Leading Israeli opposition lawmakers called for protests after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
The citizens of Israel should go on strike, said Yair Golan, leader of the Democrats, the alliance between the social-democratic Labour Party and the left-liberal Merez.
Netanyahu unexpectedly fired Gallant, saying trust in him was “broken,” despite the nation being embroiled in fighting on multiple fronts.
The opposition slammed the move, saying it was motivated by his own political purposes and would endanger Israel’s security.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu dropped Gallant to push through the controversial exemption of ultra-Orthodox men from military service to secure his governing coalition.
“The head of government has chosen the draft dodgers over those doing their military service,’’ Lapid said.
Opposition politicians Benny Gantz and Avigdor Lieberman also sharply criticized Netanyahu’s move, in a rare show of unity amongst the opposition which is seen as weak and fractured.
Gallant’s dismissal officially takes effect on Thursday evening. He is to be replaced by Israel Katz, formerly foreign minister.
It is not the first time Gallant has been dismissed. Netanyahu fired Gallant in March 2023 after he publicly called for a halt to the controversial plans for a judicial overhaul and said national security could be seriously damaged.
His dismissal was followed by violent protests and a general strike and Netanyahu suspended the plans and reversed the dismissal of his domestic political rival.
There was outrage in Israel on Tuesday evening when his latest dismissal was announced, and thousands of protesters poured into the streets of Tel Aviv later in the night.
They blocked the Ayalon Highway, a major traffic artery in Tel Aviv, with burning tyres and using Netanyahu’s nickname, they chanted “Bibi is a traitor,” “Bibi in prison” and “criminal government.” (dpa/NAN).
