Hundreds of Israeli reservists declare evasion starting Sunday

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen Net
17 Mar 2023 00:07

Hundreds of reservists from the Israeli Special Operations Service have reportedly announced that they would not continue their voluntary service in the occupation army starting Sunday.

Israeli soldiers in village of Sarra near the Palestinian West Bank city of Nablus, Sunday, March 12, 2023 (AP /Majdi Mohammed)

The Israeli news website, Mako, reported today that 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 starting Sunday.

According to the website, they wrote that "next Sunday, the first dictatorial law will be approved by second and third readings, i.e. the law lifting immunities. We have no contracts with a dictator, we will be happy to return to development when democracy is no longer questionable."

The draft-evaders statement also allegorized "the gun is firmly attached to the structure of democracy, and the trigger will be pulled soon. It’s time to implement what we announced. All of our affiliates, 450 officers and soldiers in the Special Operations Service, and 200 soldiers from the offensive cyber units, will not comply with the voluntary reserve service."

The statement continued, "We consider reaching such a day to be terrifying, but we have no choice. We hope for a broad national consensus, and for the suspension of legislation, but the government is rushing towards the abyss."

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.

Furthermore, earlier this week, the Israeli Knesset approved the first reading of the "override clause". A crucial component of the legislation for judicial reform, the "override clause", was passed by the Knesset in its first reading, with 61 votes for and 52 against. The passed component now limits the High Court's ability to invalidate laws and overturn decisions reached by a majority of 61 Knesset members.