Gallant said to explain vote for reasonableness law: ‘Best that I stay at the wheel’

Defense Minister Gallant is quoted by Hebrew-language media as saying he attempted to reach a consensus with regard to the controversial “reasonableness” bill, but was unable to.

“If I were to vote against the law, I would have to resign,” Gallant says 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 says reservists threatening to end their voluntary duty in protest of the judicial overhaul are “acting irresponsibly.”

“I tried to reach an agreement. Unfortunately, it didn’t work,” Hebrew media cites Gallant as saying.

Gallant says regarding the Israel Defense Forces’ readiness that “the IDF will carry out its missions… My goal is to maintain security and democracy.”