The crisis sweeping Israel has become a focal point for its enemies across the Middle East who have convened top-level meetings to weigh the turmoil and how they might capitalize on it, sources familiar with the discussions say.
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Foes including Lebanon's Iran-backed Hezbollah have been crowing at the sight of Israel fractured by the crisis ignited by government moves to reform the judiciary, especially threats by IDF reservists to stop showing up for military service.
Video: Hezbollah showcases capabilities in drill simulating kidnapping of IDF troops. Credit: Reuters
Away from the propaganda being broadcast by groups eager to see Israel's demise, these factions have also been devoting special attention to the crisis at closed-door meetings, perceiving this as a potential turning point for Israel.
The subject was discussed at a three-hour meeting last week involving a senior commander from Iran's Quds Force, the arm of its Revolutionary Guards that funnels military support to Tehran's allies, two Iranian security officials and officials from Palestinian terror group Hamas, an Iranian diplomat said.
After concluding that the crisis had already weakened Israel, they agreed they should refrain from any "direct interference", believing this could give Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the chance to shift blame to foreign adversaries.
A Hamas source declined to comment on the matter, saying there are ongoing discussions between Hamas, Iran and the Quds Force "over the whole situation and to discuss ways to upgrade the work of resistance".
Iran's foreign ministry and the Guards' public relations office could not be immediately reached for comment.
Hezbollah on patrol
The upheaval marks one of the most serious domestic crises since Israel was established in 1948. The Knesset on Monday ratified a first bill of the judicial reform, limiting the powers of the country's Supreme Court, prompting more protests by Israelis who see the moves as a threat to democracy.
The divisions have also seeped into the IDF. Protest leaders have said thousands of volunteer reservists could abstain from duty if the government stays the course, and former senior military officials have warned that Israel's war-readiness could be at risk.
A video shared on social media on Tuesday showed elite fighters from Hezbollah mounting a rare patrol directly at the fenced Lebanese border with Israel, according to a Lebanese source familiar with the matter. The source said the patrol along the rugged frontier, where tensions have been running high of late, had nothing to do with events in Israel. Hezbollah's media office declined to comment.
The source said, however, that Hezbollah officials have discussed the crisis in detail at the highest levels. The group views the crisis as a development to be exploited in the future, the source added.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich assured on Tuesday the IDF "is combat-ready and will remain combat-ready" despite the protesting reservists, whom he accused of trying to "put a gun to the head of the government".
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