Veterans of the Israeli military have been instrumental in the growing protest movement against the government's judicial overhaul plan, with many taking to the streets for the 13th week in a row. The protesters, who include elite forces veterans like Yiftach Golov, are calling for the repeal of the legislation, which they say will undermine Israel's democracy and give the governing parties more control over the judiciary.
Golov, a veteran from a special forces reconnaissance unit, initially remained apolitical but became involved in the protest movement after attending a demonstration. He now sees himself as part of a new mission to save Israeli democracy. "We're fighting for justice and liberty," he says, referencing the American ideals that are reflected in Israel's flag.
The protesters, who are organized into groups such as "Brother and Sisters in Arms", have been using their military training to mobilize and organize the demonstrations. They claim that they are motivated by a deep sense of responsibility to protect Israel's democracy, and are willing to sacrifice everything necessary to achieve this goal.
The pressure from the veterans has been significant, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing a pause in the legislation last week after weeks of sustained protests and the largest general strike in Israeli history. However, many protesters believe that the delay is merely a stalling tactic by Netanyahu, who they see as trying to avoid genuine debate on the issue.
The conflict between Netanyahu and the protest leaders has highlighted the deep divisions within Israeli society, with the Prime Minister refusing to back down on his plans for judicial reform despite widespread opposition. The situation remains tense, with many protesters vowing to continue demonstrating until their demands are met.
As the protests continue, it is clear that the involvement of military veterans in the movement has been a crucial factor in mobilizing public opinion against Netanyahu's plans. While some have refused to train or serve in the military as a form of protest, others have taken more drastic action by threatening not to participate in military training or service. The situation remains volatile, with many questions still unanswered about the future of Israel's democracy and the impact of Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan on its institutions.
Golov, a veteran from a special forces reconnaissance unit, initially remained apolitical but became involved in the protest movement after attending a demonstration. He now sees himself as part of a new mission to save Israeli democracy. "We're fighting for justice and liberty," he says, referencing the American ideals that are reflected in Israel's flag.
The protesters, who are organized into groups such as "Brother and Sisters in Arms", have been using their military training to mobilize and organize the demonstrations. They claim that they are motivated by a deep sense of responsibility to protect Israel's democracy, and are willing to sacrifice everything necessary to achieve this goal.
The pressure from the veterans has been significant, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announcing a pause in the legislation last week after weeks of sustained protests and the largest general strike in Israeli history. However, many protesters believe that the delay is merely a stalling tactic by Netanyahu, who they see as trying to avoid genuine debate on the issue.
The conflict between Netanyahu and the protest leaders has highlighted the deep divisions within Israeli society, with the Prime Minister refusing to back down on his plans for judicial reform despite widespread opposition. The situation remains tense, with many protesters vowing to continue demonstrating until their demands are met.
As the protests continue, it is clear that the involvement of military veterans in the movement has been a crucial factor in mobilizing public opinion against Netanyahu's plans. While some have refused to train or serve in the military as a form of protest, others have taken more drastic action by threatening not to participate in military training or service. The situation remains volatile, with many questions still unanswered about the future of Israel's democracy and the impact of Netanyahu's judicial overhaul plan on its institutions.
! I'm all for people standing up for what they believe in, but this whole thing feels like a huge power struggle between Netanyahu and these veterans. Like, what's really going on here? 
The fact that it's dragging the whole country into chaos is mind-boggling. And I get why the veterans want to save Israeli democracy - we've seen similar stuff happen in other countries where the judiciary gets hijacked by politicians... it's a recipe for disaster.
is that some sort of military unit or just a fancy way of saying "us veterans"? Either way, I hope they're careful not to get too caught up in the heat of the moment. We need to think about the long game here... like what's gonna happen next? 
. i mean, yiftach golov's story is pretty inspiring, becoming apolitical and then joining the movement - that takes guts, fam 
. and yeah, the fact that they're using their military training to organize these protests shows how passionate they are about saving israel's democracy 
. it's also got me thinking, what would happen if other countries followed suit and had similar vet-led movements? 
. The fact that Netanyahu's trying to stall says a lot about his commitment to actually listening to his constituents... not 
. Anyway, I guess this is one way the Israeli military can be used for something other than just occupying territories 
. can't we have some checks & balances in place already? it feels like Netanyahu's just trying to consolidate power... 
.
. But at the same time, I guess it's good that these veterans are speaking out against something they believe in... even if their methods might be a bit extreme 
. Anyway, this whole thing is just gonna be a headache for Israel and probably the rest of us too 
it's crazy to see people from all walks of life, including ex-special forces guys like Yiftach Golov, just willing to risk everything for what they believe in 
and I think Netanyahu should really reconsider his plans on judicial reform 
I'm low-key impressed by these veterans taking a stand against Netanyahu's plans 
.
. We need more empathy and understanding, even when we disagree with someone 
.
. If it goes through, it could lead to a slippery slope where democracy is eroded bit by bit 
. Anything less, and we risk losing the very fabric of democracy 
.
they're not just fighting for their country's democracy, but also for justice and liberty. it's wild that netanyahu is trying to push his agenda despite all the opposition 
the protests are getting more intense by the day, and it's only a matter of time before things get really crazy 
. I mean, come on, we're all trying to have a conversation here 
. Lets try to keep the peace and have a respectful convo about this stuff 
.
! It's insane how passionate they are about this cause, and their military training is really helping them organize these protests 
. I feel like we can all learn a thing or two from their dedication to standing up for what they believe in 
.
. This is definitely a turning point in Israeli politics, and the fact that Netanyahu is refusing to back down is really worrying