JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israeli prime minister Netanyahu reportedly sparred with IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevy and Air Force chief Tomer Bar after they came out with a joint statement about the possible damage to the IDF due to reservists refusing to show up over the judicial reforms.
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Bar had warned protesting reserve pilots that they could “worsen damage to the army’s readiness”, implying that there was already such damage from the opposition to the government’s reforms.
Netanyahu allegedly exploded at Bar and Halevi, claiming that “It looks like the army is running the country,” according to reports on Channel 12 and Channel 13.
“You’re damaging our deterrent credibility,” he was said to have shouted. “Why are you putting out headlines like this?”
Both Halevi and Bar refused to retract their comments on the army’s readiness, the reports claimed, with Halevi quoted as telling Netanyahu that “it is our duty to issue a warning when the army’s fitness is at risk.”
Netanyahu’s bureau denied that he had yelled during the talks, telling Channel 13 that “even when the prime minister speaks forcefully, he doesn’t yell.”
The prime minister delayed his vacation to meet with the IDF heads at a special cabinet meeting on IDF readiness which included Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and National Security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi. At the meeting, the generals warned Netanyahu that the army would really begin to feel the impact in the coming weeks, as the constitutional crisis comes to a head with the Supreme Court due to convene on the legitimacy of the cancellation of the reasonability law. Additionally, the possible passage of a new basic law expanding charedi draft exemptions could spark further protests and refusals to participate in reserve duty, a situation which could increase the damage to IDF preparedness.
Netanyahu said that he was trying to reach compromises on the draft exemption legislation and met afterward with Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Shas party head Aryeh Deri on the matter, according to Kan.
Some 10,000 reservists who frequently show up for duty on a voluntary basis said last month they would no longer do so after the coalition advanced the first major piece of legislation on the judicial reforms. The reservists, many of whom acted on their threats, have warned they will not be able to serve in an undemocratic Israel, which some charge the country will become if the government’s plans are realized.
According to Channel 12 news, Netanyahu told the generals on Sunday that there was little point in slowing down for compromise talks with the opposition.
“When you raised the flag last time, we stopped for three months, but nothing came of it, because there are players whose goal is the downfall of the government,” he reportedly said. “There’s little chance of compromise on the Judicial Selection Committee,” Netanyahu reportedly added, referring to the core legislation in the planned judicial reforms that will make the committe appointing Israel’s judges more representative of the public’s opinions. The prime minister reiterated last week that it will likely pass in the winter Knesset session.
Netanyahu’s bureau said that during Sunday’s meeting, he had “ordered that the IDF’s fitness and preparedness be maintained in times of routine and emergency for any challenge.”
Channel 12 news said those present in the Sunday meeting described it as frustrating, with the prime minister unmoved by their presentation of data showing damage to the military’s readiness, and telling the military to steer clear of politics.
Following the reports on the comments from the call and meeting, a source close to Netanyahu told the channel that “in light of leaks related to defense matters, steps will be taken to stop the dangerous trend.”