In renewed plea, military chief says reservist refusals ‘harm the IDF’

By Emanuel Fabian

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19 July 2023, 7:38 pm

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi (left) and IAF chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar (center) speak with two officers at the Tel Nof airbase, July 19, 2023. (Israel Defense Forces)

Israel Defense Forces chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi issues a new plea to reservists who are planning or have already announced that they are ending their volunteer reserve duty in protest of the government’s judicial overhaul.

“These days, the IDF is dealing with preserving competence and cohesion, even when there is tension between them,” Chief of Staff Halevi says during a visit to the Tel Nof airbase.

“The IDF is based on the reserve system since its inception. These are the best people… and we cherish them. Without them, the people’s army model would not have lasted 75 years,” Halevi says.

“Calls to not show up [for duty] harm the IDF,” Halevi adds.