Thousands of Israeli military veterans, many with elite force backgrounds, have taken to the streets for the 13th consecutive week in protest against the government's judicial overhaul plan. The protesters are united under a banner called "Brother and Sisters in Arms," which represents veterans who feel they're fighting on a new battlefield: to save Israeli democracy.
Among them is Yiftach Golov, a veteran from a special forces reconnaissance unit who served during the second intifada. He had previously focused on his PhD in biophysics but joined the protest movement after attending one of the demonstrations and soon became an active participant. Golov's group, "Brother and Sisters in Arms," is made up of veterans like him, all wearing brown shirts with the organization's logo.
The protesters believe that they're fighting for justice and liberty, just like in the American story represented by the Israeli flag. According to Golov, "We're fighting for justice and liberty, just like the American story... We reclaim the flag." The group uses skills learned in the military, such as organizing and mobilizing, but their motivation is rooted in a deeper feeling of being part of something bigger than themselves.
This sense of purpose is what drives many veterans to take part in the protests. Golov explained that "we're allowed to sacrifice anything that is needed... You're very determined, you know that you are on the right side." The protesters are willing to make sacrifices for their cause, including not training or serving if they disagree with the government's plans.
The pressure from Israeli military veterans has been seen as a key factor in the success of the protest movement. Last Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause in the legislation, citing concerns about security. However, many protesters believe that this is just a temporary delay and not an actual change.
Netanyahu's announcement came after weeks of sustained protests and the largest general strike in Israeli history. The protests are expected to continue despite the delay in voting on the legislation. As Golov said, "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country."
The future of the protest movement remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: these veterans are determined to fight for their democracy and way of life.
Among them is Yiftach Golov, a veteran from a special forces reconnaissance unit who served during the second intifada. He had previously focused on his PhD in biophysics but joined the protest movement after attending one of the demonstrations and soon became an active participant. Golov's group, "Brother and Sisters in Arms," is made up of veterans like him, all wearing brown shirts with the organization's logo.
The protesters believe that they're fighting for justice and liberty, just like in the American story represented by the Israeli flag. According to Golov, "We're fighting for justice and liberty, just like the American story... We reclaim the flag." The group uses skills learned in the military, such as organizing and mobilizing, but their motivation is rooted in a deeper feeling of being part of something bigger than themselves.
This sense of purpose is what drives many veterans to take part in the protests. Golov explained that "we're allowed to sacrifice anything that is needed... You're very determined, you know that you are on the right side." The protesters are willing to make sacrifices for their cause, including not training or serving if they disagree with the government's plans.
The pressure from Israeli military veterans has been seen as a key factor in the success of the protest movement. Last Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause in the legislation, citing concerns about security. However, many protesters believe that this is just a temporary delay and not an actual change.
Netanyahu's announcement came after weeks of sustained protests and the largest general strike in Israeli history. The protests are expected to continue despite the delay in voting on the legislation. As Golov said, "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country."
The future of the protest movement remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: these veterans are determined to fight for their democracy and way of life.
it's kinda wild how something that starts as a protest about democracy can escalate into a full-blown movement. The fact that they're using their military skills to organize and mobilize is actually pretty inspiring? It shows that even in the face of adversity, people can come together and fight for what they believe in.
the fact dat gov is tryna pass legislation w/o public input is straight up sus. these vets are like, "hey weve got ur back" & thats exactly wut people need rn. theyre not just fightin 4 themselves, they're fightin 4 a cause.
. will dey be able 2 make a diff? only time wil tell 
. I can feel the passion and determination in Yiftach Golov's words 
... he and his fellow veterans are willing to make sacrifices for a cause that's bigger than themselves, and that takes a lot of courage 
. It's not just about protesting; it's about fighting for justice and liberty 
. I hope the government listens to their concerns and finds a way to address them peacefully 
... because in the end, it's not about winning or losing, but about doing what's right 
.
. I mean, they're not just fighting for themselves, but also for something bigger than that - their country's future 
. They're putting everything on the line to save what they believe in, and it's so admirable 
. What's next, right?
it shows that even those who have dedicated their lives to serving and protecting their country can be galvanized into action when they feel that justice is at stake 
these guys have been through some heavy stuff, like wars and loss, but instead of being silenced, they're using their experiences to fight for what's right 
.
. And Golov's quote about reclaiming the flag is so powerful 
. The protesters aren't backing down and neither should we support them 
.
, they have an amazing Korean BBQ quesadilla... wait, what's going on with the Israeli protests again? I think it's cool that veterans are taking a stand for democracy, like they're fighting for a higher purpose 
Anyway, back to the protests... it's interesting how these military vets are using their skills to organize and mobilize, maybe we can learn from them 
.
- those Israeli military vets aren't just fighting for democracy, they're fighting for a specific interpretation of it too. I mean, some of them are literally coming from an elite force background, so we need to assume their definition of democracy might be a bit... militarized 
.
. Like, I get it, they wanna equate Israel with America, but can't we just appreciate their own unique struggle for democracy instead of putting a spin on someone else's narrative? 
. Those vets are using military tactics to mobilize and organize - that's cool, but we need to see some genuine commitment to democratic values from all sides of the aisle.
Thousands of Israeli military vets protesting against gov's judicial overhaul plan for 13th week in a row... like they're not tired or scared yet 
what's next? 
These vets are putting everything on the line to save democracy, but it's hard not to wonder if it's even possible 
Those Israeli military veterans are really making a difference with their unity and determination 
! And I love how they're looking out for each other, supporting each other through thick and thin 
, I'm so tired of all the drama around this judicial overhaul plan 
. Can't they just agree on something already? Like, come on guys, you're all veterans who fought for our country's freedom, shouldn't you be able to put aside your differences and work together? 
The fact that there are 13 weeks of protests now is just ridiculous 
. And what's with all the bickering between the protesters and the government? Can't they just listen to each other for once? 
It's like, you're both fighting for the same thing - our democracy 
I mean, have you seen this? Thousands of Israeli military vets taking to the streets, protesting against the gov's judicial overhaul plan... it's like they're trying out for a role in a Hollywood movie about patriotism 
. I'm not saying I condone or condemn (I'm no expert 
), but these guys are serious business - some of them even used to do sneaky recon missions during the second intifada 
! And now, they're like "Hey, gov's trying to pull a fast one on us... we need to put our foot down"... talk about a case of 'you can't fool an old dog' 
.
im sure many rnt comfortable w/ gov't's plan lol 
. The fact that Netanyahu is even acknowledging their concerns is just a way to appease them before he can push his agenda forward again 
. And what's with these veterans thinking they're "Brother and Sisters in Arms"? Sounds like some kind of corporate-sponsored propaganda campaign 
...