Israeli military reservists refuse to train in protest at far-right government

[cbabe]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/07/israeli-military-reservists-refuse-train-protest-far-right-government

Israeli military reservists refuse to train in protest at far-right government

Growing numbers including from elite air force squadron say they are unwilling to serve ‘dictatorial regime’

Bethan McKernan in Jerusalem
Tue 7 Mar 2023 05.51 EST

Growing numbers of Israel’s military reservists, including members of its most important air force squadron, are refusing to attend for service, an unprecedented step that comes as part of the protest movement against the country’s new far-right government.

In an announcement on Sunday, all but three of the 40 reservist pilots in Israel’s elite 69 Squadron said they would not take part in a training exercise later this week, and instead participate in the widespread public protests, claiming they were not prepared to serve a “dictatorial regime”.

The F-15I pilots are a strategically crucial squadron capable of flying long-range missions, raising immediate questions about the Israel Defence Forces’ (IDF) operational competence. Security officials are reportedly also worried about refusals to obey orders and insubordination within the serving military’s ranks as opposition to plans by the prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, to limit judicial powers increases across swathes of Israeli society.

Israel’s army and air force chiefs of staff were due to meet reserve pilots – who regularly serve in operational roles – on Tuesday following the threat not to report for training. Meanwhile, El Al, the national airline, was forced to clarify that a flight scheduled to carry Netanyahu to Italy for a state visit later this week would go ahead as planned after reports crew members had refused to staff the flight.

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(Ok to post here as it’s about Israel’s military, not Israel/Palestine?)