Former security chiefs warn judicial overhaul ‘will cause damage for generations’

More than 400 ex-senior security officials, including former heads of the police, Shin Bet and Mossad, sign a public letter urging President Isaac Herzog not to agree to any laws that contradict Israel’s core democratic values as part of his efforts to mediate a compromise version of the government’s judicial overhaul plan.

“As you noted in your speech, the hasty legislative steps constitute a judicial revolution that will cause damage for generations to come,” says the letter by members of the Commanders for Israel’s Security group.

Signatories include former Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman, former Mossad directors Tamir Pardo and Danny Yatom, ex-police commissioner Shlomo Aharonishki and former national security adviser Uzi Arad.

“We, who led fighters to Israel’s wars and educated them on its values, defended the country in the battlefield and in the diplomatic arena, are calling, with great respect, for preventing a critical blow to these values,” they write. “In cases where the rule of law and judicial independence are harmed, the first to get harmed are IDF soldiers and security forces, and the physical and legal defense of them.”