Recordings revealing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fury at the refusal to report to duty of a group of air force pilots were revealed this evening (Wednesday) by Channel 13 News.
Four air force reservists refused to report for training yesterday (Tuesday) in protest against the advancement of a judicial reform bill.
In the recordings, Netanyahu can be heard raising his voice, banging on the table, and warning that the pilots' refusal will damage the IDF's capacity and Israel's deterrence capacity.
"There is and will be no room for refusal, neither on this side nor on the other side. I can't imagine anything more serious, of the organizing of such a mass violation of the service law or if you will, of refusal. It is unfathomable. It is simply impossible to grasp it," Netanyahu said in a conversation with legal advisers and the state attorney.
He added, "This is a case that harms the body of the state, the security of the state, and it's not just the shutdown of capabilities, it's also what it does to our deterrent power. What it does, I won't bring intelligence reports here, if you want [to hear] behind closed doors I'll show you what it does, it's not a small matter."
The leaders of "Kaplan Force," one of the groups protesting the judicial reforms, responded: "Netanyahu reveals that he understands very well that the passing of the dictatorial legislation constitutes a fatal injury to the security of the state. If he has an iota of responsibility towards the State of Israel left in him, he must stop the incitement and immediately announce the repeal of the legislation."