Israel’s prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reversed his decision to fire defence minister Yoav Gallant, amid deteriorating security that has left the country battling threats on multiple fronts.
Netanyahu originally said two weeks ago he would sack Gallant after the defence minister spoke out against the government’s controversial plans to weaken the powers of the judiciary. The minister warned that the deep polarisation caused by the proposals was undermining Israeli security.
Netanyahu’s decision sparked mass protests and a shortlived general strike that closed banks, shopping malls and even Israel’s international Ben Gurion airport, forcing Netanyahu to back down and postpone the bulk of the judicial overhaul until the next parliamentary session in May.