top court from using the standard of “reasonableness” to overrule government decisions on issues such as appointments.

But critics say the proposals would remove important restraints on Israeli governments, pave the way for weakening minority protections, encourage corruption and damage the country’s economy.

Israeli politics have been thrown into turmoil since the government revealed its plans in January, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets across the country for 28 consecutive weeks in protest against the plans.

Gallant’s intervention on Friday is the second time he has tried to slow judicial reform for fear of its impact on the military. In March, he warned that division over reforms posed an “immediate threat” to the country’s security.

Netanyahu then responded by announcing that he would fire Galant, triggering another round of protests that turned into a brief general strike.

In the face of protests and strikes that closed shops, banks and Israeli embassies worldwide, as well as halted flights at Israel’s international airport, Netanyahu backtracked, delayed the overhaul for three months, distanced himself from some of its most controversial elements, and announced that Galant would remain in office.

However, after talks with the opposition broke down, his government reverted to a radical overhaul this month.

Get free Israel updates

we will send you one myFT Daily Digest Latest Email Rounding israel News every morning.

Israel’s defense minister said he was taking steps to “ensure the security” of the country, after media reports he was trying to delay a judicial overhaul that has caused thousands of reservists to threaten to stop volunteering for military service.

Israel’s Channel 12 reported on Friday evening that Yoav Galant was trying to persuade government and opposition leaders to extend the current parliamentary session by delaying a vote until next week on the first part of the controversial overhaul being pushed by Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline government until a consensus is reached.

In response, Galant’s office stated that he was “taking measures to reach a broad consensus and ensure the security of the State of Israel, while keeping the military out of political discussion”.

The defense minister’s intervention comes amid growing public mobilization against the overhaul, with more than 1,100 reservists in Israel’s air force publishing a letter threatening to stop presenting themselves for duty if government plans to rein in the judiciary become law.

The air crew’s letter followed similar threats from reservists in other parts of Israel’s armed forces, sparking nervousness among senior officials about the military’s preparedness.

In an unusually candid acknowledgment of the concerns, the military’s chief spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said earlier Friday that reservists’ failure to report for duty “harms” (military) and state security.

“In the past days, it has become clear that solidarity has been damaged, (in a way) that will take a long time to heal,” he said.

However, hardliners in the government reacted with fury to the letter. Ultranationalist Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir accused the Reserveists of trying to “hold the Israeli government hostage and impose a political minority position on it”.

“We will not bow down to this dangerous attempt to create anarchy,” he said.

Government officials insist that the bill to be passed next week is one of several measures needed to curb an overly powerful judiciary that they believe has a partisan, left-wing agenda. This would prevent Israel’s top court from using the standard of “reasonableness” to overrule government decisions on issues such as appointments.

But critics say the proposals would remove important restraints on Israeli governments, pave the way for weakening minority protections, encourage corruption and damage the country’s economy.

Israeli politics have been thrown into turmoil since the government revealed its plans in January, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets across the country for 28 consecutive weeks in protest against the plans.

Gallant’s intervention on Friday is the second time he has tried to slow judicial reform for fear of its impact on the military. In March, he warned that division over reforms posed an “immediate threat” to the country’s security.

Netanyahu then responded by announcing that he would fire Galant, triggering another round of protests that turned into a brief general strike.

In the face of protests and strikes that closed shops, banks and Israeli embassies worldwide, as well as halted flights at Israel’s international airport, Netanyahu backtracked, delayed the overhaul for three months, distanced himself from some of its most controversial elements, and announced that Galant would remain in office.

However, after talks with the opposition broke down, his government reverted to a radical overhaul this month.