Thousands Protest in Israel Following Netanyahu’s Firing of Defence Minister: A Look at the Current Situation

On March 26, 2023, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant after he broke ranks and called for a pause to the government’s controversial judicial reforms. Thousands of protestors took to the streets in cities throughout Israel, blocking the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv and lighting bonfires. Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of being a danger to the security of the State of Israel, while former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned that Israel is in greater danger than at any time since the Yom Kippur war. Netanyahu is reportedly conducting hours of “security and legal discussions” at the Prime Minister’s Office and is considering announcing a pause to the judicial overhaul due to the nationwide protests.