Reservists from the elite Sayeret Matkal commando unit on Friday informed their commander that they intend to stop volunteering for reserve duty, as early as next week, in protest against the legislation of the government’s judicial reform, Channel 12 News reported.
The reservists also presented a letter that has already been signed by 170 soldiers in active reserve service, and said that they intend to reach 250 signatures.
The reservists made clear that they are aware of the harm they may cause by refusing to serve.
"In the current order of the day, we have no other course of action left in our attempt to stop the destruction that the planned laws will inflict on all of us," they said, according to Channel 12 News.
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi earlier this week commented on the issue of refusal to serve, after IDF reserve officers were rumored to have threatened to leave the army if judicial reforms are approved in the Knesset.
"These days require us to focus on the security mission and the cohesion that supports it so that we are ready for any challenge that presents itself," he said. "In the current reality, no one has the privilege not to show up for every challenge and mission."
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, meanwhile, called for politics to be kept out of the IDF.
"The calls that are being heard these days to encourage refusals and to end the service of reservists threaten the unity of the ranks, are dangerous, and are a prize for our enemies," Gallant said.
"I call on public figures from the right and the left, leave politics out of the army. Refusals harm the IDF. Refusals harm the security system. Refusals harm Israel's security. The IDF is the protective tool that gives life to the State of Israel.
"We must all condemn refusals or calls for refusals and remember well - we all have one destiny, we are all brothers, the IDF is the army of all of us - Israel's defense army. We have no other army to lean on. We have to take care to keep it cohesive and leave it out of any controversy," Gallant concluded.
(Israel National News' North American desk is keeping you updated until the start of Shabbat in New York. The time posted automatically on all Israel National News articles, however, is Israeli time.)