Space Travel News
DEMOCRACY
Israel military reservists threaten over judicial revamp
Israel military reservists threaten over judicial revamp
by AFP Staff Writers
Jerusalem (AFP) July 22, 2023

More than 1,100 Israeli air force reservists -- including fighter pilots -- threatened to suspend volunteer service as protests intensified Saturday ahead of final votes on a bill that aims to overhaul Israel's judiciary.

The judicial revamp has split the nation and sparked one of the biggest protest movements in Israel's history, with weekly demonstrations often drawing tens of thousands.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hard-right government unveiled in January the plans to limit the judiciary's powers, which the protesters view as a threat to democracy.

On Friday at least 1,142 air force reservists declared their intention to suspend volunteer service if parliament passes the bill next week.

"We all share a responsibility to stop the deep division, polarisation and rift among the people," the reservists said in a declaration whose signatories included 235 fighter pilots, 173 drone operators, and 85 commando soldiers.

They called on the government to "arrive at a broad consensus, strengthen the trust of all parts of the people in the judicial system and maintain its independence."

Any legislation carried out in an "unreasonable manner would erode my agreement to keep risking my life and would force me, with great sorrow, to suspend my voluntary reserve service," the signatories said.

- 'Keep fighting' -

Most Israelis who complete their mandatory military service are expected to attend reserve duty every year for a specific period.

It is unclear how the country's military capabilities would be affected if reservists followed through on their threat, but it comes against a backdrop of worsening Israeli-Palestinian violence.

Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said he was "taking measures in order to reach a wide consensus".

Netanyahu, too, said late Thursday he was "still trying to reach an agreement with the opposition", mainly on the "reasonability" clause that allows the judiciary to strike down government decisions.

The bill is due for second and third readings in parliament on Monday.

If approved, it would be the first major component of the proposed legal overhaul to become law.

Other proposals include giving the government a greater say in the appointment of judges.

Thousands of protesters, including Guy Maidan, have been marching since Wednesday from the commercial hub of Tel Aviv to the seat of Parliament in Jerusalem, where they were to arrive for a demonstration later Saturday.

"We will keep fighting... unless this extreme government goes away," Maidan told AFP.

Young and old, he said, are keen on "saving Israel from going down towards not being a liberal democracy."

Netanyahu's government, which includes extreme-right and ultra-Orthodox Jewish allies, argues that the changes to the judicial system are necessary to ensure a better balance of power.

Critics accuse Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges he denies, of trying to use the reforms to quash possible judgements against him.

He rejects the accusation.

Related Links
Democracy in the 21st century at TerraDaily.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
DEMOCRACY
Hong Kong questions families of wanted activists: police source
Hong Kong, China (AFP) July 20, 2023
Hong Kong national security police on Thursday detained four people, including the brother of prominent activist Dennis Kwok, one of eight fugitives with bounties on their heads for allegedly breaching national security. The city's national security department "took in two men and two women from various districts in Hong Kong and Kowloon for investigation," a police source told AFP. Among the four was the elder brother of former democracy lawmaker Dennis Kwok, who is currently in the United St ... read more

DEMOCRACY
DEMOCRACY
Senate expresses 'significant concerns' over NASA's Mars sample-retrieval plan

The clays of Mawrth Vallis

Ancient river is helping Perseverance Mars Rover do its work

CHAPEA Mars Simulation program a test bed for food systems and crop cultivation

DEMOCRACY
NASA partners with 11 companies for space technology to assist Artemis moon mission

NASA selects SwRI to lead DIMPLE lunar lander/rover instrument suite

China to carry out scientific exploration during manned lunar mission

India launches rocket to land spacecraft on Moon

DEMOCRACY
SwRI team identifies giant swirling waves at the edge of Jupiter's magnetosphere

First ultraviolet data collected by ESA's JUICE mission

Unveiling Jupiter's upper atmosphere

ASU study: Jupiter's moon Europa may have had a slow evolution

DEMOCRACY
New study reveals Roman Telescope could find 400 Earth-mass rogue planets

Does this exoplanet have a sibling sharing the same orbit

PSI's David Grinspoon Appointed to New NASA Post

Life on Earth didn't arise as described in textbooks

DEMOCRACY
AROBS Engineering Takes Lead Role in Space Rider Project Software Verification and Validation

Protecting Space Assets through Innovation: Hyperspace Challenge 2023

SpaceX aborts launch of Starlink satellites

China unveils cutting-edge JF-22 Hypersonic Wind Tunnel facility

DEMOCRACY
Shenzhou XVI crew set to conduct their first EVA

Timeline unveiled for China's advanced manned spacecraft's inaugural flight

Commercial space projects expected to provide more services in China

China's Shenzhou XVI astronauts conduct fluid physics experiments

DEMOCRACY
Psyche enters home stretch before launch

Practicing the game-winning asteroid sample catch

Imagine walking on Hera's asteroid

OSIRIS-REx asteroid sample will have new home in Houston

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.