'Despicable refuseniks': Netanyahu coalition lashes out at reservists

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
22 Jul 2023 13:34

Ministers and MKs of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition describe the Israeli Air Force reservists' protests as tantamount to an attempted military coup.

Israeli occupation military reservists block the entrance to the Israeli military's headquarters in "Tel Aviv", on July 18, 2023 (AP)

Israeli media reported that ministers and Knesset members belonging to Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition rebuked the announcement of more than 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists their intention to suspend their volunteering if the judicial overhaul was approved.

In an open letter, Israeli occupation Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called on the protesting reservists to revoke their "mistake" that threatens "Israel's" security.

Smotrich said he was opposed to the recent attacks on protesting pilots by advocates of the judicial overhaul.

"But having said that, I think you are making a bitter mistake, and you must recalculate your route," he said in his letter.

On his part, Israeli occupation Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir considered that "the purpose of the refuseniks' letter is to hold the Israeli government hostage and impose on it the political position of a minority" that believes "Israel" belongs to them.

"We will not give in to this dangerous attempt to create chaos," Ben-Gvir underlined, stressing that "we will pass the requested amendment of the judicial system beginning with the reasonableness bill, but this is only the beginning!"

In the same context, MK Almog Cohen described the protesting pilots as "despicable refuseniks" who were "strengthening the enemy."

Similarly, Economy Minister Nir Barkat said that "no political debate can justify such an immoral act. It is permissible to protest, it is permissible to disagree politically, but Israel’s security must not be neglected."

Israeli media reported on Friday that the Israeli occupation Air Force is under shock, as 1,142 reservists, including 513 pilots, announced their intention to suspend their volunteering if the judicial overhaul was approved.

According to Israeli media, the pilots' letter sent shockwaves across Israeli military and political arenas.

The media suggested that the Israeli occupation Air Force is losing its eligibility for war and is facing its largest crisis so far, warning that the Air Force may be out of operational competence in a short time.

It indicated that the number of reservists who will stop showing up to service is on a permanent escalating trend, as every day dozens of additional reservists join the movement.

Amos Harel, a military affairs analyst in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, pointed out that in the Israeli occupation Air Force, they are preparing for the possibility that hundreds of pilots and military navigators in the reserve will sign declarations to stop volunteering for service.

Harel added that leaders of the anti-overhaul protests understand that reservists not showing up for service could be the most important step in the framework of combating the government's plans to approve the overhaul.

The media described the ongoing division as deep and destructive to the Israeli military and might disintegrate it from within, warning that the occupation army might be significantly weakened.

As of last Wednesday, huge efforts were still being made to reach a broad agreement regarding the "reasonableness law" - a bill that limits some powers of the Israeli Supreme Court - with the help of legal professionals. However, Netanyahu claims that if he bows to pressure from the opposition, he will not have a government a week later.

The phenomenon of reservists refusing to show up for service is expanding due to the judicial overhaul, with some pilots saying that "unless the plan is stopped, no attack will be carried out on Iran's nuclear facilities."