jerusalem israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu will delay the dismissal of his defence chief announced over a week ago after the minister called for a halt to the governments flagship justice overhaul a source close the matter said on mondaynetanyahu announced he was firing yoav gallant on march 26 following gallants public call to pause the bitterly contested plans for the judiciary which opened social divisions he said were affecting the military and threatening israels securitythe plan which would see a tightening of government control over judicial appointments and give parliament the power to overturn many supreme court decisions triggered unprecedented nationwide demonstrations some involving military reservists saying they might refuse callupswith tensions running high during the muslim holy month of ramadan which this year coincides with the jewish passover netanyahu decided to hold off on replacing the former navy admiral until an unspecified timedue to the present security situation the issue of the firing of the defence minister will be determined at a later date a source close to the prime ministers office saidthe news of gallants abrupt dismissal during a period of exceptional tension in the occupied west bank and continuing concerns over irans nuclear ambitions triggered immediate mass protests with tens of thousands pouring into the streets after the announcementas the protests continued amid mounting international alarm netanyahu relented and suspended the contested reforms to allow for compromise talks with opposition partiespolitical sources said there have been efforts in recent days to end the rift between netanyahu and gallant whose potential firing had set off alarms within the ruling likud party the armed services and among israels western alliesgallant and netanyahu made a public appearance together on monday evening during a visit to a military base to toast troops for the passover holidaythe most important thing ill say it this way is to leave politics at the base gate to come together to defend the strength of israel netanyahu said