Protests erupt in Israel after Netanyahu dismisses a minister who opposed judicial reform.

Massive crowds filled the streets of Tel Aviv late Sunday night after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired his defense minister over his opposition to a planned judicial overhaul. Protesters lit several fires on the main highway in Tel Aviv, and gathered beside the highway, burning scrap metal and wood. Netanyahu's office announced the removal of Yoav Gallant in a one-line statement, after he became the first member of the cabinet to call for a pause to controversial plans to overhaul the country's court system. Three Israeli government ministers suggested that Netanyahu should stop the legislation in order to prevent the rift created in the nation, and Economy Minister Nir Barkat warned it has brought the country to the brink of civil war. Protests had thinned out by around 2 a.m. local time in Tel Aviv. Police in Jerusalem are preparing for the dispersal of protesters from southbound Ayalon near the Hashalom interchange and are firing water cannons on protestors still gathered. This follows the firing of defense minister Avigdor Gallant, who is a member of Netanyahu's Likud party, due to his comments about the government's judicial reform plans. Gallant said the pause was needed for the security of Israel, citing the refusal of some Israel Defense Forces reservists to train in protest. Israel's former Prime Minister Yair Lapid called Gallant's dismissal a "new low" and former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz warned of a danger to Israel's security. Israel's Consul General in New York, Asaf Zamir, resigned in response to Netanyahu's decision to fire Gallant. Zamir called the move a "dangerous decision" and added that he had become increasingly concerned with the policies of the new government, and the judicial reform it is leading. Universities in Israel will go on strike starting Monday, and the country's largest labor union and business leaders will hold a press conference to discuss a contentious judicial overhaul. The government argues the changes are necessary to rein in the Supreme Court, which they see as insular, elitist, and no longer representative of the Israeli people. Opponents say the plans threaten the foundations of Israeli democracy. The military reservists' protest is seen as a particular worry for Israel's government, as they are regularly called up to train and serve. Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called on Netanyahu to fire Gallant after his speech on Saturday. Israel's High Court has given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a week to respond to a petition calling for him to be held in contempt of court. The legal move by the Movement for Quality Government in Israel comes after the attorney general told Netanyahu he acted illegally and violated a court-imposed conflict of interest order by saying he would personally involve himself in the judicial overhaul. Part of the bill, which strips the courts of the power to declare a prime minister unfit for office, has already been pushed through. Critics say Netanyahu is pushing through the changes because of his own ongoing corruption trial, but Netanyahu has given no indication he will back down. Likud lawmaker Danny Danon said it was too soon to know if there were enough rebels in the party to stop the legislation. Netanyahu and his allies control 64 seats in the 120-seat legislature, so five Likud rebels could deprive the coalition of an absolute majority.