Israel's Defence Minister calls to halt 'judicial reforms' in big jolt to Netanyahu, willing to pay 'any price'

Jerusalem, Mar 26 (PTI) Yielding to unprecedented protests, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday called upon the government to stop the controversial judicial overhaul legislation sticking his neck out amid Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's insistence to go ahead with the suggested "reforms".

"The security of the State of Israel is my life’s mission. Over the course of my entire adult life I have dealt with Israel’s security day in and day out. Clothed in the IDF’s (Israel Defence Forces) uniform, I have risked my life dozens of times for the State of Israel. And at this time, for the sake of our country, I am willing to take any risk and pay any price", Gallant said in a televised speech.

"I declare loudly and publicly, for the sake of Israel’s security, for the sake of our sons and daughters – the legislative process should be stopped", he asserted, pointing to the visible diminishing morale of the army he could sense that is endangering Israel's security and unity.