The head of Israel's army has sounded the alarm over mass walkouts by military reservists in response to the government's plans to drastically reform the country's judiciary.
Lt Gen Herzi Halevi told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday that the prospect of increased defections in the military could harm the effectiveness of the country's forces.
News of Lt Gen Halevi's warning came after 37 out of 40 reserve pilots in an elite air force squadron said they would boycott a coming training session in opposition to the legal reforms.
The reservists said they would still participate if needed for operational missions.
The Squadron 69 is a vital strategic asset for the country. It operates the US-made F-15 fighter jets that were used by Israel to strike a Syrian nuclear reactor in 2007 and would probably play a key role in a potential conflagration with Iran, Israel's primary enemy.
On Monday, all 10 living former heads of Israel's air force signed an open letter to the Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant saying they were “trembling” about what such walkouts would mean for the country's defence.
“From a deep knowledge of the centrality and uniqueness of the air force to the country's national security, which you also know well, we are trembling at the consequences of these processes and to the grave and concrete danger which this represents to the national security of the state of Israel,” they said.
It is not only members of the air force sounding the alarm at government policy.
Former members of Israel's elite special forces unit Sayeret Matkal, which Mr Netanyahu used to serve in, intensely criticised the Prime Minister on Saturday for “sacrificing the state of Israel and the people of Israel for your own interests”.
Referencing a 1976 hostage raid in which Mr Netanyahu's brother was killed leading soldiers, the former troops said: “We were privileged to be among the handful of fighters to break into Entebbe, under our cool-headed and brave commander Yoni Netanyahu, who consciously and with open eyes sacrificed himself for the state of Israel and the people of Israel.
“It’s sad, but you, Bibi, are consciously and with open eyes sacrificing the state of Israel and the people of Israel for your own interests.”
Reservists in other key fields such as cyber security and combat engineering have also come out with similar condemnations.
Senior figures in Israeli politics are growing increasingly alarmed. On Monday, opposition leader and former prime minister Yair Lapid said in a radio interview that he was against walkouts, but that he understood the concerns of personnel.
“I am against refusal. I don’t think it’s the way. I understand the pain, the sorrow, the dread, and the fury. I think it’s a mistake. We have one army, and it’s forbidden that there is refusal,” he said.
Senior opposition politician Benny Gantz, a former military chief of staff, said on Sunday that he opposed decisions to withdraw service “no matter what”.
The new government continues to push the legal reforms despite mass public protest and international concern, saying the judiciary has too much power, has a bias against right-wing politics and gives legal officials disproportionate power to interfere with decisions made by the people's elected representatives.
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Transmission: eight-speed automatic
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Favourite colour: Brown
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Trivia: Was the voice of three characters in the Emirati animation, Shaabiyat Al Cartoon
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
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Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
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Napoleon
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Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
French business
France has organised a delegation of leading businesses to travel to Syria. The group was led by French shipping giant CMA CGM, which struck a 30-year contract in May with the Syrian government to develop and run Latakia port. Also present were water and waste management company Suez, defence multinational Thales, and Ellipse Group, which is currently looking into rehabilitating Syrian hospitals.
PAKISTAN v SRI LANKA
Twenty20 International series
Thu Oct 26, 1st T20I, Abu Dhabi
Fri Oct 27, 2nd T20I, Abu Dhabi
Sun Oct 29, 3rd T20I, Lahore
Tickets are available at www.q-tickets.com
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Wins by KO: 26
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BMW M5 specs
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Founded: 2013
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Sector: IT
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Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
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The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
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