In a move highlighting the ongoing tensions within Israel's military establishment, the IDF has become embroiled in a controversy over its handling of military protest leaders. The incident involves the prestigious Sayeret Matkal, an elite special forces unit equivalent to Britain's SAS or America's Delta Force.
The Controversy
The IDF recently suspended Ron Sharaf, a lieutenant colonel in the reserves, from his position overseeing candidate selection for Sayeret Matkal. The reason behind this was that Sharaf led protest activities against the government.
However, in what critics are calling an embarrassing oversight, the military then appointed his close associate and fellow protest leader, Eyal Naveh, from the very controversial 'Brothers in Arms movement, to the same position.
Both men encouraged refusal of reserve duty even within Sayeret Matkal itself, as shown in video footage. Last year, they led press conferences and petitions for those refusing reserve duty. Sharaf would call out names of units refusing service, while Naveh encouraged applause for each unit named.
Sharaf had declared he wouldn't report for duty even in case of war with Hezbollah. Naveh stated: "If dictatorial laws pass, we won't come to reserves anymore. I'll tell those volunteers they're in a civil war over the fate of the country. Against a minister who has declared war on us, these tools are legitimate and proper. We stand behind them. Today we represent about 10,000 reserve soldiers telling the Israeli government, the Prime Minister, and Defense Minister: The responsibility for destroying the Third Temple will be on you. You've left us no choice - you've brought us to say 'enough.'"
"If you want us with you and by your side - as we've served under governments from right and left, in air, sea, land, armor, artillery, cyber, and secret missions in foreign countries, fighting shoulder to shoulder for the security and integrity of Jewish and democratic Israel - we call on you to stop the legislation that's turning Israel into a dictatorship," Segal quoted.
Understanding "Brothers in Arms"
"Brothers in Arms" (Achim L'Neshek in Hebrew) emerged as a significant protest movement during Israel's 2023 judicial crisis. The group consists of reserve military officers and soldiers who opposed the government's proposed judicial reforms, which they viewed as a threat to Israeli democracy.
What makes this group particularly significant is its membership: these aren't ordinary protesters but highly trained military personnel, many from Israel's most elite units. Their protest actions - including threatening to refuse reserve duty - sent shockwaves through Israeli society, where military service is both mandatory and deeply respected.
Why It Matters
The controversy touches on several sensitive issues in Israeli society:
1. Military service is fundamental to Israeli society, with most citizens serving compulsorily and then remaining in the reserves
2. Elite units like Sayeret Matkal hold near-mythical status in Israeli culture
3. The question of whether soldiers can refuse service for political reasons remains highly controversial
The Broader Context
This incident occurred against the backdrop of unprecedented protests that swept Israel in 2023, when hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets opposing government plans to reform the judiciary. Military reservists, led by groups like Brothers in Arms, played a pivotal role in these protests.
IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi had previously labeled calls for refusing military service as "a severe threat to national security." This makes the current situation particularly awkward: the military has essentially replaced one protest leader with another in a highly sensitive position.
Public Reaction
The revelation, first reported by prominent Israeli journalist Amit Segal, has sparked criticism from both sides of Israel's political divide. Critics say it demonstrates either incompetence or a lack of serious commitment to addressing political activism within military ranks. Supporters of the protest movement view it as vindication of their widespread support within the military's most elite units.
The IDF has declined to comment on the situation.
