Israeli veterans are among the driving forces behind the recent wave of protests in Israel, determined to defend the country's democracy and save it from what they see as an authoritarian government.
Meet Yiftach Golov, a veteran who served in elite special forces during the second intifada. He never thought he'd be using his combat skills for anything other than protecting his fellow soldiers – but now he's leading protests against the government's judicial overhaul plan, which he believes threatens Israel's democracy.
Golov and thousands of other veterans have joined the protest movement, many of whom were reservists who refused to train due to opposition to the government's plans. They're using their military skills to organize and mobilize others in a show of unity against the government.
These veterans aren't just fighting for justice; they see themselves as part of something bigger than themselves – a mission to protect Israel's values and way of life. For them, refusing service or training is a matter of principle, not just a personal choice.
The pressure from Israeli veterans has been significant, and it may have contributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to pause the legislation. However, many protesters don't trust that this delay will lead to meaningful change – they see it as a stalling tactic to give Netanyahu time to gather his forces before pushing on with the reforms.
For Golov and others like him, it's not just about winning or losing; it's about defending what they believe in. They're willing to put everything on hold to fight for a cause they think is worth dying for – the preservation of Israel's democracy.
As Golov puts it, "We will start deactivating only when we know 100% that Israel will stay a functional democratic country." This is their battle cry, and they won't back down until they've achieved what they see as their mission: saving Israel from itself.
Meet Yiftach Golov, a veteran who served in elite special forces during the second intifada. He never thought he'd be using his combat skills for anything other than protecting his fellow soldiers – but now he's leading protests against the government's judicial overhaul plan, which he believes threatens Israel's democracy.
Golov and thousands of other veterans have joined the protest movement, many of whom were reservists who refused to train due to opposition to the government's plans. They're using their military skills to organize and mobilize others in a show of unity against the government.
These veterans aren't just fighting for justice; they see themselves as part of something bigger than themselves – a mission to protect Israel's values and way of life. For them, refusing service or training is a matter of principle, not just a personal choice.
The pressure from Israeli veterans has been significant, and it may have contributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's decision to pause the legislation. However, many protesters don't trust that this delay will lead to meaningful change – they see it as a stalling tactic to give Netanyahu time to gather his forces before pushing on with the reforms.
For Golov and others like him, it's not just about winning or losing; it's about defending what they believe in. They're willing to put everything on hold to fight for a cause they think is worth dying for – the preservation of Israel's democracy.
As Golov puts it, "We will start deactivating only when we know 100% that Israel will stay a functional democratic country." This is their battle cry, and they won't back down until they've achieved what they see as their mission: saving Israel from itself.
they're literally putting everything on the line 4 what they believe in! i mean, refusin trainin & organisatin protests using their military skills is some next level stuff 
it's not just about them, tho - it's about protectin the country's values & way of life 
u gotta wonder wut'll happen if they keep pushin & Netanyahu gets his way 
anyway, i'm all for free speech & protest rights... let's hope these vets can make a difference! 
I think it's really cool to see these veterans stepping up to defend democracy in Israel 
. Whatever happens next, I hope these veterans stay united and keep fighting for what they believe in 
. Maybe this pause is exactly what he needed – some breathing room to figure out a way forward that doesn't involve undermining democracy. Still, it's clear that these protests have given the Israeli people a voice and a chance to push back against a government that's making them uncomfortable 
. Only time will tell if this means anything more than just a tactical delay... 
These vets are total heroes 
! Not just fighting for justice, but for the future of Israel too 
. Netanyahu might be thinking he's got a trick up his sleeve 
, but these guys won't back down 
. Their principle is stronger than any protest 
. Can you imagine being able to walk away from your own country if you disagreed with the government? 
It sounds like a pretty standard PR move to me. Plus, what exactly do these veterans think they're fighting for? Is it really just about preserving democracy, or is there more to it than that? 
I need to see some credible sources on this before I buy into it. And what's with the '100% guarantee' thing? 
. I mean, if they're using their combat skills to organize & mobilize others, that's some serious dedication 
.
. And I love how Yiftach Golov puts it: "We will start deactivating only when we know 100% that Israel will stay a functional democratic country." That's some serious commitment 
. Let's keep our fingers crossed that their efforts lead to meaningful change 
.
... wait, what was I saying? Oh yeah! They think Netanyahu is just stalling for time though 
. That's weird... does that mean the protests aren't gonna stop until Israel becomes a completely different country or something? 
! i mean who wouldn't want to use their combat skills for good instead of evil? it's like he took a page out of batman's playbook, minus the cape and cowl 
. but seriously though, i'm all about supporting our Israeli veterans in their fight for democracy – they're literally fighting for what's right (and that's always a win in my book) 
.
! I mean, who knew taking on an authoritarian gov't would be their next op? Golov's got skills, no doubt about it – he went to special forces training and now he's leading protests against the gov't. Talk about a mid-life crisis... or is this just the ultimate way to serve your country again? 
.
Let me know what you think! 
.
and it's crazy to think these Israeli vets are taking a stand like this... I mean I get why they'd be upset about the government's plans, but refusing training or service just because? that's some next-level commitment 
.
. I mean, can you imagine being part of an elite special forces unit and then having your skills turned into a protest movement? It's like they're saying "peace out" to their military careers 
. I'm just waiting for someone to tell us that this is all part of some grand plan to save Israel from itself... like it's going to magically fix everything