Israel’s army admitted on Tuesday that its readiness has been harmed by waves of military reservists pledging not to serve in protest against divisive government plans to overhaul the country’s judicial system.
The army’s spokesman told Israeli outlet Channel 12 that forces are “ready for war, but there is limited harm in some areas”.
Reserve duty, which is crucial to Israel’s military because it maintains a relatively small standing force, has become increasingly politicised in recent months as mass protests have swept the country over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to drastically curtail the power of the judiciary.
Elite and technologically advanced branches have been particularly affected, including the air force, special forces and the intelligence and cyber community. Many of these branches tend to be called upon far more frequently than regular reserves due to their specialist training.
Chief spokesman Daniel Hagari referenced the case of pilot trainers in particular, of whom “a significant number are deciding not to come”.
Mr Netanyahu’s government, described as the most right-wing in Israeli history, has been pushing for drastic changes to the legal system since it came into power.
Its members say the judiciary has too much power to influence governments, but critics of the overhaul say it is drastic enough to end democracy in Israel.
Military personnel also fear that they could be asked to carry out illegal orders if the power of courts is curtailed.
Mr Hagari went on to say that his colleagues are in dialogue with personnel considering not serving, and that some are “very emotional about this”.
Meanwhile far-right members of Mr Netanyahu’s coalition continue to criticise senior figures in the security establishment.
The Prime Minister spoke to the head of the Shin Bet domestic security service on Monday after coalition members slammed the agency for warning of a wave of terror attacks by Israelis against Palestinians.
Far-right politician Limor Son Har-Melech, among others, earlier criticised the agency’s head for not knowing “how to define who is the enemy”.
One of her former aides was arrested in connection with the killing of a 19-year-old Palestinian on Friday.
Israel’s army nonetheless stressed on Tuesday that it was ready for conflict, an eventuality that many see as increasingly likely as Lebanese militant organisation Hezbollah continues to escalate on Israel’s northern border.
The Iran-backed group has been suspected by Israel of detonating explosive devices inside the country in recent months, as well as firing an anti-tank missile towards its border and setting up tents in a contested border area.
Tips to keep your car cool
- Place a sun reflector in your windshield when not driving
- Park in shaded or covered areas
- Add tint to windows
- Wrap your car to change the exterior colour
- Pick light interiors - choose colours such as beige and cream for seats and dashboard furniture
- Avoid leather interiors as these absorb more heat
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
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Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
THE DETAILS
Solo: A Star Wars Story
Director: Ron Howard
2/5
