Pilots in Israeli Air Force reserve make U-turn after announcing refusal to serve

The 37 pilots in Israel’s air force reserve, who announced they wouldn’t show up for upcoming training sessions if the judicial overhaul isn’t halted, made a u-turn on Tuesday, saying they will serve after all. 

37 of the 40 members in the air force’s 69th Squadron had initially declared on Sunday that they would “devote” their time to “discourse and thinking for the sake of democracy” instead of showing up for a planned training session on Wednesday.

The squadron, which operates F-15I fighter jets, is considered one of the most elite units in the Israeli army, taking part in the 2007 Israeli bombing of Syria’s nuclear reactor as well as Israeli airstrikes in Syria against Iranian targets.

The unprecedented decision by the elite pilots sparked a big debate in Israel, due to the army’s history of staying out of politics.

Prime Minister Netanyahu rebuked the pilots in a speech on Monday, saying: “Refusal to serve threatens the foundation of our existence, and therefore it must have no place in our ranks.”

The crisis also caused Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to issue an urgent statement, saying: “Any call for refusal harms the functioning of the IDF and its ability to carry out its tasks.”

Communication Minister Shlomo Karhi from Netanyahu’s Likud party made a highly controversial statement, saying the pilots could “go to hell,” sparking widespread anger and demonstrations outside his private home by reserve pilots who demanded he apologise.

After a heated debate in the Israeli media, the reserve pilots announced on Tuesday that would show up for training after all.

“We have full confidence in our commanders. We will continue to serve the Jewish and democratic State of Israel as long as is required,” the pilots said.

Israeli media reported that IDF chief of staff, Herzl Halevi, told Netanyahu in a closed meeting that he was “very worried by the spread of refusal to serve, and of the discussion about the refusal to serve. Already, this could harm the IDF’s operational capacity.”

The elite pilots were however not the only reservist to announce they wouldn’t show up for duty if the judicial overhaul isn’t halted.

Hundreds of reservists from the elite intelligence unit known as 8200 also announced they would stop showing up for duty if the government doesn’t stop its legislative blitz, saying it had “recognised a troubling cluster of tell-tale signs that rise to a real fear for the integrity and security of the State of Israel,” according to a letter published by Haaretz Daily.

On Monday, 200 doctors in the IDF reserve followed suit, saying they demanded a halt to the judicial overhaul “immediately and without pre-condition,” if they were to show up for duty.

The refusal by reservists to serve marks one of the most serious consequences of the government’s judicial overhaul yet, as the IDF is consider among the most sacred and respected institutions in Israel, without which the country would face an existential threat.

Former Defense Minister and National Unity Party leader Benny Gantz also said he disagreed with the squadron’s decision, saying reservists should “show up no matter what.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said he “understands” the reservists’ pain, but that he “against refusal. We have one army, and it’s forbidden that there is refusal.”

Former high ranking IDF generals and officials said they had never seen anything like this in Israel’s history, which has a history of separating the army from politics.

Large numbers of reservists and former high ranking generals in the IDF have taken part in the nationwide protests against the government.

Last week, hundreds of veterans from Shin Bet intelligence agency and the elite Sayeret Matkal unit protested in front of former Shin Bet chief and current Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter’s home, in an attempt to convince him to pull his support for the judicial overhaul.