Netanyahu fires defence minister; massive protests rock Israel

Jerusalem: Massive protests erupted in Israel after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu abruptly fired his defence minister for challenging his judicial revamp plan. Sunday night witnessed tens of thousands occupying streets across the country in a major outburst against the leader, Associated Press reported.

Netanyahu's plan had invited severe dissent for a month, and it has deepened with the latest unrest. Netanyahu's overhaul plan has invited protests from business leaders, former security chiefs etc., and the United States and other close allies expressed their concerns.

Gallant, who got fired, was the first senior member of the ruling Likud party to speak out against it. He had said that the deep divisions were threatening to weaken the military.

However, more Likud ministers arose after protesters flooded the street. Culture Minister Micky Zohar, a Netanyahu confidant, said the party would support him if he decided to pause the judicial overhaul. Leaders in Netanyahu's coalition were to meet on Monday morning, media reports from the country suggested.

Tens of thousands of Israelis poured into the streets in protest after Netanyahu's announcement, blocking Tel Aviv's main artery, transforming the Ayalon highway into a sea of blue-and-white Israeli flags and lighting a large bonfire in the middle of the road.

Netanyahu fired Gallant after he openly asked for a pause in the legislation pertaining to the judicial overhaul until after the Independence Day holidays, citing the turmoil in the ranks of the military. He had expressed concerns that the divisions in society were hurting morale in the military and emboldening Israel's enemies.