Over 1,100 Air Force reservists to end volunteer duty in protest of judicial overhaul

More than 1,100 Israeli Air Force reservists, including hundreds of pilots, issued a letter on Friday announcing that they will suspend their volunteer reserve duty in protest of the government’s plans to overhaul the judicial system.

The announcement was the latest to send shockwaves through the Israel Defense Forces, which is struggling to stem a growing flood of reserve troops dropping out of volunteer duty to protest the overhaul, as defense officials warned the growing phenomenon could affect national preparedness.

In the letter addressed to the Israeli government, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and IAF chief Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, the 1,142 active duty reservists said the government’s controversial plans would lead them to halt their volunteer duty. READ MORE