Ben-Gvir Agrees to Not Veto Judicial Reform Pause, Protests Continue

By Matis Glenn

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has reached an agreement with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu to not veto a pause in the judicial reform proceedings, after speculation that the former would resign and possibly dissolve the government.

Ben-Gvir, a staunch proponent of the judiciary reform, who said Sunday following Netanyahu’s ousting of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant that “Those who succumb to insubordination cannot remain in office,” said Monday that he would agree to postpone the reform ” in exchange for a commitment from Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu that the legislation will be brought to the Knesset for approval in the next session.”

But if negotiations are unsuccessful, Ben-Gvir vowed to push ahead with the reforms during the next session regardless.

As part of the agreement, Netanyahu agreed to establish a National Guard National Guard, under the auspices of the National Security Ministry, to be approved during the next cabinet session.

Tens of thousands of protestors flooded the streets of Yerushalayim Monday evening, in support of the reforms, after Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich called for a protest in front of the Knesset, to be held at 7 p.m..

Meanwhile, opponents of the reform, incensed over the firing of Gallant, almost breached security forces outside Netanyahu’s personal residence on Sunday, and continued demonstrations in Yerushalayim and Tel-Aviv on Monday. The Ayalon highway in Tel-Aviv remained closed to traffic on the north-bound side, but the south-bound side was opened.

Israeli universities announced Sunday that they would be suspending classes indefinitely; Ben Gurion airport was on strike as well.

Netanyahu’s office announced that he would address the country at 8 p.m.