Political situation in Israel
Former leader: Worst crisis since 1973 war
Israel is facing the biggest crisis since the Yom Kippur War in 1973, says the country's former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, according to Haaretz.
"I call on the Prime Minister to withdraw Yoav Gallant's dismissal, postpone the legal reform and continue the negotiations after Independence Day," he writes in a statement.
Huge protests have erupted in Israel on Sunday night after Netanyahu announced the dismissal of Defense Minister Gallant following his criticism of the judicial reform.
Hundreds of thousands of protesters have gathered in several parts of the country, blocking Tel Aviv's main highway, and trying to force cordons at Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem.
Protesters. AP
Political situation in Israel
Huge protests in Israel - Netanyahu is said to be considering stopping the legal reform
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is said to be considering putting the heavily criticized legal reform on hold after strong protests broke out in the country, sources told Channel 12 and the public service company Kan, according to the Times of Israel.
Discontent with Netanyahu exploded on Sunday after he fired his defense minister, Yoav Gallant, who had openly criticized the reform.
Protesters have tried to force cordons around Netanyahu's house, clashing with riot police. In several parts of the country, protesters block roads and light fires. Thousands have also gathered outside the Knesset parliament.
In addition, opposition leaders have come out and said that a "red line has been crossed" by Netanyahu, and Asaf Zamir, Consul General in New York, has resigned.
Channel 12 reports that 600,000 to 700,000 Israelis are demonstrating on Sunday night - according to police in 150 locations. Demonstrations in Tel Aviv.
Ohad Zwigenberg / AP
Political situation in Israel
Swedish Jonatan participates: "A historic evening"
Sweden's Jonatan Macznik is one of the hundreds of thousands who set out to demonstrate on the streets of Israel on Sunday evening, reports SVT Nyheter.
He calls it "a historic night", when many Israelis who do not usually take to the streets and demonstrate feel that their border has been crossed.
Macznik works as a human rights lawyer and has been living in Tel Aviv for several years. For several months, he has participated in protests against the government and the bills he believes "risk threatening democracy and the protection of human rights that still exist in Israel".
- I have tried to be out every Saturday night, he says.
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