Israeli military veterans are leading the charge against the country's government over plans to overhaul its judicial system, vowing to continue demonstrating until their demands are met.
In a show of unity and solidarity, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets for the 13th consecutive week on Saturday. Among them were Yiftach Golov and other elite forces veterans from the group known as "Brother and Sisters in Arms." They wave brown flags with the organization's logo, which represents their new mission: fighting for justice and liberty.
Golov, who served in a special forces reconnaissance unit during the second intifada, says he has not taken drastic steps to refuse service but understands why some veterans have. "We're fighting for something bigger than ourselves," Golov said. "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."
These veterans have been using their military training to organize and mobilize the protests. They're not just fighting for their country; they're also advocating for democracy.
The pressure from Israeli veterans has been seen as a key factor in bringing about change. Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause on the legislation, citing "the present security situation." However, many protesters are skeptical of this delay and believe it's simply a stalling tactic to buy time.
Netanyahu insists that the overhaul is necessary, but Golov says he will only agree to disengage when he sees real progress. "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country," Golov said.
The protests continue to draw large crowds, with estimates suggesting around 150,000 people took part in Saturday's demonstration in Tel Aviv. The movement has become increasingly active, with some veterans even threatening not to train or serve if their demands aren't met.
As the standoff continues, it remains to be seen whether Netanyahu will ultimately back down on his plans for judicial reform. One thing is clear: Israeli military veterans are determined to fight for democracy and justice, and they won't stop until their voices are heard.
In a show of unity and solidarity, hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets for the 13th consecutive week on Saturday. Among them were Yiftach Golov and other elite forces veterans from the group known as "Brother and Sisters in Arms." They wave brown flags with the organization's logo, which represents their new mission: fighting for justice and liberty.
Golov, who served in a special forces reconnaissance unit during the second intifada, says he has not taken drastic steps to refuse service but understands why some veterans have. "We're fighting for something bigger than ourselves," Golov said. "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."
These veterans have been using their military training to organize and mobilize the protests. They're not just fighting for their country; they're also advocating for democracy.
The pressure from Israeli veterans has been seen as a key factor in bringing about change. Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause on the legislation, citing "the present security situation." However, many protesters are skeptical of this delay and believe it's simply a stalling tactic to buy time.
Netanyahu insists that the overhaul is necessary, but Golov says he will only agree to disengage when he sees real progress. "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country," Golov said.
The protests continue to draw large crowds, with estimates suggesting around 150,000 people took part in Saturday's demonstration in Tel Aviv. The movement has become increasingly active, with some veterans even threatening not to train or serve if their demands aren't met.
As the standoff continues, it remains to be seen whether Netanyahu will ultimately back down on his plans for judicial reform. One thing is clear: Israeli military veterans are determined to fight for democracy and justice, and they won't stop until their voices are heard.
. These vets are like the original protesters from the 60s and 70s, you know, when everyone was all about change and freedom. They're just like a younger version of Martin Luther King Jr. minus the whole "being assassinated" thing 
. But seriously, its crazy to see these guys putting everything on the line for what they believe in. I mean, who would've thought that Israeli vets would be leading the charge against their own government? Its like something out of a movie, you know? The fact that Netanyahu is even considering backing down shows that maybe, just maybe, the people are making some noise 
. Still, its all very reminiscent of the protests in Eastern Europe back in the 80s and 90s... the whole "we want democracy" thing is so familiar 
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. But at the same time, these vets are using their skills for good, organizing protests and mobilizing people... that's actually pretty cool 
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. Maybe they should just negotiate with Netanyahu directly? I mean, it might work 
, but what if he just uses it as an excuse to keep changing his mind like that? Ugh, my head hurts trying to think this through 
! It's inspiring to see them using their skills to organize protests and bring attention to this cause 
. I'm rooting for them and hoping that Netanyahu will listen to their demands 
. This is what democracy should be all about - people standing up for what's right and fighting for justice 
!
, these Israeli military vets are taking a huge stand against gov't changes to the judiciary system. Their message about being part of something bigger than themselves resonates so much - it's all about fighting for democracy and justice. I'm interested in how this will play out with Netanyahu and if he'll back down on his plans 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to fight for democracy and justice? It's about time someone in a position of power listened to the people 
If the protesters keep showing up and demanding change, he'll eventually cave. The question is, will it be too little too late 
? I'm kinda rooting for these vets, they're not just fighting for themselves, they're fighting for something bigger 
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these guys are like literally veterans from special forces or whatever and now they're taking to the streets because they care about justice and liberty 
and what really gets me is that even some of these veterans are willing to go all out and threaten not training or serving if their demands aren't met 
i get it, they're passionate about democracy, but can't we all just talk this through instead of taking drastic measures? 
. Its sick that they're using their mil training 2 organize protests & advocate 4 democracy 
. It's all about findin a balance between national security & individual rights 
. I'm rootin 4 these vets & hopin Netanyahu listens 2 their demands 
. 150k people showing up for a protest? That's not exactly breaking the bank or anything 
. And who doesn't love a good game of "we'll do this and we'll do that" until someone gives in? 
️. Where's the evidence? What's their organization even funded by? It sounds like they're just trying to stir up controversy for attention. And what exactly do these vets know about democracy and justice? They've spent years fighting wars in someone else's country, not advocating for peace and freedom back home.
. One thing for sure, these protests aren't going away anytime soon, and I'm curious to see how this whole situation plays out 
. Bring it on, Netanyahu 
Those military vets really know how to bring people together with their solidarity marchs. I'm loving the way Golov explains why he's fighting for this cause - it's all about finding a sense of purpose beyond just serving one's country. 
. It's about time people took a stand against corruption and fought for what's right, you know? I mean, who doesn't want a functional democratic country, where everyone has equal opportunities and rights? It's not just about the vets; it's about all of us who care about justice and liberty.
. But hey, at least the movement's making progress, right? The fact that they're not giving up till their demands are met is a testament to their conviction.
what's going on in Israel man... these vets have been out there protesting nonstop for weeks and it's making waves 
. I'm all about freedom of speech and a functional democratic country, but Netanyahu's just trying to stall