Netanyahu dismisses Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant
The statement said that Netanyahu summoned Gallant to his office "and informed him that he had lost confidence in him after he worked against the government and against the coalition while the prime minister was on a political visit abroad."
The statement added, "Minister Gallant did not coordinate his statements with the Prime Minister in advance, and thus sabotaged efforts to reach a solution."
In a related context, the former Israeli Prime Minister, Yair Lapid, said that the dismissal of Galant merely because he warned of a threat to national security is a "new low," adding that Netanyahu may be able to dismiss Galant, but "he cannot expel the Israeli people who stand in The face of the Mad Alliance.”
In a tweet published on Sunday evening, Lapid said, "The dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, just because he warned of a threat to Israel's security, represents a new low for an anti-Zionist government that harms national security and ignores the warning of all security officials."
Lapid considered that "the prime minister of Israel poses a threat to the security of the State of Israel."
On Saturday, Israel's defense minister called for a halt to the government's plan to reform the country's judicial system, with anti-government demonstrations suspended.
Calling him to halt the plan, Gallant responded, "For the security of Israel and for the sake of our sons and daughters: we need to stop the legislative process at this time."
"We need to stop the demonstrations and protests - and reach out for dialogue," Gallant said in a statement.
Gallant, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party, is the first cabinet minister to publicly state his position on Netanyahu's plan.
What is happening now in Tel Aviv:
▫️ "Israeli" demonstrators stormed the occupation police checkpoints and headed towards Netanyahu's house in Jerusalem after he dismissed the Minister of Defense.
▫️ Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett: "Israel is in the greatest danger since the 1967 war"
▫️ Senior Likud official: Netanyahu has lost control
▫️ Hebrew Channel 12: Universities announced that they will suspend studies from tomorrow until further notice.
▫️ Otherwise: dozens of doctors in hospitals announce that they will not go to work tomorrow