Several senior Israeli Air Force reservists suspended amid judicial reform protests
The Israeli Air Force has decided to suspend several senior reservists amid continued judicial reform disagreements, according to a report released on Friday by Israel's Kan news outlet.
Israeli Air Force (IAF) chief Maj.-Gen. Tomer Bar reportedly decided to suspend several brigadier generals. A number of active pilots recently informed the IAF commander that they would not fight for an “authoritarian” Israel.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant recently blasted the growing number of air force personnel who have not reported for their missions, which he defined as critical for the defense of the Jewish state.
“The wall that is the Air Force is strong but small. Every brick that falls undermines the stability of that wall. Therefore, we do not have the privilege of not reporting for missions. The security of the country is greater [in importance] than all of us,” Gallant warned.
The IAF's decision to suspend the senior reservists comes merely one day after the Israeli Navy decided to suspend the senior reservist Ofer Doron, who refused to show up for continued service in protest against the Netanyahu government’s controversial judicial overhaul plan.
“Since my demobilization, I have voluntarily served 20 to 50 days a year, the vast majority of them at night or on Shabbat. My uniform was always ready to be donned immediately, during times of tension, so was my car, in case there was a call-up, and there were more than few,” Doron stated.
“My values don’t allow me to serve in the army of a dictatorship, moral and ethical deterioration is inevitable," he continued.
"My values don’t allow me to stand on the sidelines in the hope that 'it will all work out.' The Jewish people have already paid unbearably heavy prices for only belatedly identifying dangers, from within and from without,” Doron said.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
