Israeli defense minister calls for halting judicial overhaul amid protests

JERUSALEM (AA) – Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday called for halting government plans for judicial overhaul amid protests against the planned change.

Israel has seen mass protests in recent weeks over plans by the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for judicial reform, seen by the opposition as an attempt to reduce the powers of the judicial authority in favor of the executive authority.

“I have never encountered the intensity of anger and pain as I have seen now,” Gallant said in a televised speech.

“The rift in society penetrates into the army and this is an immediate and tangible danger to the security of the state. I will not give my hand to this,” he said.

“The legislative process must be stopped," the defense minister stressed.

“We need a change in the judiciary, but major changes must be done with dialogue,” Gallant said.