An Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter at Ovda Air Force Base on October 24, 2021. Photo: Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images
Growing public opposition to the Netanyahu government’s judicial overhaul has sent shockwaves through the Israeli military, with hundreds of Reserve Air Force pilots, members of special forces and military intelligence officers saying they would not serve if the plan to close Israel’s Supreme Court weaken, implemented is implemented.
Why it matters: The Israeli military, particularly the Air Force and the special military intelligence unit, is heavily dependent on reservists, who sometimes leave their families and jobs for more than 30 days a year to serve on the front lines and take part in active combat.
- The IDF leadership is concerned that the growing protest among reservists could affect the military’s operational readiness and capabilities, particularly when it comes to campaigning against Iran’s entrenchment in Syria and preparing for a possible military strike against Iran’s nuclear program. a senior IDF officer told Axios.
Catch up fast: The right-wing government’s plan to weaken the Supreme Court and other democratic institutions has sparked an unprecedented constitutional crisis in Israel, with growing fears that the confrontation between the government and the opposition will escalate into violence and chaos.
- The plan includes giving the government full control over the appointment of judges, legislation allowing the coalition to overrule Supreme Court rulings by a majority of 61 members, and legislation restricting the Supreme Court’s powers to strike down laws and protect human rights would be severely curtailed.
Driving the news: Hundreds of reservists from the special military intelligence unit — an elite IDF secret unit that conducts intelligence operations behind enemy lines — signed a letter two weeks ago announcing that they would not report for reserve duty if the government’s plan goes ahead .
- Since then, similar announcements have been made by reservists from special artillery units, commando units, and the IDF’s signals intelligence and cyber unit, AKA Unit 8200, which is the Israeli equivalent of the US National Security Agency.
The Announcement that shocked the military Most was made by dozens of reserve fighter pilots who said they would not be showing up for scheduled training this week in protest at the government’s justice plan.
- The pilots serve in an F-15 squadron that participates in airstrikes against Iranian targets in the region nearly every week and would play a central role in a possible military strike against Iran’s nuclear program.
- The training of the pilots, which often takes place at least once a week, is very important. If they miss training, they probably won’t be eligible to fly in missions until they attend one. That could jeopardize Israel’s regular operations in the region.
Backstage: IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi earlier this week warned Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the protest’s possible negative impact on IDF preparedness, senior Israeli military officers told me.
What you say: Several ministers in Netanyahu’s government, including some from his own party, attacked the reservists, particularly the pilots.
- One minister called them “weaklings,” and another said, “You should go to hell.” A deputy minister said the reserve pilots “should be fired.”
- These comments only escalated the situation, sparking outrage among the reservists and urging many more to join the protest.
- Netanyahu issued a statement late Tuesday calling for calm and asking for the debate to be kept respectable.
Between the lines: Many of the party leaders in the current governing coalition have not served in the Israeli army or reserves for religious reasons, or have not served the number of years required for most Israeli citizens.
The big picture: Galant and Halevi called several emergency meetings with senior reserve officers to try to calm the protest.
- Gallantly in a statement he said told the reservists that conscientious objection was a red line and that politics should stay out of the IDF, but he also assured them that he would make sure their voices were heard in cabinet meetings. “Whoever attacks IDF soldiers should not be in public service,” Galant added after the meeting.
Something to see: President Isaac Herzog is still trying to find a compromise formula that would allow negotiations between the government and the opposition over the judicial review plan.
- Justice Minister Yariv Levin has so far rejected all proposals and refuses to suspend the law. The coalition announced on Tuesday that it would press ahead with the law next week and prepare it for the final vote in the second and third readings.
- Herzog is expected to publicly present his proposal in the coming days.
- Meanwhile, the organizations leading the protests against the judiciary overhaul plan said they are planning a day of resistance for Thursday that will include the closure of roads to Israel’s main international airport.