NEARLY 170 active reservists in Israel’s top Special Forces Unit said they will no longer volunteer for service as protests over the government’s plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary rippled within the Israeli society and the military.
Letters signed by thousands of reservists over the last seven months have up to now mostly remained threats, but this week, the situation could possibly take a different turn, after 161 air force personnel announced they will stop their service once the legislative changes will push through.
As the crisis deepens, the Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi reminded the protesting reservists of the great responsibility assigned to the military – no other than protecting the State of Israel and its civilians.
A report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) previously ranked the Israel Defense Forces as the best equipped, best trained, and most capable in the region.
While the 2023 military strength ranking released by global firepower placed Israel among the top 20 nations based on currently available firepower.
Despite massive protests, the Israeli parliament, known as the Knesset, passed the first bill of the controversial measure last week.
Under the so-called reasonableness bill, the measure removes the court’s power to veto government decisions based on them being “unreasonable,” which opponents argue will severely undermine the country’s democracy.
The next step of the judicial reform is due to be voted on in the parliament as early as autumn.
