Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoav Gallant Sunday, a day after he urged the government to put a pause on the controversial judiciary overhaul that has led to months of protests.

Gallant was one of the senior members of Netanyahu’s hard-right Likud party to not support the overhaul to the judiciary system, saying that the recent mass protests have included a growing number of military reservists, undermining national security."

"At this time, for the sake of our country, I am willing to take any risk and pay any price," Gallant said in his televised address.

Following the dismissal, Gallant tweeted: "The state of Israel’s security has always been and will always be my life’s mission.”

This move led to large-scale protests in Tel Aviv, with thousands of people blocking a major highway, and waving Israeli flags.

Many people assemble outside the Prime Minister’s residence in Jerusalem, as powerful labor union prepares to declare a strike, according to The Times of Israel.

Thousands of people are also assembling in the southern city of Beersheba and the northern coastal city of Haifa, in addition to mass protests on Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv and outside Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, The Times of Israel reports.

The dismissal was also criticized by the head of Israel’s largest labor union, who said they were astonished by the decision.

Netanyahu, who is facing graft charges that he denies, says the judicial overhaul will balance out the branches of government. Opponents say that the reform would effectively give Netanyahu and his government more control over judge appointments.

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