Veterans of the Israeli military, many of whom have seen combat in elite forces, are leading the charge against the country's government over its judicial overhaul plan. For them, it's a fight not just for their own rights but for the very fabric of democracy itself.
Among them is Yiftach Golov, a veteran who served in a special forces reconnaissance unit during the second intifada. He was never before particularly political, focusing instead on getting his PhD in biophysics from Tel Aviv University. But when the protest movement against the government's judicial overhaul plan began in January, Golov attended one demonstration and soon became part of the thousands of veterans and military reservists who have taken up the cause as their new mission.
"We believe this is our responsibility to go once again called to the flag of the nation to stop this madness to defend Israel," Golov said, his voice laced with conviction. "We're fighting for justice and liberty, just like the American story... that's something that was lacking in our country for the last few decades. So basically, we reclaim the flag."
The pressure from these veteran groups has been seen as a key factor in moving the needle on the issue. Last Monday, after weeks of sustained protests and the largest general strike in Israeli history, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause to the legislation, saying he would delay votes on the remaining legislation until after the Knesset's Passover recess in April.
But despite the announcements, protesters are still out in the streets in large numbers. CNN affiliate Channel 12 in Israel estimated the size of Saturday's demonstration in Tel Aviv at about 150,000 people. Organizers claimed it was 230,000.
Some veterans have taken a more drastic step, threatening not to heed the call to train or even serve in protest of the government's plans. Others have become active organizers and demonstrators, using skills they learned in the military to mobilize support for their cause.
"We're fighting for the security of Israel," said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last week. "Pressing ahead with these proposals could threaten Israel's very existence." But many protesters don't believe that the pause is real, or say it's simply a stalling tactic to give Netanyahu some breathing room and get the protesters to go home before he plows on with the reforms.
For Golov and others like him, the fight is not just about politics - it's about the kind of country they want to live in. "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country," Golov said. Whatever needs to be done for that.
The Israeli military veterans' protest has become a powerful symbol of resistance against what many see as an attack on the country's democracy. It remains to be seen how this movement will unfold, but one thing is clear: these are not ordinary protesters - they're men and women who have served their country in battle, and now they're fighting for its very future.
Among them is Yiftach Golov, a veteran who served in a special forces reconnaissance unit during the second intifada. He was never before particularly political, focusing instead on getting his PhD in biophysics from Tel Aviv University. But when the protest movement against the government's judicial overhaul plan began in January, Golov attended one demonstration and soon became part of the thousands of veterans and military reservists who have taken up the cause as their new mission.
"We believe this is our responsibility to go once again called to the flag of the nation to stop this madness to defend Israel," Golov said, his voice laced with conviction. "We're fighting for justice and liberty, just like the American story... that's something that was lacking in our country for the last few decades. So basically, we reclaim the flag."
The pressure from these veteran groups has been seen as a key factor in moving the needle on the issue. Last Monday, after weeks of sustained protests and the largest general strike in Israeli history, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause to the legislation, saying he would delay votes on the remaining legislation until after the Knesset's Passover recess in April.
But despite the announcements, protesters are still out in the streets in large numbers. CNN affiliate Channel 12 in Israel estimated the size of Saturday's demonstration in Tel Aviv at about 150,000 people. Organizers claimed it was 230,000.
Some veterans have taken a more drastic step, threatening not to heed the call to train or even serve in protest of the government's plans. Others have become active organizers and demonstrators, using skills they learned in the military to mobilize support for their cause.
"We're fighting for the security of Israel," said Defense Minister Yoav Gallant last week. "Pressing ahead with these proposals could threaten Israel's very existence." But many protesters don't believe that the pause is real, or say it's simply a stalling tactic to give Netanyahu some breathing room and get the protesters to go home before he plows on with the reforms.
For Golov and others like him, the fight is not just about politics - it's about the kind of country they want to live in. "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country," Golov said. Whatever needs to be done for that.
The Israeli military veterans' protest has become a powerful symbol of resistance against what many see as an attack on the country's democracy. It remains to be seen how this movement will unfold, but one thing is clear: these are not ordinary protesters - they're men and women who have served their country in battle, and now they're fighting for its very future.
, can't we all just get along? i mean, i'm no fan of netanyahu or whatever, but this whole thing is getting outta hand 
like what even is the end goal here? some people say it's about democracy, others say it's about security... meanwhile, Golov and his crew are over here fighting for their own rights 
. newsflash: being a veteran doesn't automatically make you a hero or an expert in gov policy 
. btw, 150k vs 230k protesters? who's counting, right? 
This protest by Israeli veterans feels super inspiring 
. I mean, can you imagine being called upon to serve your country again after all the sacrifices they made? It's a huge statement of intention that something is seriously wrong with the government's plans 
. The fact that many have used their military training to organize and mobilize support for this cause is mind-blowing 
. It shows just how serious they are about defending democracy and fighting for what they believe in 
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️. The pause in the legislation is definitely a step in the right direction, but I'm still keeping an eye on how this unfolds 
. One thing's for sure, though - these veterans are not going to back down without a fight 
I'm not buying it that all these veterans are just being altruistic about the whole thing... seems like some serious career advancement opportunities for them coming out of this. Like, what's in it for them? Some free pass to serve with a clear conscience? Please. 
. These guys have seen the worst of war and are now fighting for their country to be a functional democracy, and I am here for that 
. And let's not forget the size of these protests – 150,000+ people taking to the streets in Tel Aviv alone? That's huge! 
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. We should all be supporting them in this fight, even if we don't agree with their views 
... I'm curious to see how this movement plays out 
. If they believe that, then what do they have to hide? It feels like Netanyahu is trying to stall and avoid accountability 
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. It's not just about the gov's plans, it's about the kind of country we want to live in - and I'm all for democracy 
. Can't wait to see how this movement unfolds 
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. That's my money. These veterans are just pawns in a much larger game, and we need to keep our eyes open 
. This isn't about democracy; it's about power and control. Mark my words.
. It's not just about them, though - it's about us too... we need to be grateful for their service and willing to listen to their concerns, especially when they're fighting for something bigger than themselves 
. The fact that these veterans are leading the charge against him is just another way of saying that he's losing control. It's like they're trying to put the brakes on his agenda before it's too late.
IT GIVES ME HOPE FOR ISRAEL'S FUTURE THAT PEOPLE LIKE YIFTACH GOLOV ARE WILLING TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST GOVERNMENT POLICY THAT THREATENS THE COUNTRY THEY LOVE. IT SHOWS THAT EVEN THOSE WHO HAVE SERVED THEIR COUNTRY IN COMBAT KNOW HOW IMPORTANT DEMOCRACY AND JUSTICE ARE!!! I ALSO THINK ITS PRETTY COOL THAT THESE VETERANS ARE USING THEIR MILITARY SKILLS TO ORGANIZE AND Mobilize PROTESTS - SOMETIMES YOU SEE PEOPLE TRYING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FROM BEHIND THE SCENES, BUT THESE GUYS ARE RIGHT OUT IN THE FRONT LINES FIGHTING FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN!!!
while others are usin their military skills to organize and mobilize support for the cause 
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. But what we can do is listen to the perspectives of those on the ground, like Yiftach Golov 
. One thing is certain: the Israeli military veterans' protest has become a powerful symbol of resistance, and their voices will be heard 
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. These veterans are not messing around, and they're not going to let Netanyahu push through this plan without a fight 
. It's like we're living in an action movie or something