Nadav Argaman, the former head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency, voiced support on Thursday for military reservists refusing to serve in protest of the government's planned judicial overhaul, drawing fierce criticism from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's allies days before parliament was set to vote on a key piece of legislation.
Speaking to Army Radio on Thursday, Argaman leveled withering criticism at Netanyahu, saying he appears committed to preserving his ruling coalition of ultranationalist and ultra-Orthodox parties, not the state itself, and said he was "very worried that we're on the verge of a civil war."
"We need to stop this legislation by any means," he said, voicing support for reservists who "are very concerned and fearful for the security of the state of Israel."
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For reservists, he said, "until now defending Israel was done on the battlefield. From their perspective, as of today, defending Israel means preserving Israeli democracy."
Argaman was appointed head of the Shin Bet by Netanyahu in 2016 and stepped down in 2021.
Meanwhile, Army Radio reported that the IDF may arrest reservists who have pledged not to report for duty as part of protests at the government's judicial overhaul plans.
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The seeping of the constitutional disputes into the conscript military has jarred Israelis who long saw it as an apolitical melting pot for a fractious society. On both sides of the schism, worries have been voiced about war-readiness.
A short dramatic film being circulated online showed an infantryman in battle desperately radioing for air strikes, only to be asked by the pilot: "Are you for or against the reforms?"
Culture Minister Miki Zohar posted the film but then removed it after the military spokesperson denounced it as "meant to create rifts within the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Still, Zohar insisted on Twitter, the film had a "message of unity".
The military spokesperson's office has not formally provided figures for the reservist protests. But Army Radio, a popular Israeli broadcaster managed by the Defence Ministry, said "a few hundred" reservists had announced they would refuse call-ups.
Most of these are from the air force, Army Radio said. After ending their commissions, air force pilots and navigators are required to do weekly training and, according to veterans of the corps, make up around half of crews sent on combat sorties.
Sanctions being considered include arrest, suspension and dismissal, Army Radio said – but noted that, because air force reservists are designated as volunteers, they may be treated differently to reservists whose call-ups are obligatory.
On Monday, Netanyahu said his government would act against what he described as insubordination in the ranks that risked inviting attack by Israel's foes and undermining its democracy.
Protesters say his religious-nationalist coalition has lost its democratic mandate by trying to curb judicial independence with reforms that Netanyahu – who is on trial on graft charges he denies – argues will balance out the branches of government.
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