After the Israel Defense Forces Airforce petition, which was signed by a number of officers who refused to show up for military drills as a protest against the judicial reform, a new petition against the refusals, by the graduates of the elite 'Duvdevan' unit, was released Thursday night, which is signed by nearly 300 combat soldiers. The signatories also attached a letter to Defense Minister Yoav Galant and Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, in which they clarify that the refusal is not acceptable to them.
"We are the graduates of the Duvdevan unit of different generations, a human mosaic of an entire country in one unit, we have served in a variety of positions and still serve the State of Israel in all that is required of us," the soldiers wrote. "When we put on the uniform as members of the spearhead unit against hostile activity and fighting terrorism, we saw before our eyes only professional considerations and the needs of the army, free from any political voices. One thing that united us was the military service in the very special and unique unit Duvdevan."
About 250 soldiers from Israel’s elite Duvdevan unit have written to the Defense Minister and Chief of Staff: “We will continue to come and serve the country, regardless of political events. We will show up for any mission without any conditions or demands.” pic.twitter.com/BIdNWggnq6
— Josh Feldman (@joshrfeldman) March 10, 2023
The soldiers also mentioned their comrades in arms who fell in the missions and remembered them as well: "Over the years we have paid a heavy price through the loss of our comrades in arms but this has not stopped us from continuing to serve the State of Israel."
The soldiers then conclude and clarify: "We say today in a clear voice that is not implied in two faces, we will stand up for any task required of us by the state and the IDF without any conditions or demands of one kind or another. The natural right of the Jewish people to be as a people and a people standing on its own authority in its own sovereign country, we here are the messengers without reservations!" The joint statement comes just days after some soldiers from the highly elite 669 unit as well as Devdevan penned a letter against the reforms.
Elite soldiers from 669, Duvdevan units pen letters opposing judicial overhaul. Reservists of search and rescue unit warn they might not show up for duty if far-reaching legislation is passed, joining members of many other units who have warned against shakeup [TOI] #Israel pic.twitter.com/ztVG1sqhbh
— Eli Dror (@edrormba) March 2, 2023
Earlier this week Colonel Gilad Peled, a high-ranking Air Force officer who was part of the refusing group of pilots, met with the commander of the Air Force and with the chief of staff Herzi Halevi and was asked to lower the height of the refusals' flames. However, according to sources privy to the details, Gilad refused and continued with the clear line that refusal is a tool to stop judicial reform. Based on his clear statements, he received a message that he will not be drafted into reserve service and thus, practically, ended his career in the Air Force where he was assigned to senior positions.
