IAF pilots say they will show up for reserve duty for ‘a conversation of fighters’

A group of reservist members of an Israeli Air Force fighter jet squadron have reversed their decision to not show up to one of their planned training sessions in protest of the government’s plan to radically restrict the power of the country’s judiciary, and will now attend.

In a statement, the pilots say that they are “answering the call of our commanders and we will report tomorrow at the unit to hold a conversation of fighters.”

Earlier this week 37 out of the 40 reservists in the IAF’s 69th Squadron said they were boycotting the exercises. The squadron — known as the Hammers — operates the F-15I fighter jets out of the Hatzerim Airbase in southern Israel.

“We have complete faith in our commanders and will continue to serve the Jewish and democratic State of Israel as long as necessary,” the pilots say.

Their original announcement was echoed by hundreds of other reservists, but also saw calls from opposition leaders who support the cause to continue to show up, warning of harm to Israel’s security.