High ranking Israeli air force officers to evade draft in protest
Israeli media revealed that more than 100 reserve officers at the air force operations headquarters in the occupation army announced today they will be evading their military service.
Israeli media revealed that more than 100 reserve officers at the air force operations headquarters in the occupation army announced today they will be evading their military service.
"These officers occupy central positions in the Operations Headquarters, which relies to a large extent on the frequent presence of reservists, whether routinely or in emergencies, and draws on their extensive experience," Israeli Haaretz news outlet reported.
Read more: Israelis rallying for another protest against judicial reform
It explained that "the signatories are also officers with the rank of colonel and brigadier general.”
Furthermore, The Times of Israel website stated that 5 bank managers demanded that Netanyahu, "stop the draft judicial amendments," because it "will turn Israel into a dictatorship."
Military officials are reportedly concerned that hundreds of reservists would refuse to serve in protest of the judicial overhaul by the current government.
Read more: US-Israeli relations in crisis: Axios
In a report released today by Axios, it was stipulated that US-Israeli relations have deteriorated to reach an all-time worst three months after Netanyahu assumed office.
After weeks of increased tensions over the judicial reform legislation, the US has reportedly summoned the Israeli ambassador in Washington Mike Herzog in protest of the law passed today repealing the decision to disengage Israeli settlements from the north of the West Bank.
Officials in the Biden administration told Axios that they had long anticipated a conflict with Netanyahu's government but had made every effort to postpone. Kenesset’s decision to repeal the 2005 disengagement law was the last straw. The White House described it as a “provocation” and a violation of the commitments pledged by "Israel" to the US.
Read more: Israeli Right may end up damaging agreements with Arab countries
Since Sunday, hundreds of reservists from the Special Operations Service, an offensive cyber system of the AMN (the Military Intelligence Division), Mossad, and Shin Bet, announced that they would be suspending their voluntary service in the IOF.
Read more: IOF infested with resignations, service boycotts as protests continue
Back in early March, the Israeli Chief of Staff raised concerns of more reservists abandoning service will impact the functionality of the military.
Subsequently, occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly said that refusing conscription in the "army" cannot be tolerated, adding that it threatens "Israel's" existence.