Army reservists join protests against judicial reform in Israel

Tel Aviv hosts a new and massive march against the reform for the 12th consecutive week

25 (EUROPA PRESS)

Nearly a thousand protesters, led by a group of representatives of Army reservists, have gathered this Saturday in front of the residence of the country’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, to protest against the controversial judicial reform that the Government is finalizing and that, in his opinion, it could turn the country into an undemocratic regime.

“Gallant, one who is silent out of fear, one who realizes that he is being responsible for the disintegration of the Army, who knows that the Israeli military could be charged before the Hague Court for helping a dictatorship,” they denounced in A statement was made by those responsible for the group Comrades in Arms, promoters of the protest.

The concentration takes place a few hours before the country becomes the scene of massive protests against the reform plan, for the twelfth consecutive week.

Demonstrations have already started in Tel Aviv, where tens of thousands of people are expected to march from Hambina Square to Kaplan Street to continue a trend of rallies that have sometimes accumulated more than 150,000 people.

Many reservists, a key figure in the ranks of the Israeli Army, have warned that they have no intention of carrying out their work in what they consider to be a country whose democratic values ​​may end up being destroyed if a reform finally comes to fruition that would give the government unprecedented control over the power of attorney.

As an example, around 200 reserve pilots, who fly combat missions, helicopters and transport planes, announced this past Friday their intention to be absent from training next week.

Today Saturday, almost 1,000 retired Israeli Air Force pilots have pledged their support for their comrades in an open letter warning the government that “the volunteer process only occurs in a democratic country,” according to the text collected by the portal Walla.

“The values ​​on which pilots were raised over generations do not allow them to continue serving the country that is changing its face from democracy to dictatorship,” they have warned.

In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has assured that his government has not the slightest intention of giving in to pressure from the reservists.

“Surrendering to the refusals would be a terrible danger for Israel,” Netanyahu has declared in comments collected by the ‘Yedioth Aharanoth’. “I demand that the Defense establishment stand firm against the denials because this country cannot exist without the Israeli Army,” he added.

Netanyahu ended by reproaching that “all these people, responsible for the country’s security, have suddenly crossed all limits with so much cynicism.”