Israeli military veterans, a driving force behind the ongoing protest movement, continue to demonstrate against the government's proposed judicial overhaul plan, despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent announcement of a pause in the legislation. For the 13th consecutive week, hundreds of thousands of protesters, including a significant contingent of veterans and reservists, took to the streets on Saturday.
Among them was Yiftach Golov, an elite forces veteran and a member of the group “Brother and Sisters in Arms.” Golov, who served in a special forces reconnaissance unit during the second intifada in the early 2000s, described their current mission as fighting “to save Israeli democracy.” He stated, “We believe this is our responsibility to go once again called to the flag of the nation to stop this madness to defend Israel.” Golov, previously focused on his PhD in biophysics from Tel Aviv University, became involved in the movement when it began in January, joining thousands of veterans and military reservists.
Some reservists, particularly from the elite Air Force, have escalated their protest by threatening to refuse to heed calls for training or even active service. This drastic measure is in opposition to the government’s planned judicial changes, which would grant governing parties greater control over Israel’s judiciary. While Golov has not personally refused service, he expressed understanding for the motivation behind such actions. “We’re fighting for justice and liberty, just like the American story, that’s the values that that are being represented symbolized back when we look at our flag, that’s something that was lacking lacking for the last few decades. So basically, we reclaim the flag,” he explained.
Members of “Brother and Sisters in Arms,” identifiable by their brown shirts, are actively involved in organizing and demonstrating. One member even leads the “Pink Front,” a group of drummers who often set the rhythm for chants. These veterans are leveraging skills learned in the military, such as organization and mobilization, for the protest movement. Golov highlighted their shared motivation, describing it as “The very deep feeling that you are part of something bigger than yourself, that (you’re) allowed to sacrifice anything that is needed, whether it’s your career, health, seriously mental health.” He added, “We all have a mission, you’re willing to do it at any cost. You’re very determined, you know that you are on the right side, you’re carrying the torch of light. That keeps us being highly motivated despite the fact that we’re not sleeping for days.”
The pressure exerted by Israel’s highly regarded veterans is widely seen as a crucial factor in influencing the political landscape. Last Monday, following weeks of sustained protests and the largest general strike in Israeli history, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause in the legislation to allow for negotiations with the opposition.
This announcement came after Netanyahu had stated his decision to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for advocating a delay in passing the legislation. Sources later indicated that Netanyahu delayed Gallant's firing due to “the present security situation.” In his televised speech calling for a delay, Gallant had emphasized that a pause was necessary “for the security of Israel,” specifically citing the refusal of some Israel Defense Forces reservists to train in protest of the government’s plans. He warned that proceeding with the proposals could jeopardize Israel’s security.
Under mounting pressure domestically and from international allies, Netanyahu stated he would delay votes on the remaining legislation until after the Knesset’s Passover recess in April. He explained this decision was “to give time for a real chance for a real debate” and “out of the responsibility to the nation.” However, Netanyahu also indicated the delay was temporary, insisting the overhaul was necessary and reiterating his criticism of those refusing to train or serve in the military, stating, “Refusing is the end of our country.”
Many protesters remain unconvinced by the pause, viewing it as a stalling tactic designed to give Netanyahu breathing room and disperse the demonstrations before he resumes the reforms. Golov affirmed this sentiment, stating, “We will start doing deactivation only when we will know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country. Whatever needs to be done for that.” On Saturday, demonstrations in Tel Aviv were estimated at about 150,000 people by Channel 12, while organizers claimed a turnout of 230,000.
