Gallant tells fresh recruits that overhaul crisis has not hurt IDF draft process

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Sunday assured new military draftees that the ongoing societal rift over the government’s judicial overhaul legislation has not impacted the recruitment process, as top security officials denied they were considering detailing their apparent deteriorating capabilities to the public.

Gallant’s presence at the Bakum, the enormous military induction base in central Israel, came amid increased concern that the Israel Defense Force’s readiness has been impacted by the large number of reservists who have declared they will no longer show up for volunteer duties due to the overhaul legislation.

Gallant said the IDF is “the most important thing in the State of Israel except for the state itself,” adding that “without the IDF, we have no right to exist.”

“Service in the IDF is of the highest value,” he told the gathered draftees. “From all the data I have seen, I am happy that the current social friction has not had an effect on the recruitment process. When it comes to the real mission, everyone understands the value of recruitment.

“I will never allow any harm to the IDF, from any side,” Gallant said, adding that he was searching for a way to “bring everyone together, and preserve readiness and unity.”

Gallant has repeatedly sought to reach a compromise on the government’s far-reaching judicial overhaul over his concerns that reservist protests have harmed unity in the military. Earlier this year he was fired and then reinstated by Netanyahu after he publicly called on the prime minister to halt the legislation.

After the coalition advanced the first major piece of related legislation last month — which Gallant implored be paused even as voting was ongoing — more than 10,000 reservists who frequently show up for duty on a voluntary basis said they would no longer do so. 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 overhaul plans are realized.

Meanwhile, the military, Shin Bet security service and Mossad all unanimously denied a Channel 12 news report on Sunday that their chiefs were considering publicly detailing the worsening status of their capabilities next month.

The report said that they were considering such a move after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week was said to deny a request for the information by some cabinet ministers, fearing it would be leaked to the public.

According to the unsourced report, the security chiefs planned to give separate but coordinated speeches to the public without consulting with the prime minister.

The report was “incorrect,” the Shin Bet and Mossad said in separate statements, both stressing that their heads only present their positions and recommendations to relevant officials.

The IDF spokesperson said the report “lacks any basis” and also affirmed that the military chief only shares information with politicians.

The IDF has already said some damage has been caused to its “competence” by the protesting reservists, many of whom serve in the air force and other key positions.

The chief of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, met Friday with dozens of reservist pilots who have declared they would no longer show up for volunteer duty to protest the overhaul, warning them that the state of the force’s readiness was “worsening.”

An unconfirmed report by Channel 12 news added that Bar told pilots: “Instead of preparing for war, I’m dealing only with this.”

Emanuel Fabian contributed to this report.