Israeli military veterans, a backbone of protest movement, vow to keep demonstrating | CNN

Israeli military veterans are increasingly becoming the backbone of a protest movement against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul plan, vowing to continue demonstrating until their demands are met.

Yiftach Golov, a veteran from elite forces who has joined the cause, holds a brown flag representing the group "Brother and Sisters in Arms," which is made up of hundreds of thousands of protesters. The group includes many veterans and military reservists who feel it's their responsibility to defend Israeli democracy.

Golov and other members of the group have skills honed during their military service, including organization and mobilization. They say they're motivated by a deep sense of duty and willingness to sacrifice anything for the cause. Golov notes that the protest movement is about fighting for justice and liberty, values that he believes are lacking in Israel.

The pressure from these veterans has been instrumental in moving the Israeli government's plans forward. However, despite the announcement of a pause, many protesters remain skeptical, believing it's just a stalling tactic to allow Netanyahu some breathing room before proceeding with the reforms.

Netanyahu has consistently dismissed the concerns of reservists refusing to train or serve due to objections over the planned changes. He has stated that "refusing" is the end of the country, while Golov and his fellow protesters argue that they will continue their actions until a functional democratic state is guaranteed.

The protest movement in Israel continues to draw large crowds, with estimates ranging from 100,000 to 230,000 people on the streets. It remains to be seen whether Netanyahu's pause will hold or if the protesters' demands will ultimately prevail.

I'm kinda worried about this whole thing... I mean, these vets are super passionate and their skills are definitely being used for good, but also it's pretty scary that they're taking a stand like this . On one hand, I get why they'd feel so strongly - the judicial overhaul plan does sound shady. And honestly, who doesn't want to defend democracy? But at the same time, Netanyahu's response is kinda concerning... dismissing reservists' concerns like that just seems dismissive . I wish more people could have open and honest conversations about this stuff instead of resorting to name-calling or stalling tactics .

the way this is unfolding is kinda intense... i mean these veterans are putting their skills to good use, but it's also super concerning that netanyahu is basically telling them to either train or face some sort of penalty . like, what even is the point of having a protest movement if people are just gonna get forced into doing something against their will? meanwhile, it's hard not to feel for these protesters who are literally risking everything for this cause... and 100k to 230k people on the streets is no joke

I'm all about these brave vets taking a stand for democracy! They're not just protesting, they're fighting for a better future . Their military skills are being used to organize and mobilize, it's wild . I think Netanyahu's trying to spin this as him getting some breathing room, but honestly, he needs to listen to the people . These protesters aren't just demanding change, they're insisting on a functional democracy . We should all be supporting them, not questioning their resolve . The fact that hundreds of thousands are taking to the streets is huge . Fingers crossed that Netanyahu's pause doesn't mean business as usual .

So I was watching this news and I'm literally speechless about these Israeli military veterans who are taking a stand against their own government's plans... Like, they're putting everything on the line for what they believe in - justice and liberty. And it's crazy because on one hand, you've got Netanyahu saying that refusing to train or serve is basically the end of the country, but on the other hand, these veterans are like "nope, we won't back down until our democracy is protected".

I'm worried that if Netanyahu just pauses the plans, it's gonna give him some space to breathe and come up with even more changes that might hurt the people. I mean, have you seen the size of these protests? Like 100,000 to 230,000 people taking to the streets is no joke... The momentum is on the protesters' side right now. Fingers crossed they can keep it up and make their voices heard!

I'm getting those old vibes of the anti-war protests in '07... remember those guys holding signs saying "Stop the war"? I feel like we're back at that place, but this time it's about protecting democracy . These Israeli vets are seriously dedicated to their cause and it's inspiring to see. I mean, they've got skills for days, having been part of elite forces and all... And Yiftach Golov is like the ultimate symbol of resistance - so passionate about fighting for justice and liberty, just like Martin Luther King Jr did back in the day .

But you know what's worrying me? This pause thing... feels like a classic government delaying tactic to me . Netanyahu's been playing it cool on social media, but I think the protesters are onto him. They've got numbers on their side and they're not backing down . Fingers crossed that this pause doesn't just mean more time for Netanyahu to chill... we need those vets to keep pushing hard for a functional democratic state .

I'm low-key impressed by these military vets taking a stand for democracy . I mean, they're not just protesting, they're putting their skills to use organizing and mobilizing people - that's some serious commitment . It's crazy how Netanyahu is dismissing their concerns, like refusing to serve is no big deal . Newsflash, Bibi: it's a huge deal for the people who care about democracy! I'm all for peaceful protests, but when you've got vets on the frontline, you know the stakes are high . The fact that they're not backing down is giving me hope . Can't wait to see how this plays out

I'm so done with the Israeli government's judicial overhaul plan . These military veterans are literally putting their lives on the line for this cause and I feel like it's being completely disrespected by Netanyahu's response . Like, refusing to train or serve is NOT the end of the country, dude! It's about standing up for what's right and not wanting to be part of a system that's being undermined. The fact that they're using their military skills to organize and mobilize protests shows how dedicated they are - I've got nothing but respect for them .

But at the same time, it's also kinda concerning that Netanyahu is just ignoring all these concerns and trying to stall... like, what's he even afraid of? The protesters' numbers are huge, and if they don't get their demands met, it could lead to real unrest . I'm not sure who's gonna come out on top here, but one thing's for sure: this is a major wake-up call for Israel's democracy .

the way vets are taking a stand for what they believe in is super inspiring it's crazy how their military skills are being used for something other than serving the government, you know?

i think its really interesting that many of these protesters have been through similar experiences as Netanyahu and his family, which might add some extra weight to their argument. like, how can they trust someone who is basically from the same world they came out of?

anyway, i'm keeping an eye on this situation... it's too close to home for me

I think its interesting how these military veterans have taken it upon themselves to lead a movement against the Israeli government's judicial overhaul plan . Their background in organization and mobilization is definitely giving them an edge in terms of strategy . What's striking, however, is their sense of duty and willingness to sacrifice for what they believe in – that's something we can all get behind!

What I'm a bit skeptical about, though, is the Israeli government's intentions with this pause . Are they truly committed to addressing the protesters' concerns or are they just trying to buy time? It's not like Netanyahu has been exactly known for his transparency in the past .

One thing that's clear, though, is that these protests aren't going away anytime soon . The energy and determination among the protesters are palpable . We'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out in the end .

man this is getting intense https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024...est-judicial-overhaul-plan-2141000111135.html ~300k people out on the streets and it's still not clear if anything will change Netanyahu's gonna have to do some serious backpedaling if he wants to win these guys over

I'm totally down with this plan to overhaul the Israeli judicial system . I mean, who needs checks and balances when you've got a bunch of military veterans taking charge? It's about time someone with some real experience stepped in to "defend" democracy. Netanyahu's right, refusing to train or serve is basically treason - if you don't like the rules, get out!

These protesters think they're fighting for justice and liberty, but I'm more of a "live by the rules" kinda guy . And let's be real, 100k-230k people on the streets sounds like a whole lotta noise, but it's not gonna change anything unless there's some real blood on the table .

I mean, what's next? Are we gonna start drafting kids into military service just to teach them a lesson about following orders? It's a slippery slope, folks . Give Netanyahu a break and let him get this done already!