Veterans in the Israeli military are taking their fight against government reforms to the streets, demonstrating a commitment that transcends party lines and loyalty to the flag. In Tel Aviv's Kaplan street, hundreds of thousands of protesters marched on Saturday, carrying signs and banners in support of their cause.
Among them was Yiftach Golov, a veteran from an elite special forces unit who now fights for democracy in Israel. He holds a brown flag representing "Brother and Sisters in Arms," a group comprised of veterans like himself who feel compelled to take up the cause as their new mission.
Golov's journey into activism began with his participation in a single protest in January, following which he became one of thousands of veterans and military reservists who have taken up the fight against Israel's government overhaul plans. These reforms aim to give governing parties more control over the judiciary.
"We believe it is our responsibility to go once again called to the flag of the nation to stop this madness to defend Israel," Golov said during a recent protest. He noted that, despite having been exposed to various ideologies throughout his military career, he had never been particularly political before focusing on getting his PhD in biophysics.
Golov's actions and sentiments reflect those of many other veterans who have taken up the cause as their new mission. Elite Air Force reservists, for instance, have threatened not to heed calls to train or serve due to government plans that threaten Israel's security.
The pressure from Israeli military veterans has been seen as a key factor in moving the needle during the ongoing protests. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause to the legislation last Monday, citing concerns about national security and the need for real debate after the Knesset's Passover recess in April.
However, many protesters remain skeptical that this delay is genuine or an attempt by Netanyahu to stall until they go home. Golov shared their sentiments: "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country."
Despite the government's efforts to reassure them, many veterans are resolute in their commitment to defend democracy in Israel. They see themselves as fighting for justice and liberty, something they believe has been lacking in Israeli society for decades.
The protest movement is comprised of various groups with different backgrounds and motivations but united by a shared determination to protect democratic values in Israel. The message from Golov and many others echoes through the crowds: "We're carrying the torch of light," he said, emphasizing their unyielding commitment to justice and liberty.
As protests continue, many question whether Netanyahu's delay will be enough to satisfy protesters' demands for real change. However, one thing remains clear: the voices of Israeli military veterans are being heard loud and clear, and they will not back down without seeing meaningful reforms in place.
Among them was Yiftach Golov, a veteran from an elite special forces unit who now fights for democracy in Israel. He holds a brown flag representing "Brother and Sisters in Arms," a group comprised of veterans like himself who feel compelled to take up the cause as their new mission.
Golov's journey into activism began with his participation in a single protest in January, following which he became one of thousands of veterans and military reservists who have taken up the fight against Israel's government overhaul plans. These reforms aim to give governing parties more control over the judiciary.
"We believe it is our responsibility to go once again called to the flag of the nation to stop this madness to defend Israel," Golov said during a recent protest. He noted that, despite having been exposed to various ideologies throughout his military career, he had never been particularly political before focusing on getting his PhD in biophysics.
Golov's actions and sentiments reflect those of many other veterans who have taken up the cause as their new mission. Elite Air Force reservists, for instance, have threatened not to heed calls to train or serve due to government plans that threaten Israel's security.
The pressure from Israeli military veterans has been seen as a key factor in moving the needle during the ongoing protests. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause to the legislation last Monday, citing concerns about national security and the need for real debate after the Knesset's Passover recess in April.
However, many protesters remain skeptical that this delay is genuine or an attempt by Netanyahu to stall until they go home. Golov shared their sentiments: "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country."
Despite the government's efforts to reassure them, many veterans are resolute in their commitment to defend democracy in Israel. They see themselves as fighting for justice and liberty, something they believe has been lacking in Israeli society for decades.
The protest movement is comprised of various groups with different backgrounds and motivations but united by a shared determination to protect democratic values in Israel. The message from Golov and many others echoes through the crowds: "We're carrying the torch of light," he said, emphasizing their unyielding commitment to justice and liberty.
As protests continue, many question whether Netanyahu's delay will be enough to satisfy protesters' demands for real change. However, one thing remains clear: the voices of Israeli military veterans are being heard loud and clear, and they will not back down without seeing meaningful reforms in place.
They're not just fighting for their country, but for a way of life – democracy, justice, and liberty. It's like, they've dedicated their lives to serving others, only to see the system they trusted get messed with. I don't blame them for pushing back. 
These protests might be intense, but it's heartening to see so many people standing together for what they believe in. And, tbh, Netanyahu's attempt to stall might just backfire if protesters keep up the pressure. Keep shining, Israel! 
. i mean benjamin netanyahu announced a pause on the legislation thingy but some people are skeptical if it's just a stall tactic 
. what do u think tho? should govs listen to vets and make changes or is it too late for that 
he's proof that you can make a difference even at an older age and from a different background - as a biophysics PhD holder who just wanted to serve his country, but then found his purpose in fighting for democracy 
. the fact that hundreds of thousands of veterans are standing together against gov reforms is truly amazing 
what do you guys think? should he give in to their demands or continue to stall? 
! Like, I get it, gov's trying to chill out and Netanyahu's all like "okay okay" 
but these vets ain't having it 
. They're standing strong for democracy and justice like no tomorrow 
. It's awesome they're putting their lives on the line for what they believe in 
Not me, that's for sure 
in my book! They're fighting for real change and won't back down until they see it happen 
. Fingers crossed this pause is genuine and gov follows through on promises 
. The power of the people, especially veterans, should never be underestimated 
! They're putting their lives on the line (literally) to stand up for what they believe in, and that's something we can all learn from 
. The fact that these vets are being heard loud and clear is already a major win in my book, and I have no doubt that their voices will keep echoing until meaningful reforms are put in place 
... we'll have to wait and see if it's genuine or just a ploy to stall progress. Anyway, I'm loving the solidarity and determination displayed by these vets, it's infectious 
. It's crazy how one group of people can have such a big impact on the government 
. And it's not just him, there are so many others who share his passion for justice and liberty 
. Netanyahu's announcement might be a step in the right direction, but we'll just have to wait and see if it's enough 
.
! We should all be inspired by their commitment to fighting for democracy 
I think its really cool that veteran Golov and others like him are standing up against the government reforms. It shows that even those who have served their country with honor and pride can be passionate about defending democracy too 
.
you know what really gets me about this whole situation? it's that these soldiers have been through hell and back, served their country with pride, and now they're fighting for something that might just be the very thing they risked everything for in the first place - a functional democracy 
.
. I mean, we all know that gov't reform plans can be super sketchy, but these vets are willing to take a stand, and that's gotta count for something 
. I mean, we've seen this before, and it doesn't bode well for our liberties 
. Otherwise, it's just more of the same 
), but also super intimidating - I mean, they're like, elite special forces unit guys or whatever. 
. And can we talk about the government's delay tactics? It's like, Netanyahu just wants to stall until everyone goes home, right?