In response to the government’s judicial overhaul, more than 11,000 Israeli military reservists threatened to resign. Despite the law being passed, the majority have yet to officially resign or reject direct call-ups, leaving military officials and experts waiting to gauge the real impact of these declarations.
Key Points:
- Over 11,000 Israeli military reservists have stated they would resign following the government’s judicial overhaul. However, the majority of those who participated in the joint declarations have yet to officially resign or refuse direct call-ups.
- The Israeli military is attempting to convince those few who have withdrawn to reconsider their decision. There’s concern that the potential mass withdrawal could significantly weaken the nation’s defense force.
- Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the head of the Israel Defense Forces, stressed the potential impact, especially if reserve Air Force pilots – about 500 of whom threatened to withdraw – follow through with their threats, which could notably damage Air Force capacity.
- It’s still unclear how many reservists will actually resign. Some might be waiting to see if the Supreme Court overrules the new law, while others might eventually decide not to proceed with their resignation.
- The uncertainty surrounding the situation has sparked alarm among the military leadership who believe that without a united defense force, Israel’s existence as a country in the region could be threatened.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/25/world/middleeast/israel-military-reservists-quit.html
