Netanyahu: Small ‘anarchistic’ group behind reservist letters demanding hostage deal; they want to overthrow government

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says letters by military reservists urging the government to prioritize a deal to release hostages over the continuation of the war against Hamas represent a small minority funded by organizations wanting to overthrow his government.

“It is a small, noisy, anarchistic, and disconnected group of pensioners, a large group of whom have not served for years,” he says.

“These weeds are trying to weaken the State of Israel and the IDF, and are encouraging our enemy to harm us,” he states. “They already broadcast a message of weakness to our enemies once. We won’t allow them to do this again.”

“Israeli citizens learned the lesson — a refusal to serve is a refusal to serve, no matter what dirty name they give it,” Netanyahu says.

The recent letters released have not included threats by signatories to stop showing up for reserve duties but rather appeals to the government to reach an agreement to halt the war and release hostages held in Gaza.

“Whoever encourages refusal will be fired immediately,” he says.