IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said behind closed doors this week that public discourse on the judicial reform was "harming and dividing" the military, Israel Hayom has learned.
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Instead of focusing on operations and training, senior military officials have almost exclusively been preoccupied with the impact of the controversial legislation and the ensuing protests on the IDF. Whoever met Halevi could not help but notice the look of concern on his face.
Video: Anti-judicial reform protests in Haifa. Credit: Michel Makhoul
As of Thursday, the number of reservists who said they would cease their volunteer service did not exceed critical mass. The IDF checks on these numbers daily. However, the figure is increasing daily, with several dozen joining in protest of the judicial reform daily. This is particularly noticeable in the IAF, and to a lesser extent in other units.
The IDF estimates that unless the reasonableness bill is altered, this trend will continue especially as the Knesset prepares to pass for the second and third hearings, which will make the bill into law. In such a case, hundreds of more reservists are expected to cease their volunteer service, including possible requests from career officers to discharge or not renew their contracts.
Such a potential decrease in the number of service members might negatively impact the IDF, the IAF in particular – information that has been relayed to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
As mentioned above, there is also concern that the public discourse, and in particular the criticism of IAF reservists who announced they would cease their volunteer duty, would harm the military. Cohesion within the IDF is the foundation of its strength. Once that cohesion is broken, and each individual or unit is only out for oneself, the army will be significantly weakened.
The issue has been mentioned by senior IDF officials in every conversation with the political echelon and the units and should serve as a wake-up call to the entire public.
The systematic way in which society has been coming apart in recent months is destructive not only in civilian aspects but military and security ones as well. Even those who oppose seizing to serve cannot ignore the responsibility the government has toward all its citizens, including those who did not vote for it. It will not escape said responsibility if the feared estimates come true and the situation exacerbates.
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