The firing of defence minister Yoav Gallant by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked outrage in Israel, with protesters pouring into the streets of Tel Aviv on Tuesday night.
Thousands of people took to the streets to demonstrate against Netanyahu’s shock move against his domestic political rival.
They blocked the Ayalon Highway, a major traffic artery in Tel Aviv, with burning tyres. Using Netanyahu’s nickname, they chanted “Bibi is a traitor,” “Bibi in prison” and “criminal government.”
Netanyahu had dismissed Gallant in March 2023 after he publicly called for a halt to the controversial plans for a judicial overhaul, warning that national security could be seriously damaged.
His dismissal was followed by violent protests and a general strike.
Netanyahu suspended the plans at the time, and Gallant’s dismissal was reversed.
Demonstrators in Tel Aviv voiced concern that Netanyahu could fire other key members of the country’s national security establishment, including the head of the Israel Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi, or the head of the domestic intelligence service Shin Bet, Ronen Bar.
Netanyahu’s office, however, denied media speculation of further firings.
Other protesters contended that Netanyahu wanted to use Gallant’s dismissal to distract from a scandal surrounding secret information that had been leaked to the press by employees close to his office.
The TV station Channel 12 reported on Tuesday evening that the police had recently raided Netanyahu’s office. It was not clear whether this search was related to the potential misconduct surrounding the disclosure of secret war intelligence or to another investigation related to Netanyahu.
