In Israel, the backbone of the protest movement against the government's judicial overhaul plan are veterans from elite forces. Led by Yiftach Golov, many have taken up arms - figuratively and literally - in a bid to save Israeli democracy.
Golov himself is no stranger to military life. He served in special forces reconnaissance unit during the second intifada, but it wasn't until he attended one of the early protests that his focus shifted from academia to activism. Today, as the leader of "Brother and Sisters in Arms," a group of veteran protesters are determined to fight for justice and liberty.
These veterans, many with elite military backgrounds, bring significant organizational skills to the table. They've learned how to mobilize and protest, using tactics honed during their time in service. But it's not just about organization - these men and women have something deeper driving them: a sense of duty and responsibility to protect Israel.
For Golov, this is personal. He believes that Israeli democracy has been eroding over the past few decades, with a lack of representation for certain groups leading to feelings of disenfranchisement. By taking up arms - or rather, joining the protest movement - he's fighting not just for justice, but for the values of freedom and equality that Israel was founded upon.
The pressure from these veteran protesters has been significant, forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay votes on the legislation until after the Passover recess in April. While some have hailed this as a victory, many protesters remain skeptical - believing that the pause is simply a stalling tactic designed to give Netanyahu breathing room before pushing forward with his plans.
As Golov puts it, however, "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel's state will stay a functional democratic country. Whatever needs to be done for that." The battle may not be won yet, but one thing is clear: these veterans are committed to fighting for the future of Israeli democracy - no matter what it takes.
As the protests continue, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in Tel Aviv alone, it's clear that these men and women will not be silenced. United by their desire to protect Israel, they'll keep pushing forward - until justice is served, and democracy is secured.
Golov himself is no stranger to military life. He served in special forces reconnaissance unit during the second intifada, but it wasn't until he attended one of the early protests that his focus shifted from academia to activism. Today, as the leader of "Brother and Sisters in Arms," a group of veteran protesters are determined to fight for justice and liberty.
These veterans, many with elite military backgrounds, bring significant organizational skills to the table. They've learned how to mobilize and protest, using tactics honed during their time in service. But it's not just about organization - these men and women have something deeper driving them: a sense of duty and responsibility to protect Israel.
For Golov, this is personal. He believes that Israeli democracy has been eroding over the past few decades, with a lack of representation for certain groups leading to feelings of disenfranchisement. By taking up arms - or rather, joining the protest movement - he's fighting not just for justice, but for the values of freedom and equality that Israel was founded upon.
The pressure from these veteran protesters has been significant, forcing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to delay votes on the legislation until after the Passover recess in April. While some have hailed this as a victory, many protesters remain skeptical - believing that the pause is simply a stalling tactic designed to give Netanyahu breathing room before pushing forward with his plans.
As Golov puts it, however, "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel's state will stay a functional democratic country. Whatever needs to be done for that." The battle may not be won yet, but one thing is clear: these veterans are committed to fighting for the future of Israeli democracy - no matter what it takes.
As the protests continue, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in Tel Aviv alone, it's clear that these men and women will not be silenced. United by their desire to protect Israel, they'll keep pushing forward - until justice is served, and democracy is secured.
by these veterans who are putting everything on the line for Israeli democracy 
. I mean, can you imagine having to choose between your country's future and the idea of a functional democratic state? It's like, if I had to fight for something I believed in that strongly, I'd do whatever it took too 
. Yiftach Golov is like the ultimate leader 
, using his military background to organize the protests and bring attention to this crucial issue. But what really gets me is how personal it all feels - the sense of duty and responsibility he has for Israel's future is inspiring 
. And can we talk about the pressure they're putting on Netanyahu? Like, forcing him to delay votes until after Passover? That's some serious power 
. I'm rooting for these veterans every step of the way 
, even if it means this battle isn't over yet 
. We need more people like them who are willing to stand up for what they believe in 
.
. Like, I get that some people are against the judicial overhaul plan, but veterans from elite forces taking up arms? That's like, a whole different level of commitment 
. It shows how serious they take it, and I don't blame them for fighting for justice & liberty.
. So, I think these veterans have every right to take action and demand change. It's scary that some people are skeptical about the pause though... like, what if Netanyahu just uses it as an excuse to push forward with his plans? 
. Fingers crossed that they can get Israel's state back on track and secure its democracy 
so i'm all for veterans speaking out against the gov't overhaul plan... it's a huge deal for them to use their org skills from military life to mobilize protests and fight for change 
can't just resort to military tactics all the time... some ppl might see it as a legit expression of concern, but others will think it's super aggressive. 
gotta make sure we're not losing sight of that in our fight for justice & equality 
. Let's keep the pressure on until justice is served and democracy is secured for Israel 
. It's personal for Golov, but it's also super inspiring to see these men and women putting their lives on the line for something they believe in 
. We've seen this kind of activism in other countries before, but it's rare to see veterans from elite forces taking on such a high-profile role 
. Whatever happens next, one thing's for sure: these guys won't back down without a fight 
I'm trying to write a post about the Israeli protest movement and the role of veterans in it, but the thread keeps freezing on me... again. 
Every time I try to comment on a thread, I get notified that someone else has replied... only to find out they've been inactive for 10 minutes. It's like, hello, update the system already!
I'm trying to stay engaged with the conversation here, but it feels like every time I try to read a new comment, the page just freezes up on me. Can we please just get some serious tech upgrades around here? 
, using their military skills for good instead of, you know, invading other countries 
. It's like he thinks the protests will magically disappear or something 
is giving me all the feels 
. Let's keep supporting these amazing veterans and show Netanyahu that we won't back down 
I gotta say, this whole thing about veterans protesting against the judicial overhaul plan in Israel is like something out of a movie. I mean, these guys have been around the block, you know? They've fought for their country, and now they're willing to fight again - not with guns, but with signs and chants 
.
.