Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: One martyred in the Israeli drone strike on a car in the town of Kawnin
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone targets a car in the town of Kawnin
Naeini: If our national interests are attacked again, our response this time will be stronger and more destructive
Naeini: The war has proven that the settlers are defenseless against Iranian missile and drone forces
Naeini: Trump lacks an understanding of the true strength of the Iranian people and is so deluded as to believe he can change the reality of Iran's victory
Naeini: The defeat led to Trump's confusion and loss of balance, which was reflected in his ill-considered statements
IRGC spokesperson Brigadier General Mohammad Naeini: Trump's statements are a result of his defeat against Iran, and we advise him to abandon absurd policies
Gaza Government Media Office: The number of children martyred due to malnutrition has risen to 66
Saree: Loyal Yemen will not abandon its religious, moral, and humanitarian duties toward the Palestinian people
Saree: Over the past week, we carried out military operations targeting sensitive sites and military installations in Beer al-Sabe', Yafa, and Haifa via a number of ballistic missiles and drones, which were all successful

IOF infested with resignations, service boycotts as protests continue

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 6 Mar 2023 15:08
  • 1 Shares
4 Min Read

The Israeli Chief of Staff raises concerns of the current situation and warns that further reservists abandoning service will impact the functionality of the military.

  • x
  • Resignations, boycotts, threats: anti-judicial reform protestrikes IOF
    Israeli occupation settlers start a road fire in "Tel Aviv" in protest of Netanyahu's government judicial reforms as police forces surround them, February 26, 2023 (Reuters)

Former Air Force commanders urged in a letter on Monday the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to halt the legislative procedures on the judicial reform and find an immediate solution to the current situation.

According to Israeli media, the letter was written following the refusal of 37 reservist pilots - out of a total of 40 - of the Air Force's 69th Squadron to show up for training sessions scheduled this week, in protest of the new judicial plan.

Israeli newspaper Maariv said on Monday that the issue with the IAF pilots should "should take away our sleep."

Read more: Israeli commercial airline says no volunteers to fly Netanyahu to Rome

The newspaper further reported on a lot of pilots expressing will to join the protest. "These Air Force pilots are an important part of the reserve force which our most important security institutions depend on. This [pilot protest] includes those who are part of permanent and regular service," it said.

The newspaper pointed out that these protests "are not only taking place in the Air Force, but similar messages, petitions, and statements came in the past weeks from every combat or intelligence unit in the army."

Double the trouble

The Air Force issue is a two-layered problem, the Israeli media outlet noted. First is that "the Air Force is the most important security arm in Israel" and the other is that "there is no substitute for these pilots."

Likewise, "Israel" Hayom newspaper quoted sources as saying that "at least two additional squadrons are considering a move similar to the 69th Squadron protest act, one at Ramat David Air Force Base and the other at Tel Nof Air Force Base."

Related News

Gaza horror: Families buried alive in Israeli bombing of Al-Mawasi

Tehran funeral procession turns into vow of defiance against 'Israel'

"There are voices calling on the Israeli army leadership to adopt strict measures against those who refuse to serve, just as the Israeli army did 18 years ago during the disengagement plan," the newspaper said.

The "reserve pilots are participating in the demonstrations, and some are even threatening to stop flying," it warned.

Sounding the alarm

Reports about reservist pilots abandoning service were preceded yesterday by the announcement of most of the members of the 69th Squadron in the Air Force that they will join the boycott of training drills this week in protest of Netanyahu's government judicial reforms.

Among those who are deeply concerned by the situation is the Israeli chief of staff.

"The Chief of the General Staff is highly concerned, and therefore he kickstarted talks with the Prime Minister," Israeli Channel 12 military affairs commentator Nir Dvori said on Sunday.

Commander-in-Chief Herzi Halevi, according to Dvori, told Netanyahu that he was highly concerned about desertion becoming a trend in the Israeli occupation forces, which would hurt its operational capabilities.

In response to calls from the left to refuse service, Gallant, said on Monday that "the situation requires us to talk, and quickly. We are facing large and complex external challenges, and any call for refusal to serve harms the [operational] function of the Israeli army, and its ability to carry out its tasks." 

Read more: Diplomacy collapsing in 'Israel': former PM Lapid lambasts Smotrich

An Israeli Air Force officer submitted his resignation over the judicial overhaul, while many Israeli pilots threatened to stop volunteering in reserve service.

Moreover, Israeli media reported that 130 officers and reservists from the "Yahalom" engineering unit for special missions signed a letter informing Gallant that they "find it difficult to serve if the judicial reforms were approved."

The Israeli protests, which began last December with tens of thousands of settlers, turned into massive demonstrations in their ninth week, reaching almost a quarter of a million protesters last Saturday.

  • Israel
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Israeli protests
  • judicial reform plan

Most Read

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a protest following the US attacks on nuclear sites in Iran, in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

Iran declares victory as ceasefire forces Israeli retreat

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Iran launches strikes on Israeli targets, despite alleged ceasefire

Iran victorious as ceasefire with 'Israel' takes effect

  • Politics
  • 24 Jun 2025
Iranian worshippers carry their country's flags in a protest to condemn Israeli attacks on multiple cities across Iran, after the Friday prayers ceremony in Tehran, Iran, Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP)

Iran warns of NPT withdrawal, Strait of Hormuz closure after US attack

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Israeli occupation soldiers search for settlers amid the rubble of buildings destroyed by an Iranian missile strike in Bat Yam, central occupied Palestine, on Sunday, June 15, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran missile strike flattens Bat Yam, displaces 2,000 settlers

Palestinian fighters from the Islamic Jihad militant group riding on a truck with weaponry on display take part in an anti-Israel parade marking the 36th anniversary of the movement's founding, in Gaza City, Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023 (AP)
Politics

Palestinian Resistance attacks Israeli forces in Khan Younis, Jabalia

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stands waiting to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin for the talks at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Monday, June 23, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran suspends IAEA cooperation, Araghchi blames Grossi for attacks

The commander of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit, Brigadier General Mohammad Said Izadi (Illustrated by Mahdi Rtail for Al Mayadeen English)
Politics

Who was Mohammad Said Izadi, head of the Quds Force's Palestine Unit?

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS