Gallant explains vote for contentious overhaul bill: ‘Best that I stay at the wheel’
IDF chief tells Netanyahu to stop ‘slander’ of reservists who have threatened to end duty as protest; Mossad chief said to vow to be on ‘right side’ if constitutional crisis erupts
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant was quoted by Hebrew-language media on Monday as saying he had attempted to reach a consensus with regard to a controversial bill that ended up passing — part of the government’s plans to overhaul the judiciary — but was unable to do so.
The Knesset gave its final approval to a law that prevents courts from reviewing the “reasonableness” of government and ministerial decisions, the first major bill of the government’s judicial overhaul to pass.
“If I were to vote against the law, I would have to resign,” Gallant said in ostensible “closed conversations” — usually code for statements provided to reporters unofficially — according to Hebrew media. “If I had left, it wouldn’t have changed anything. It’s best that I stay at the wheel at such a time.”
Gallant said reservists threatening to end their voluntary duty in protest of the judicial overhaul were “acting irresponsibly.”
“I tried to reach an agreement. Unfortunately, it didn’t work,” Hebrew media cited Gallant as saying.
Gallant said regarding the Israel Defense Forces’ readiness that “the IDF will carry out its missions… My goal is to maintain security and democracy.”
The defense minister’s spokesperson did not respond to The Times of Israel’s request for comment on the remarks.
Gallant in late March publicly warned that the rift over the overhaul was causing divides in the military that posed a tangible threat to Israeli security. In response to that warning, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered Gallant’s firing, a move that sparked intensified national protests, in turn leading Netanyahu to temporarily suspend the legislation for three months and withdraw Gallant’s dismissal.
Protests against the judicial overhaul have roiled the IDF for months, with the threats ramping up in recent weeks as the government pushed ahead with the so-called “reasonableness” bill.
More than 10,000 reservists, including hundreds of pilots, have announced their intention to suspend their volunteer duty in protest of the overhaul.
Meanwhile, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi urged Netanyahu in a meeting on Monday afternoon to help end slander against soldiers, especially reservists, who have been protesting against the overhaul, according to a military source.
“The chief of staff presented at the meeting the assessment of the security situation, the readiness of the IDF, the assessments and the consequences of the legislation on the readiness and cohesion of the IDF,” the source said in a statement to reporters.
According to the IDF source, Halevi “emphasized [to Netanyahu] that it is necessary to stop [those] speaking out against the IDF and its servicemembers, in the standing and reserve army.”
“These statements harm the competence and cohesion of the IDF,” Halevi said according to the source.
He said the IDF will make “great efforts to maintain competence and cohesion even at the present time.”
Halevi was supposed to meet with Netanyahu on Sunday, but due to the premier’s health situation, having had a procedure to implant a pacemaker, the meeting was delayed until Monday.
On Sunday, “a detailed position paper was forwarded by the chief of staff, presenting the security situation, the strategic implications, and the implications for the competence and cohesion of the IDF. The prime minister read this document,” the IDF source said.
Despite the meeting between Halevi and Netanyahu occurring only after the vote on the reasonableness law, the military source said updated information on the IDF’s readiness and reservist protesters had been given to the premier beforehand.
“The chief of staff updated the prime minister throughout the entirety of the recent period on the assessment of the situation. Last week, a meeting was held in which the assessment of the intelligence, the strategic consequences, and the consequences for competence and cohesion [of the military] as a result of the legislative process were presented,” the IDF source said.
“Since then, every day there has been an assessment of the situation in the IDF, at the end of which the defense minister was updated on the details, and the military secretary of the prime minister informed the prime minister,” the source added.
Separately, Channel 12 news reported Monday that Mossad Director David Barnea had told a group of agents concerned about the judicial overhaul that “if things come to a constitutional crisis, I will be on the right side — but that time has not arrived.”
The report said some Mossad agents had informed Barnea that they were deliberating whether to remain in the organization in the current climate.
Also Monday, ahead of the vote on the reasonableness law, the head of the IDF Operations Directorate, Maj. Gen. Oded Basiuk, and the head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, arrived at the Knesset to brief senior ministers about the military’s readiness as protests over the judicial overhaul roiled the IDF’s ranks.
The reservists’ threats have simultaneously created more pressure on the government to halt the controversial legislation, while also increasing the coalition’s determination, with members of Netanyahu’s government saying they cannot under any circumstances succumb to what they say is blackmail by members of the military, which they warn could create a dangerous precedent.
Defense officials and politicians on both sides of the aisle have warned that the mass refusals could make Israel more vulnerable to outside threats, as the readiness of the military, particularly the IAF, would be negatively impacted.
Reservists, especially members of the IAF, are a key part of the army’s routine activities. Defense officials have said pilots could harm their competency by taking breaks from their frequent training exercises, and it would take a significant amount of time to restore their flying abilities.
The military has said that it would discipline or potentially dismiss active-duty soldiers who refuse to show up for duty when ordered to, but stressed that no action would be taken against reservists who only threaten not to show up.
It is unclear what measures would be taken against reservists who do not show up for voluntary duty.
The IDF said it would handle each case individually, including possible suspension, dismissal, or jail sentences.
