1,100 Israeli reservists to ditch service over judicial overhaul
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The Israeli occupation is deeply entrenched in numerous crises that might see its occupation forces reduced by tens of thousands as soldiers threaten to leave.
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Israeli settlers protest against plans by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to overhaul the judicial system, in "Tel Aviv", occupied Palestine, July 8, 2023 (AP)
Over 1,100 recruits from Unit 8200 have warned that they would desert their voluntary service in the reserve force if the proposed judicial amendments are approved, Israeli media reported Sunday.
Unit 8200 is a branch of the Israeli occupation forces, and it is involved in the "national security" of the Israeli occupation forces, with thousands of soldiers among its ranks.
More than 1,100 intelligence personnel serving in the reserve force of Unit 8200 have warned that if the coalition's intention to pass the bill to abolish "reasonable grounds" is implemented in the first reading on Monday, they will stop their voluntary service in the Israeli occupation forces.
The reservists sent out a letter in which they said, "In recent months, the Israeli government has taken various steps that have turned Israel into a dark dictatorship. Therefore, together with a large number of reservists in other military units, we intend to stop voluntary service," Israeli media reported.
"[Soldiers in the Israeli occupation forces] are preparing for the possibility that as the legislation progresses, not only will reservists express their protest, but we may also see the sprouting of similar calls within the regular army and among regular soldiers," noting that "another source of concern is the decline in motivation for enlistment in the Israeli army due to the government's actions."
"That is not the only thing that worries the Israeli army in the context of broader protests, as the security and military establishment says the issue of internal division among the people and the widespread protests are central to the assessment [of the domestic situation] for Israel's enemies."
"The internal atmosphere in Israel and the threat of reservists' non-compliance on the day of the issuing of the order significantly impacts Israeli deterrence in the region and weakens it," Israeli media underlined.
This comes after Israeli protesters took to the streets once again, this time with the leaders of the movement pledging to escalate starting next week, with roads blocked and rallies taking place outside the homes of the Knesset members of the ruling coalition.
The leaders on Thursday called for a demonstration "the likes of which have never been seen before" in the occupied Palestinian territories on Tuesday, which would be one day after the Knesset is due to kickstart the plenum votes on the bill that has brought hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers to the streets over its overhaul of the judiciary, prohibiting courts from exercising judicial review over the rationale of decisions taken by the government.
Protests took place on Thursday evening outside the homes of numerous Israeli politicians, namely those belonging to Netanyahu's coalition. Among the prominent politicians are Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman, who heads the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.
Others include Likud's Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana, Economy Minister Nir Barkat, and Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel, as well as near the home of occupied Al-Nakab and Al-Jalil Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf.
Moreover, the roads that were blocked include the "Ayalon Highway" in "Tel Aviv", as well as "Route", in addition to roads near Levin's home.
Lawmakers have urged the police to take tougher measures against the protesters. The police said they arrested 15 people over protests in "Tel Aviv" on Wednesday, with Israeli media reporting that they were released the following day.
Even calls from within the establishment are opposing the cabinet, with former Prime Minister and IOF Chief of Staff Ehud Barak calling on pilots and other elite military caders to refuse to continue serving in the occupation's forces if the overhaul bid passes.
Israeli media reports that “hundreds of reservists in the operational units of the Israeli Air Force have suspended their voluntary service until the judicial reforms are stopped."
"When a law like that passes a first reading [in the Knesset], it is passed in order to prepare it for its second and third [final] readings. That marks the sounding of an alarm, a genuine alarm for the entire country," Barak told Israeli Channel 12.
The demonstrations followed similar ones, wherein thousands of Israelis took to the streets in "Tel Aviv" on Wednesday evening to protest Netnayahu's decision to sack the settlement's police chief Amichai Eshid.
