Military proficiency to deteriorate in 2 days: Israeli Chief of Staff
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Former Israeli Air Force Chief of Staff warns that it is not possible to wage war against Hezbollah in the current situation.
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Israeli border policemen fire tear gas at Palestinian protesters during clashes as they protest against Israeli Jewish settlements, in Asira al-Qibliya near the West Bank city of Nablus, occupied Palestine, Friday, Sept. 25, 2020 (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed)
Chief of Staff of the IOF, Herzi Halevy, warned that within 48 hours the proficiency of the armed forces would start deteriorating, Israeli media reported.
Major General Eitan Ben Eliyahu, former commander of the Israeli Air Force, assessed the situation in the Air Force to be catastrophic as thousands of volunteers have abstained from duty in protest of the judicial amendments, Channel 12 reported.
In the same context, Kan reported that 10,000 reservists from 40 units announced suspending service, and Channel 13 reported that the number of those refusing to serve in the Air Force is set to increase.
Read more: Israeli reservists' resignation prompts controversy, condemnation
Alon Ben-David, a military affairs analyst at Channel 13, said that if 70% of the 500 Israeli Air Force pilots carry out their threat, they will have a detrimental impact on the Air Force's efficiency in a potential war.
The warnings of Israeli officials have grown more pressing. Former prime minister, Yair Lapid, warned the incumbent government that if the judicial amendments aren't retracted within the next two days, "Israel" will be destroyed.
Furthermore, former Israeli Air Force Chief of Staff, Nimrod Sheffer, warned in an interview with Channel 13 that "it is not possible to wage a war against Hezbollah in the current situation."
The former head of the Shin Bet, Yuval Diskin, said he believes it is time to suspend volunteering in the reserves until the legislation is completely retracted.
It was also reported that major general officers sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu, holding him responsible for harming the Israeli army and security, because of approving these amendments.
Read more: Gallant appeals to reservists not to end voluntary military service
In another letter signed by high-ranking officials in the Mossad, Shin Bet, and the IOF expressed their support for the protests announcing the suspension of their service in all the formations to which they belong.
Nevo Erez, a former commander of naval commandos and the former head of a division in the Mossad, reserve colonel announced in a demonstration in "Amikam" that he had stopped serving in the reserve.
Israeli media also reported that "904 active reservists in the Military Intelligence Division, announced that they stopped serving in the past hour."
