Recently-Discharged Israeli Pilots urge IDF to Bring Them Back

 Whilst all the publicity on electoral reform is based on negativity, there are positive items that would never appear in the media. 

Dozens of recently-graduated Israeli Air Force pilots who recently completed their active service have asked the IDF to call them to return for reserve service.

 The call comes in response to a call by reserve leaders who have declared they will not serve in reserves if the government passes its planned judicial reform.

The letter was sent by the “Pilots for Good” forum, as a response to an announcement by the leaders of the reservists’ protest who warned they will not serve if the Knesset passes the judicial reform legislation.

The organizers of the reservists’ protest announced an “escalation of the struggle” at a news conference in the Air Force Base in Herzliya.

“The government continues to rush through legislation, the defense minister is silent and the government is violating the contract between it and us,” said reserve Lt. Col. Ron Sharaf.

“An executive authority with unlimited power is a dictatorship. If these laws are enacted, the People’s Army will not be able to exist,” Sharaf claimed.

“We commit to return to service regardless of which government is leading the country,” some 50 pilots wrote in a letter sent Tuesday to the IDF Chief of Staff, Israel Air Force Commander, and the defense minister. “We oppose refusals and are ready to return immediately to operational service,” the letter said.

The letter was signed by pilots who are able to return to service and who were discharged by military personnel for reasons unrelated to their operational capabilities, such as the closure of a squadron.

“We pledge to respond to the call to return to active reserve service and defend the State of Israel,” the 50 pilots wrote.

“We have made it clear to the commander of the Air Force that we will be ready to serve at any time,” IDF Major Shai Kalach, leader of the “Pilots for Good” forum, told Israel’s Channel N12 News. “The Air Force reserve is not in doubt, and does not suffer from personnel gaps,” he said.