Israel Hayom reports that the Chief of Staff, Major General Herzi Halevi, said in closed conversations that "the current public discourse is dangerous and divides the army".
According to the report, the assessment in the IDF is that if there is no last-minute change and the reform legislation continues, the trend of refusal will accelerate already at the end of this week and at the beginning of next week, when the Knesset convenes to pass the reduction of the reasonability clause in second and third readings. At that time, hundreds more reservists are expected to announce their termination of service, and it is possible that permanent personnel in some corps will also announce their decision to be released or not to extend their contract.
It was also announced that this scenario of an increase in the number of people leaving IDF service could damage the competence of the IDF in general, and the Air Force in particular. This information was relayed verbatim to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Prime Minister Netanyahu. Along with it, an equally serious warning was conveyed: the public discourse that is taking place now - led by prominent public figures and the media - harms the army, harms the cohesion of the various units and may harm the IDF's ability to fight. This is particularly true of the blatant campaign of criticism carried out by the pilots, which includes unprecedented statements that are constantly escalating.
Sources in the IDF warn that the current process may tear it apart from within. The issue of unit and inter-unit cohesion is critical, and is part of the strength and foundation of the army's power. Once this cohesion is broken, and each unit or individual must fend for itself, the IDF will be significantly weakened.
This warning is being included in every conversation held in recent days by the top of the IDF with the political echelon and within the ranks.