- author, Tom Bateman
- roll, From BBC News in Jerusalem
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The Airmen are the last reservists to be threatened not to serve
Fighter pilots from the Israeli Air Force’s elite squadron have vowed not to attend their training, in an unprecedented anti-government protest.
Almost all of the 69 Squadron’s Reserve Airmen refused to take part in a one-day training exercise this week.
The protest is already being seen as an unprecedented political movement, especially since it was organized by some of the most important reservists of Israel’s military strategy.
It is also indicative of growing opposition to the ruling National Coalition’s plans to reform the national legal system.
A pilot who declined to be identified told the Ynet news site that the squadron’s intention was to signal “that we would not be willing to serve a dictatorial regime”.
Meanwhile, El Al, the national airline, has confirmed that it has managed to arrange a crew to transport Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife to Italy for an official visit scheduled for this week.
According to the local press, the company’s pilots refused to take the couple along as part of the protests.
In another sign of growing anxiety among the Israeli military leadership, 10 former Israeli Air Force chiefs published an open letter urging Netanyahu to “stop and find a solution” to the crisis, given the level of protest among pilots and aircrews.
“We fear the consequences of these measures and the grave and tangible danger they pose to the national security of the State of Israel,” the letter said.
It all comes after another protest announced last week by reservists from the elite intelligence unit 8200, who also said they would not be showing up for work.
Israel’s reservists are a major component of its military forces, often performing front-line roles and, in the case of the Air Force, regularly participating in combat operations.
Over the weekend, Netanyahu addressed the issue by posting a black and white photo of his military documents on his Twitter account, from when he was conscripted in 1967.
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“When called up for the reserves,” he wrote, “we always show up. We are a nation.”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also urged reservists to attend the service.
“Any request to refuse undermines the work of the IDF [Forças de Defesa de Israel] and his ability to perform his duty.
controversial reforms
Anti-government protests have escalated since Netanyahu returned to power late last year, spearheading the most right-wing nationalist coalition in Israel’s history and promising sweeping changes to the country’s legal system.
Among the proposed changes is new legislation that would give the government complete control over the appointment of judges and eventually strip the Supreme Court of its powers.
Most legal experts believe the reforms will eradicate the independence of the judiciary, while opposition figures describe the proposals as an attempted “coup” by the prime minister and his coalition.
Netanyahu is also on trial on corruption charges, which he denies, and opponents say legal reforms could help shield him from prosecution.
The proposals sparked some of the largest anti-government demonstrations in Israel’s history, with an estimated 150,000 people taking to the streets of Tel Aviv and tens of thousands in protests elsewhere on Saturday.
During last week’s demonstrations, security forces used stun grenades and water cannons against demonstrators after right-wing National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir vowed to crack down on “anarchists” who blocked roads.
Netanyahu says the reforms are meant to prevent the courts from overstepping their powers and that by voting for his coalition in the last election, the people would have agreed to the changes.
Air Force reservists also worry that the new hardline government’s behavior could expose them to trial before the International Criminal Court, as they cannot say there is an independent judiciary in Israel to investigate any wrongdoing within its forces.
But human rights organizations and Palestinian authorities now dismiss investigations by Israel into its forces’ conduct, saying they are only being used as a front.
Boycott threats by reservists in Israel are not uncommon, but the scale and significance of those involved is unprecedented.
The pilots joined reservists from nearly every combat or intelligence unit in Israel who, in recent weeks, have threatened not to serve if the government insists on controversial reforms.
Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi reportedly spoke with Netanyahu to warn him that the protests could harm the army’s operational capabilities.
