7/19/2023-|Last update: 7/19/202305:28 PM (Mecca Time)
Al-Jazeera correspondent in occupied Jerusalem said that Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi briefed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the readiness of the army in the wake of the increase in the number of those refusing military service, at a time when hundreds of pilots, technicians and military doctors announced – today, Wednesday – the cessation of their service in the army in protest. On the judicial amendments that the government seeks to approve.
And the Israeli newspaper “Haaretz” reported that Netanyahu’s meeting with the Minister of Defense and the Chief of Staff took place this week, and came after the announcement of 161 reserve officers in the Air Force refusing to return to service.
Other reservists in the Israeli army, especially in the air force, are threatening to join the protest movement rejecting the judicial amendments.
And the Al-Jazeera correspondent reported that 300 military doctors announced today that they would stop volunteering in the ranks of the army, due to the judicial amendments.
Israel Today, the largest Israeli newspaper in terms of circulation, published on its front page a headline describing the withdrawal of 161 Air Force reserve officers as a “red line.” Other reservists said they would join the withdrawing officers publicly today, Wednesday, by signing a Announcement of termination of service in front of the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv.
Al-Jazeera correspondent Elias Karram said that the withdrawing military includes pilots, technicians, control and control officials, and drone operators, and the withdrawn mentioned – in a joint petition they signed – that they “cannot carry out the tasks assigned to them under a system of government in which the foundations of democracy are trampled, and the gap that will lead the state increases.” to become a dictatorship.
The calls not to join the army and compulsory reserve service are part of the protests that have been going on for weeks over the judicial amendments being discussed by the Israeli parliament, and aim to limit the powers of the Supreme Court.
Knesset debates
The Knesset (Israeli parliament) is scheduled to hold a final vote on Sunday and Monday on the judicial amendments.
The Knesset’s Constitution and Law Committee continues its discussions on amending a law to limit the powers of the Supreme Court and to prevent its judges from annulling any decision or ministerial or job appointment by the government.
The parliamentary committee will vote on this amendment within the coming hours before it is presented to the Knesset plenary early next week for a vote on it to become effective.
Popular protests continue against these changes, as its opponents believe that it gives the Israeli government absolute powers in a way that enables it to tyrannize its decision-making at all levels, and also protects it from any legal oversight.
And the French news agency reported that about 250 Israelis started today a march on the road linking Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, where the Knesset is located, to protest against the amendments to the judicial system.
Tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrated yesterday, Tuesday, in various areas, trying to paralyze roads and trains at central stations.
#rejection #judicial #amendments. #hundreds #soldiers #stop #service #Israeli #army #Netanyahu #briefed #readiness #forces
2023-07-19 13:52:03
