Thousands of Israeli military veterans, many with elite force backgrounds, have taken to the streets in large numbers, determined to stop what they see as an assault on their democracy. Led by organizations such as "Brother and Sisters in Arms", these former soldiers are fighting for justice and liberty, just like American patriots.
At the forefront of this movement is Yiftach Golov, a veteran from elite forces who served during the second intifada in the early 2000s. Golov says he has not taken the drastic step to refuse service, but understands those who have – including some elite Air Force reservists who are threatening not to train or even serve if the government's plans for judicial changes go ahead.
The military veterans believe they have a responsibility to defend Israel and its democracy, which they feel is under threat from the proposed legislation. They're using skills learned in the military – how to organize, how to mobilize – now for the protests. But more importantly, they say they have the same type of motivation: a deep feeling that they are part of something bigger than themselves.
Golov describes this feeling as "the very deep feeling that you are part of something bigger than yourself... You're allowed to sacrifice anything that is needed, whether it's your career, health, seriously mental health." He says he and his fellow veterans will continue to fight for justice and liberty, no matter the cost.
The pressure from these veteran groups has been seen as a key factor in moving the Israeli government to delay the legislation. But many protesters are skeptical that the pause is real or see it as just another stalling tactic by Netanyahu.
As the protests continue, with estimated 150,000 people taking to the streets on Saturday – and organizers claiming it was 230,000 – one thing is clear: these military veterans will not back down. They're willing to sacrifice anything needed to defend their democracy and ensure that Israel remains a functional, democratic country.
At the forefront of this movement is Yiftach Golov, a veteran from elite forces who served during the second intifada in the early 2000s. Golov says he has not taken the drastic step to refuse service, but understands those who have – including some elite Air Force reservists who are threatening not to train or even serve if the government's plans for judicial changes go ahead.
The military veterans believe they have a responsibility to defend Israel and its democracy, which they feel is under threat from the proposed legislation. They're using skills learned in the military – how to organize, how to mobilize – now for the protests. But more importantly, they say they have the same type of motivation: a deep feeling that they are part of something bigger than themselves.
Golov describes this feeling as "the very deep feeling that you are part of something bigger than yourself... You're allowed to sacrifice anything that is needed, whether it's your career, health, seriously mental health." He says he and his fellow veterans will continue to fight for justice and liberty, no matter the cost.
The pressure from these veteran groups has been seen as a key factor in moving the Israeli government to delay the legislation. But many protesters are skeptical that the pause is real or see it as just another stalling tactic by Netanyahu.
As the protests continue, with estimated 150,000 people taking to the streets on Saturday – and organizers claiming it was 230,000 – one thing is clear: these military veterans will not back down. They're willing to sacrifice anything needed to defend their democracy and ensure that Israel remains a functional, democratic country.
We drove across the country in our trusty old van, playing nothing but indie music on repeat and laughing until our sides hurt 
. It was literally the best week of my life. And you know what's even crazier? I had a weird dream about Israel last night 
I'm pretty sure it was just a coincidence, but still... has anyone tried that new falafel place downtown? 
it's amazing to see how they're using their skills from the military to fight for justice and liberty - I mean, who needs training when you've got passion on your side? 
What really gets me is how Golov describes that feeling of being part of something bigger than himself... it's like, we all need a sense of purpose, you know? 
what I do hope is that they find a way to balance their concerns with finding a solution that works for everyone. And I gotta respect these vets for being willing to put everything on the line for what they believe in 
. And it's crazy how passionate they are about defending Israel's democracy - they're willing to risk everything for a cause they care about 
. The fact that some elite Air Force reservists are refusing to train or serve if their demands aren't met is just incredible 
I think it's awesome that these Israeli military veterans are taking a stand for what they believe in. It's amazing how their military skills are being used to organize and mobilize the protests. I can totally see why they'd feel like they're part of something bigger than themselves - fighting for justice and liberty is a huge responsibility, but also an incredible honor 
.
! These people have seen some heavy stuff in their careers but they're still willing to put it all on the line for what they believe in 
. And Yiftach Golov sounds like a total patriot wannabe 
, always talking about sacrificing for the greater good... meanwhile Netanyahu's still trying to push his own agenda through 
. Can't we just have a civil conversation about this instead of resorting to mass protests? And what exactly are these veterans fighting against? Just some judicial changes? 
