Top US general said aiming to assess overhaul’s impact on IDF during Israel trip

US Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Mark Milley will travel to Israel next week and will reportedly use his meetings with Israel’s security brass to assess the extent of damage to the army’s readiness caused by some volunteer reservists’ refusal to report for duty in protest of the judicial overhaul.

An unnamed American official told the Walla news site Wednesday that the US Defense Department is concerned Israel’s military deterrence has been negatively impacted, which could encourage more provocative actions by Iran and its Hezbollah and Hamas proxies.

Milley will meet with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, the report said, adding that it was not yet clear whether the US general will also sit down with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. READ MORE