Netanyahu fires defence chief, thousands come out on streets to protest

Protesters surround Netanyahu’s residence...

Thousands of Israelis flocked to the streets overnight, including surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence, after the prime minister fired his defence director over a dramatic speech criticising a contentious plan to limit the Supreme Court's power.

The Associated Press reported that police clashed with protestors outside Netanyahu's mansion in Jerusalem on Sunday, while others gathered opposite the defence ministry in Tel Aviv in favour of expelled Minister Yoav Gallant and against Netanyahu. They spilled out onto the road, waving Israeli flags and obstructing traffic.

The developments came after the prime minister's office issued a statement late Sunday stating that Netanyahu had fired Gallant less than a day after the defence chief disobeyed the premier by taking to the media and advocating for a lengthy suspension in the divisive legislation.

Netanyahu's proposal has profoundly divided Israeli society, devastated markets, and left the country further isolated diplomatically. Long-standing friends such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and France have emphasised that a totally independent and robust judiciary is essential to a functioning democracy.

The proposed legislation is broken down into several bills. While a pause would be desirable, two senior members of Netanyahu's Likud party have stated that they intend to support the new bill when it comes up for a vote this week.

The proposal will give lawmakers a veto over the selection of judges, including high-court justices, a departure from the current system, which is dominated by sitting justices and members of the legal profession.

Netanyahu, who was re-elected in late 2022, heads Israel's most right-wing and religious government in its history. His coalition partners have long complained that the Supreme Court is impeding their preferred policies, including as the easy growth of West Bank settlements, the detention of foreigners seeking asylum, and the exemption of ultra-Orthodox men from military service to pursue religious studies.