No fewer than 1,100 reservists in the Israel Air Force have threatened to suspend their volunteer service as Israelis tear each other up this Saturday as the final vote on a bill reforming Israel’s judicial system draws near.
The announcement of the project in January sparked one of the largest protest movements in the country’s history, mobilizing tens of thousands of protesters every week.
On Friday, at least 1,142 Air Force reservists declared their intention to suspend their volunteer service if the Knesset (parliament) approves the law. “We all have a responsibility to end divisions (…) and the deep divisions within the population,” said a statement signed by 235 fighter pilots, 173 drone operators and 85 commandos.
This law “would jeopardize my will to continue risking my life”
Any legislation applied in an “unreasonable” manner “would affect my willingness to continue risking my life and would force me, with great sadness, to suspend my voluntary reserve service,” the signatories added, calling on the government to preserve “the independence” of the judicial system.
Most Israelis who complete their compulsory military service (32 months for men and 24 months for women) are then expected to voluntarily participate in reserve service for a specified period each year.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced that he was “taking steps to reach a broad consensus” amid the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and in which the country’s military capabilities are important.
An open door to an anti-liberal or authoritarian current
On Thursday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his door remained “open” for negotiations with the opposition after a parliamentary committee approved a key measure of this controversial project.
Debates on this law will start on Sunday lunchtime in the Knesset and voting on the 2nd and 3rd readings is scheduled to take place on Monday. If approved, it will be the first major part of the proposed judicial reform to go into effect.
According to the government, one of the aims of the reform is to rebalance power relations by reducing the prerogatives of the Supreme Court, which the executive sees as politicized, in favor of parliament. But its critics believe this risks paving the way for anti-liberal or authoritarian tendencies.
“We will continue to fight unless this extremist government disappears,” Guy Maidan, who has been marching from Tel Aviv to the parliament building in Jerusalem since Wednesday, told AFP on Saturday, aiming to demonstrate later in the day.