Concerns Rise Over Potential Uprising Among Israeli Reservists Amid Government Decisions

Security officials in Tel Aviv have expressed concern over increasing discontent among Israeli army reservists, amid fears of a potential collective uprising against military service following a recent agreement between the Defense and Finance Ministries that introduces new burdens for soldiers.
The newspaper "Yedioth Ahronoth" described this move as controversial, noting that the agreement was prepared without prior consultation with brigade and battalion leaders, leading to widespread dissatisfaction among reservists.

Reduction of Benefits and Support for Soldiers

The new agreement includes a reduction in vacation days allocated to reservists, as well as the elimination of psychological and social support payments that soldiers and unit leaders receive after their service.
Military sources believe that these measures, despite a projected reduction in reservist duty to approximately two and a half months by 2026 if the security situation remains stable, could effectively worsen conditions for soldiers and increase tensions within units.

Measures to Decrease the Number of Reservists

Military sources indicated that the changes are part of a government plan to reduce the number of active reservists from 60,000 to 40,000 soldiers by 2026, aimed at cutting Defense Ministry expenditures.

Criticism of Military Leadership

The Hebrew newspaper reported on a senior officer in the Israeli army who warned of the repercussions of these decisions, stating that they could lead to widespread disobedience among reservists.
The officer asserted that Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir "is failing to defend the rights of reservists against government authorities."

Tensions Within Units and Rejection of Certain Decisions

Within the communication groups of reservist battalion leaders, a tense atmosphere prevails, with some discussing the possibility of rejecting the new decisions, particularly the elimination of weekly vacation days for fighters, especially in border operations such as in the buffer zone and Gaza Strip.
Although orders have been issued to eliminate vacations to increase the number of reservist service days, reports suggest that some units are still adhering to the vacation policy, reflecting the extent of tensions within the military institution.