Israel: Tel Aviv is “burning” after the dismissal of the defense minister – thousands of citizens in the street

Tel Aviv was set on fire by tens of thousands of citizens who demonstrated against Netanyahu’s decision to sack Israel’s defense minister.

Thousands of Israelis took to the streets late Sunday night (Photo, top, by The Associated Press/Oren Ziv) to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s sacking of the defense minister, who urged the government to halt a highly controversial plan to overhaul the justice system.

Big crowds in Tel Aviv

Reuters Television footage showed large crowds blocking Tel Aviv’s main highway and a group of protesters setting a fire in the middle of the highway.

Protests in central Tel Aviv pic.twitter.com/yveHG9ctgr

– Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) March 26, 2023

On Saturday Gallant became the most senior figure in Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party to say he would not support reform of the justice system, arguing that the protests, which include a growing number of reservists, are also affecting the regular forces and undermining national security.

The Ayalon Highway is one of the main transport routes in Israel, and now it looks like this. pic.twitter.com/SVPsqhAoCh

– Spriter (@spriter99880) March 26, 2023

He also called for an end to the protests and stressed that “major changes at the national level must be made through consultation and dialogue.”

The number of demonstrators is increasing minute by minute in all cities of Israel pic.twitter.com/LGFF4clRJp

– Spriter (@spriter99880) March 26, 2023

“Right now, for the good of our country, I am willing to take any risk and pay any price,” Gallant said in his televised address.

Chaos in Israel:
– Massive protest in Israel – 700,000 people actively demonstrating (and growing).
– The Israeli army raised a “state of alert” due to the loss of control inside the country.
Announcing the general strike.
– Prime Minister Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Galant. pic.twitter.com/LHAxxe5luG

– Global: Military-Info (Global_Mil_Info) March 26, 2023

The answer late last night, to remove the prime minister from office.

Resignation of the Consul in New York

The brief statement stated that “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu decided to relieve Defense Minister Yoav Gallad of his duties.”

1/ A quick recap of the tragic events in Israel tonight: Prime Minister Netanyahu fired the Minister of Defense for opposing judicial reform and warning that it seriously endangered Israel’s security. In response, spontaneous demonstrations broke out across the country. pic.twitter.com/VxWgFtdXP3

– Nadav Eyal (@Nadav_Eyal) March 26, 2023

Shortly after his ouster, Gallant, 64, tweeted, “The security situation in Israel has always been and always will be my life’s mission.”

The security of the State of Israel has always been and always will be my life’s mission 🇮🇱

– Yoav Gallant (@yoavgallant) March 26, 2023

Immediately after this development, the Israeli Consul General in New York announced that he had submitted his resignation in protest of the dismissal of the Minister of Defense.

More and more fire in Israel pic.twitter.com/DgN7IYKRtW

– Spriter (@spriter99880) March 26, 2023

“I can no longer continue to represent this government,” Asaf Zamir wrote on Twitter.

Israel is a model for the whole world. When a tyrant tries to overthrow democracy – take to the streets! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/D7VNcjZiEo

– Josh Drill (@drill_josh) March 26, 2023

“I believe it is my duty to ensure that Israel remains a beacon of democracy and freedom in the world,” he added.

The past eighteen months as Consul General of Israel in New York have been fulfilling and rewarding, but after today’s developments, now is the time to join the fight for Israel’s future to ensure that it remains a beacon of democracy and freedom in the world. This is the message you sent: pic.twitter.com/Sfz8y3ALLv

– Asaf Zamir (@AmbAsafZamir) March 26, 2023

Source: Res