The reservists' protest has shifted to a practical stage today, when hundreds of Air Force personnel announced that they would not report to the scheduled service this week, and would instead engage in a call for dialogue and the defense of democracy. If this statement comes to fruition, it will be the largest mass, organized and demonstrative event of non-reporting for duty in the history of the IDF.
So far, except for weak statements condemning the refusals, we have not heard any reference to this aspect of the events by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense or the members of the Political-Security Cabinet. It seems that the general assumption is that things will not go so far as to shut down units and activity, and incapacitate critical operational formations. If there is indeed such an assumption, it is not clear what it is based on.
It should be clearly said in the ears of those in charge: the continued rush to legislation without negotiation, and the implementation of additional measures included in the coalition agreements (for example the fundamental law: studying the Torah), will lead to the collapse of the People's Army model in regular service and reserve, a widespread departure of permanent personnel and damage to Israel's security for generations. The statement of former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman, according to which if the legislation is passed as it is, the Shin Bet may disintegrate from within, is also true for the IDF.
The Chief of Staff and the generals of the General Staff must present the picture in all its seriousness to the political echelon. And the prime minister, the defense minister, the members of the government and also the members of the opposition should know that what is at stake in the security aspect is nothing less than the disintegration of the central security bodies in Israel.
The reservists' protest has shifted to a practical stage today, when hundreds of Air Force personnel announced that they would not report to the scheduled service this week, and would instead engage in a call for dialogue and the defense of democracy. If this statement comes to fruition, it will be the largest mass, organized and demonstrative event of non-reporting for duty in the history of the IDF.
So far, except for weak statements condemning the refusals, we have not heard any reference to this aspect of the events by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense or the members of the Political-Security Cabinet. It seems that the general assumption is that things will not go so far as to shut down units and activity, and incapacitate critical operational formations. If there is indeed such an assumption, it is not clear what it is based on.
It should be clearly said in the ears of those in charge: the continued rush to legislation without negotiation, and the implementation of additional measures included in the coalition agreements (for example the fundamental law: studying the Torah), will lead to the collapse of the People's Army model in regular service and reserve, a widespread departure of permanent personnel and damage to Israel's security for generations. The statement of former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman, according to which if the legislation is passed as it is, the Shin Bet may disintegrate from within, is also true for the IDF.
The Chief of Staff and the generals of the General Staff must present the picture in all its seriousness to the political echelon. And the prime minister, the defense minister, the members of the government and also the members of the opposition should know that what is at stake in the security aspect is nothing less than the disintegration of the central security bodies in Israel.