1,041 reservists remain in Israel

According to Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation news, 1,041 air force reservists have announced that they have left voluntary service in protest of the government’s controversial judicial regulation.

It was claimed that the air force personnel “informed their fleets of their decisions after a long discussion between them”.

Israeli television Kanal 12 reported that 500 of the 1,041 air force personnel who announced their resignation were volunteer reserve fighter pilots.

It was noted that air force fleet commanders met with fighter pilots and that “the crisis of confidence in anti-government pilots has increased” due to far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s rhetoric against pilots.

EXTREME RIGHT MINISTER EXPLANATION OF “A GROUP OF MINORITIES”

Ben-Gvir, do you support fighter pilots to “award” ground troops? He shared an edited video in which he asked questions and did not give air support to the response he received.

Following criticism, Ben-Gvir refused to remove the video, stating that “a minority in the military refused the position and endangered the lives of Israeli citizens by encouraging others to do so.”

Tomer Bar, Commander of the Israel Air Force, said in a statement that “harsh criticism of the army disturbed the harmony of the military ranks.” Noting that the Israeli air force system “operates regularly and provides an air umbrella for Israel,” Bar noted that “if the system fails, it will take years to repair the damage.”

THE DISCUSSION EXTENDED TO THE ARMY

There is 3 years of compulsory military service for men and women in Israel. Israelis who complete their mandatory military service are regularly called up for military exercises every year according to their specialization on a voluntary basis. However, fighter pilots and other elite units participate in training and operations more frequently throughout the year.

Thousands of Israelis, including fighter pilots, submarine officers and other elite troops, who had previously opposed the government’s “judicial reform”, had decided to resign as volunteers.

DISCUSSION JURISDICTION

The “judicial reform” announced by Israeli Justice Minister Yariv Levin on January 5 includes changes such as limiting the powers of the Supreme Court and the power to have a say in judicial appointments.

Prime Minister Netanyahu announced that he had postponed judicial regulation, sparking protests and mass strikes across the country, on March 27, but announced that he would put judicial regulation back on the agenda after Parliament approved the 2023-2024 budget in late May.

The government had recently pushed the button for judicial regulation after its negotiations with the opposition stalled.

The ruling coalition plans to submit the bill that would lift the Supreme Court’s control of the government to Parliament on Sunday for a second and third vote. (AA)