IDF chief, senior officers meet youth group officials amid overhaul tensions

The chief of the Israel Defense Forces and other senior military officers met this week with the head of the national council of youth movements and other youth group representatives, as tensions over the government’s controversial plans to overhaul the judiciary continue to affect the IDF.

Amid the government advancing the first major bill of its judicial overhaul last month, 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.

The IDF says some damage has been caused to its “competence” by the protesting reservists, many of whom are in key positions. But just as worrying for the military is the long-term damage to the unity of the IDF, with concern about the spread of anti-judicial overhaul protests to members of the standing army. The IDF also fears that some young Israelis may attempt to refuse to draft altogether in protest.

In a rare meeting on Tuesday, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Herzi Halevi; the head of the Personnel Directorate, Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor; the chief of the Education and Youth Corps, Brig. Gen. Ofir Levius; IDF Spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, and other officers met with the secretary general of the Council of Youth Movements in Israel, Naftali Deri, and representatives of various youth groups, including the Scout Movement, the Federation of Working and Studying Youth, Bnei Akiva, Hashomer Hatzair, Dror-Israel, the Agricultural Union, the Maccabi Youth Movement, HaMahanot HaOlim, Beitar, Ezra, and Ariel.

The military said the officers and youth group representatives sat down for some two hours at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv “for an open conversation… in light of the complex challenges the IDF and Israeli society are facing in recent months.”

In the meeting, the officers and youth group officials discussed “the importance of preserving the IDF as the people’s army, strengthening cohesion, education for showing up for duty, and carrying out meaningful service in the IDF, and keeping the IDF out of political controversy,” the military said in a statement Thursday.

They also agreed on “a number of collaborations between the IDF and the youth movements that will strengthen these values ​​and lead to the strengthening of the IDF’s power as an army of values ​​that unites all parts of Israeli society.”

“The chief of staff and the heads of the movements made a joint call to continue to educate for meaningful service in the IDF, to report for duty and volunteer, and stated that the IDF is the people’s army and includes all parts of Israeli society. The IDF at this time should be the unifying place,” the military said.

Speaking at the meeting, Halevi called for maintaining the IDF as the so-called “people’s army” model —  one in which all Israelis are meant to serve — saying, “It is important for us to be the people’s army; the model should be like this for years to come.”

“Looking ahead, we need more quality people, youth who want to do meaningful service. We emphasize combat service as the first priority,” Halevi added.