Israel’s Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon set off a firestorm when he urged top generals in the Israeli army to continue “speaking their mind” after the IDF Deputy Chief, Maj-Gen. Yair Golan, compared recent trends in Israeli society to the atmosphere in Nazi-era Germany. Netanyahu attacked the comments as “outrageous”, while Ya’alon said generals should be free to speak out. “Do not be afraid. Do not hesitate,” Ya’alon said. “A good army is an army whose commanders, junior and senior alike, feel confident in their ability to speak their mind at all times. Continue to act in keeping with your human conscience and compass, and not to follow the way the wind is blowing.” Netanyahu and Ya’alon met yesterday and reportedly “settled their differences”, several senior officers in the Israeli reserves came out in support of the defense minister, saying it is important that senior officers speak their minds. There is a universal draft in Israel, with most men serving three years and women serving two. Many men continue to do reserve duty into their 40s.
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