The
seeping of the constitutional disputes into the conscript
military has jarred Israelis who long saw it as an apolitical
melting pot for a fractious society. On both sides of the
schism, worries have been voiced about war-readiness.
A short dramatic film being circulated on-line showed an
infantryman in battle desperately radioing for air strikes, only
to be asked by the pilot: "Are you for or against the reforms?"
Culture Minister Miki Zohar posted the film but then removed it
after the military spokesperson denounced it as "meant to create
rifts within the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)". Still, Zohar
insisted on Twitter, the film had a "message of unity".
The military spokesperson's office has not formally provided
figures for the reservist protests. But Army Radio, a popular
Israeli broadcaster managed by the Defence Ministry, said "a few
hundred" reservists had announced they would refuse call-ups.
Most of these are from the air force, Army Radio said. After
ending their commissions, air force pilots and navigators are
required to do weekly training and, according to veterans of the
corps, make up around half of crews sent on combat sorties.
Sanctions being considered include arrest, suspension and
dismissal, Army Radio said - but noted that, because air force
reservists are designated as volunteers, they may be treated
differently to reservists whose call-ups are obligatory.
On Monday, Netanyahu said his government would act against what
he described as insubordination in the ranks that risked
inviting attack by Israel's foes and undermining its democracy.
Protesters say his religious-nationalist coalition has lost its
democratic mandate by trying to curb judicial independence with
reforms that Netanyahu - who is on trial on graft charges he
denies - argues will balance out the branches of government.
According to military data published by Globes newspaper in
March, 4% of Israelis aged 22 to 45 are called up as reservists.
(Writing by Dan Williams, Editing by William Maclean)
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