Netanyahu Defends Israeli Military Amid Controversy Over Judicial Reform Plans

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced strong support for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday, amid a growing backlash against his controversial plan to reduce the power and independence of the nation’s judiciary. Thousands of IDF reservists have threatened to boycott their voluntary service in protest. This opposition from the military, added to ongoing street protests and criticism from business leaders, poses a significant challenge to the proposed legislative changes. Since Israel’s inception, its army has heavily depended on reservists to ensure operational readiness. Netanyahu’s supporters, like government minister David Amsalem of the right-wing Likud party, have criticized military leaders for their stance. Amsalem publicly lambasted Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and air force chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar for the ongoing unrest within military ranks. Meanwhile, Yair Netanyahu, the prime minister’s son, called Halevi “the most failing and destructive chief of staff in the history of the IDF and the State of Israel” in a post, which he later deleted, on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant jointly defended the military’s leadership, emphasizing their commitment to national security. The proposed judicial changes, according to Netanyahu, aim to curtail the power of unelected judges, while critics argue they threaten Israel’s democratic principles by giving excessive power to politicians.