Israeli Air Force chief warns of ‘worsening harm’ to military readiness
The chief of the Israeli Air Force has warned that the state of the force’s readiness is “worsening” as dozens of reservist pilots have declared they would no longer show up for volunteer duty in protest against the policies of the incumbent far-right administration.
According to a report by Channel 12 television channel, Major General Tomer Bar met with some 60 reservists at the military’s headquarters in Tel Aviv on Friday.
In excerpts provided by the Israeli military from the meeting, the high-ranking military figure claimed that “the current assessment is that the Air Force is competent,” but added that “there is harm [to its readiness] that is worsening.”
“Instead of preparing for war, I’m dealing only with this… While some of you may have issues, we expect you to keep coming,” Bar told the reservists.
The Israeli Air Force chief also said that the calls to not show up for volunteer duty “harm” the regime’s military.
According to the Ynet news site, Bar told the reservists that the protesters’ absence was most being felt by training and drill squadrons as well as operational and air control units.
He warned it would take time to train replacements, likely hurting plans for large-scale exercises in the fall.
“Unity has been very much harmed,” he was quoted as saying. “The air force won’t be the same as it was, even if everyone came back tomorrow.”
Bar last met with reservist pilots in July, before the hard-right cabinet led by prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu advanced the first major judicial overhaul bill.
More than 10,000 reservist soldiers, including members of the elite intelligence unit 8200 and air force pilots, have said they would no longer show up for duty on a voluntary basis in protest.
Public outrage against the regime’s policies has grown since last month, when the Knesset passed the first bill of the judicial overhaul plan after opposition lawmakers left the session. The bill scrapped the “reasonableness” law, through which the Supreme Court can overturn decisions made by the Israeli cabinet such as ministerial appointments.
The remaining parts of the overhaul package will be discussed after the Knesset returns from summer recess in October.
Netanyahu, who is fighting corruption charges in court, has said he would be willing to negotiate with the opposition, though previous mediation efforts, including by the regime’s president, have failed.
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