Tel Aviv, 10 April 2023 (dpa/MIA) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday withdrew the dismissal of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant in response to massive protests that erupted when Gallant was fired last month.

"We will work together for the security of Israel," Netanyahu said in Tel Aviv. Gallant is a member of Netanyahu's Likud, the largest party in the six-party coalition government.

Netanyahu fired Gallant after the defence minister called for a halt to the government's controversial judicial reforms.

Street protests immediately ensued. The opposition expressed criticism of the move given the current precarious security situation in the country, terming it unprofessional.

On Monday, Netanyahu said Israel was facing terrorist attack, accusing the government of his predecessor, Yair Lapid, of undermining deterrence.

He was referring to an agreement on Israel's sea border with Lebanon, that Lapid's government signed in October. Netanyahu termed it an agreement with the radical Islamist Hezbollah militia.

Netanyahu pledged to restore Israel's security. He warned the Syrian government of Bashir al-Assad it would "pay a high price" for any further missile attacks on Israel. Israel would not allow the Islamist Palestinian organization Hamas to set up its infrastructure there, he said.

Missiles struck Israel from Lebanon on Thursday.

Netanyahu also pledged to continue with his government's judicial reforms, adding that he would seek a broad consensus and ensure minority rights.

Israel's current government, which took office at the end of last year, is seen as the most right-wing in its history.