Haaretz: The IDF is purging Netanyahu’s opponents
Haaretz newspaper reported in its editorial that the Israeli government has begun a purge of opponents of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu from the army.
The Israeli newspaper explained that Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has begun to purge the army of critics, citing as evidence the cancellation of a call-up to reserve duty sent to Eyal Naveh, one of the founders of the “Brothers and Sisters in Arms” movement, as well as one of the people most closely associated with the anti-government protests.
Haaretz says that Netanyahu’s allies have begun targeting members of “Brothers and Sisters in Arms,” who led a policy of refusing to volunteer for reserve service because of the government’s attempt to make changes to the judicial system.
Haaretz pointed out that the political purge in the army, the continuing judicial changes, and the prosecution of the Attorney General, are matters that “together constitute a clear and present danger to democracy”.
The Israeli newspaper reported that Netanyahu and his close associates are targeting leftists and protest supporters as traitors and expelling them from the Israeli army.
Dozens of reservists were also suspended after signing a petition saying they would stop doing reserve duty if the government didn’t secure a deal to return prisoners held in Gaza.
Haaretz said that it’s not clear whether the defense minister has the actual authority to cancel a call-up order for a reserve soldier, but he certainly has the authority to issue draft orders to tens of thousands of draft-dodgers among the ultra-Orthodox.
However, he would rather go after those who serve in the army and don’t support Netanyahu politically than draft the dodgers (the Haredim), thereby endangering the ruling coalition.
