Israeli reservist pilots refuse to participate in training in protest of judicial reform

MADRID, 5 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

A total of 37 of 40 reservist pilots of the 69 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force have announced their refusal to carry out the training that begins next Wednesday in protest against the controversial judicial reform promoted by the far-right government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

This squadron operates F-15I fighter jets out of the Hatzerim base in southern Israel and is credited with the 2007 bombing of a nuclear reactor in Syria. It has also carried out hundreds of operations in Syria in the last decade.

Now their reservists have informed the chief of the Air Force General Staff, Tomer Bar, and the squadron commander that they will not report for maneuvers on Wednesday, although they will be available for operational missions.

These maneuvers and exercises are carried out periodically to ensure that pilots maintain their skills despite not being formally on duty.

"On Friday, March 8, we will dedicate our time to debating and thinking for the good of democracy and the unity of the people and therefore we will not present ourselves (...). During the rest of the week we will present ourselves as planned," they explain. reservists in a letter published by Israeli television Channel 12.

Following these events, the chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Herzi Halevi, has conveyed to Prime Minister Netanyahu his concern that this attitude may extend to the point of affecting the operational capacity of the military forces, according to the information leaked this Sunday to the Israeli media.

"I am very concerned about the generalization of the refusal to serve and the debate about the refusal to serve. It could harm the operational capacity of the IDF," Halevi reportedly told Netanyahu and also Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

From the opposition, the leader of the National Unity Party and former IDF chief Benny Gantz has asked the reservists to show up at the base "to protect this country (...) despite the pain."

This same Sunday, the Israeli flag carrier, El Al, has reported that it does not have volunteer pilots for the flight that will take Netanyahu to Rome on Thursday for a state visit. Hours later El Al has announced that it has secured a crew for the flight.