Defense Minister Yoav Gallant canceled a press conference Thursday after reportedly planning to publicly call on the government to halt the highly-disputed judicial reform, in a move that would have heralded a split in the right-wing Coalition. However, just hours later, some of the people in his orbit said he could still go ahead with his public statement in light of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech on Thursday in which he vowed to continue with the overhaul.
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Gallant canceled his planned statement after being summoned by Netanyahu.
The defense minister expressed concern over some soldiers' and reservists' refusal to serve in wake of the legislation as well as external threats against Israel he said were getting stronger as Israel was perceived as divided and weak.
In a press conference of his own later, Netanyahu said, "I met with Gallant, I heard his fears regarding national security. Yet I must also say reiterate, there is no place for refusing military service because it risks the personal safety of all of us. There is no justification for refusing the serve."
Netanyahu is said to have asked Gallant for more time. The foreign minister, in turn, replied that he trusted Netanyahu and would try to calm the winds.
Nevertheless, Gallant's associates said that if nothing changed, he might go through with his planned statement.
i24NEWS contributed to this report.
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