IDF chief warns government of potentially fewer military operations due to reservists opposing judicial overhaul
Netanyahu warns that refusing to serve in reserve duty constitutes a serious danger for Israel’s future security
The Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Herzi Halevi reportedly warned the Netanyahu government of a possible drop in military activity linked to a growing number of reservists protesting the coalition’s judicial reform plans.
A spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu indicated the reports were false.
Last Thursday, Brothers in Arms, a group of reservists who oppose the ruling coalition’s judicial overhaul, announced that possibly tens of thousands of Israeli reservists had signed a public declaration that they will refuse to serve in the military if the reforms proceed.
Eyal Nave, one of the group’s leaders and a reservist in an elite special-reconnaissance unit in the IDF, stressed that the organization urges members of all IDF units to boycott reserve duty to increase pressure on the government to drop its judicial overhaul.
“The protest of the reservists is calling on anyone who volunteers for reserve duty to sign the letter of intent to drop reserve duty. Those who signed include pilots, intelligence officials, elite combat units, artillery units, tank units and others – tens of thousands have signed!” said Nave.
Netanyahu responded by warning that refusing to serve in the military constitutes a serious danger for Israel’s future security.
“The country cannot exist without the [army]. There will not be a nation; it’s very simple,” warned Netanyahu, who served in the elite IDF combat unit Sayeret Matkal.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
