Veterans from elite Israeli forces are taking up arms against the government, literally and figuratively, in a bid to save the country's democracy. The group, known as "Brother and Sisters in Arms," is comprised of veterans who have seen action in the military and now feel compelled to defend Israel's democratic values.
At the forefront of this movement is Yiftach Golov, a veteran from the special forces reconnaissance unit who has been to war. He joined the protests against the government's judicial overhaul plan in January, despite initially being apolitical, after witnessing firsthand the erosion of democracy in Israel.
Golov and his fellow veterans are determined to fight for justice and liberty, using skills honed during their military service to organize and mobilize. They see themselves as part of a long line of defenders of democracy, drawing inspiration from the American story of revolution and freedom.
The group's tactics have been eye-catching, with some members even threatening not to serve or train if the government continues with its plans. Golov himself has vowed to continue protesting until he knows that Israel will remain a functional democratic country.
As the protests continue, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, it remains to be seen whether Netanyahu's pause on the legislation will hold. Many protesters are skeptical, viewing the delay as a stalling tactic.
The pressure from veterans is being felt across Israeli society, with some elite Air Force reservists threatening not to heed the call to train or serve if the government continues with its plans. The movement has also co-opted other skills and tactics from the military, including the use of coordinated drummers and high-energy protests.
As the standoff between Netanyahu's government and the protesters enters a new phase, one thing is clear: the fate of Israel's democracy hangs in the balance.
At the forefront of this movement is Yiftach Golov, a veteran from the special forces reconnaissance unit who has been to war. He joined the protests against the government's judicial overhaul plan in January, despite initially being apolitical, after witnessing firsthand the erosion of democracy in Israel.
Golov and his fellow veterans are determined to fight for justice and liberty, using skills honed during their military service to organize and mobilize. They see themselves as part of a long line of defenders of democracy, drawing inspiration from the American story of revolution and freedom.
The group's tactics have been eye-catching, with some members even threatening not to serve or train if the government continues with its plans. Golov himself has vowed to continue protesting until he knows that Israel will remain a functional democratic country.
As the protests continue, with hundreds of thousands taking to the streets in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, it remains to be seen whether Netanyahu's pause on the legislation will hold. Many protesters are skeptical, viewing the delay as a stalling tactic.
The pressure from veterans is being felt across Israeli society, with some elite Air Force reservists threatening not to heed the call to train or serve if the government continues with its plans. The movement has also co-opted other skills and tactics from the military, including the use of coordinated drummers and high-energy protests.
As the standoff between Netanyahu's government and the protesters enters a new phase, one thing is clear: the fate of Israel's democracy hangs in the balance.
This whole thing is wild. I mean, you gotta respect these vets for taking a stand like this. They've seen some crazy stuff on the battlefield and now they're using those skills to fight for their country's future. It's not about being patriotic, it's about protecting something that matters - democracy. And yeah, I'm skeptical too, Netanyahu's always been a bit of a dodgy character when it comes to handling power. 
Still, you can't deny the passion and conviction of these veterans. They're putting everything on the line for what they believe in, and that takes guts. Fingers crossed that their efforts pay off and Israel's future looks brighter.
. I mean, it's not like we haven't seen some crazy stuff happen in politics before, but this feels different. It's like these veterans are saying, "Hey, we've seen war and we know how to fight for what we believe in." And they're using those skills to take on the government and push back against what they see as a threat to democracy.
. The thought of Israel's democracy hanging in the balance is unsettling. But at the same time, it's like... maybe this is exactly what they needed – a wake-up call.
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. It serves as a poignant reminder that the protection of democratic rights requires collective effort and sustained activism from diverse groups, including veterans and ordinary citizens.
it's crazy how something as fundamental as a functioning government can become so politicized in a country like Israel where the military is basically an extension of society. what's next? are we gonna see more veterans joining the resistance? 
. It seems like these veterans are trying to take matters into their own hands, which can be both inspiring and unsettling at the same time. I think it's great that they're standing up for democracy and justice, but I also worry that they might get caught up in a toxic situation.
. As someone who's lived through their fair share of ups and downs, I just hope that everyone involved can stay calm, communicate effectively, and find a peaceful resolution to this standoff.
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... it's wild to think that some of these guys have seen real-life combat and now they're taking on their own government 
... what do you guys think is the most surprising part of this movement? Is it how brave they are, or how organized they've become? 
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It's crazy how these protests have taken on a life of their own, with the vets using their military skills to organize and mobilize. And that coordinated drumming thing? 
It sounds like they're drawing inspiration from some serious protest history 
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. and the fact that they're using their military training to organize protests is just genius 
. I'm not even a huge politics person but this is like... something else entirely 
. i mean, can u blame them though? Netanyahu's plans are straight up undemocratic 
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. So, a pause on the legislation might just be what's needed to cool things down... but are we really sure these protesters can sustain this momentum long-term? 
! Using their military skills to organize and mobilize is so clever 
. And I love how they're drawing inspiration from the American story of revolution and freedom - that's some powerful stuff 
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, I mean who wouldn't want to stand up for what's right after seeing the impact of bad governance firsthand? 
if these protests don't lead to some major changes in the government. Yiftach Golov and his crew are super brave for speaking out, but what happens when things get really intense? 
. And it's not just about the protests, it's the fact that they're using their military skills to organize and mobilize. It's like they're creating their own shadow army 
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and are not afraid to speak truth to power. The fact that they're using their military skills to organize protests and mobilize others is just genius 