From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, July 19, 2023
Amid reservists’ growing refusal threats, Netanyahu meets with Gallant, Halevi
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen Herzi Halevi met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week amid increasing threats by reservist soldiers to refuse to show up for duty in protest of the government’s judicial overhaul.
In a statement, the Defense Ministry says Gallant and Halevi briefed Netanyahu on the “security situation and the competence of the IDF.”
The ministry does not elaborate further on the meeting, or when it took place.
Defense officials and politicians on both sides of the aisle have been warning that mass refusals could make Israel more vulnerable to outside threats and harm the competence of the military.
On Sunday, following an emergency meeting, Gallant and Halevi reportedly agreed to relay the concerns over the potential negative impact on military readiness to Netanyahu.
The Times of Israel Community.