Netanyahu dismisses Israeli defense minister who criticized judicial reform proposal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday dismissed Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who criticized his government's planned judicial reform. 

Gallant, also a member of a Likud with Netanyahu, called Saturday for the Israeli parliament, or Knesset, to pause its consideration of judicial reform legislation until after the end of the Jewish, Muslim and Christian holidays at the end of April.

The proposed judicial reform has resulted in mass demonstrations and some military protests, in what Gallant called a "clear, immediate and tangible threat to the security of the country," as translated.

Further protests have been sparked by Gallant's removal.

The coalition government plans to pass the controversial judicial reform plan this week. The plan would give elected officials more power in picking Supreme Court justices, lower the justice retirement age to 67 and allow the Knesset to override court decisions with a simple majority.