Israeli military veterans, who were once the backbone of their elite forces, are now taking up the cause as their new mission: fighting for Israeli democracy. Among them is Yiftach Golov, a veteran from special forces reconnaissance unit who served during the second intifada in the early 2000s.
Golov attended one protest demonstration and soon became part of thousands of veterans and military reservists who have taken up the cause against the government's judicial overhaul plan. The group, called "Brother and Sisters in Arms," is characterized by a brown flag that represents their organization.
"We believe this is our responsibility to go once again called to the flag of the nation to stop this madness to defend Israel," Golov said as he weaved his way through protesters on Tel Aviv's Kaplan street.
The group uses skills they learned in the military, such as organizing and mobilizing, now for the protests. They have taken it a step further, threatening not to heed the call to train or even serve in protest of the government's plans.
Some members are using their military background to lead the chants at the protests. One is leading the "Pink Front," a group of coordinated drummers who look like they are dressed for a rave.
Their motivation is rooted in a deep feeling that they are part of something bigger than themselves, willing to sacrifice anything needed to defend the country's values and democracy.
Israel's protest movement is made up of many disparate groups, but the pressure from Israel's vaunted veterans has been seen as a key factor in moving the needle.
Last week, mass protests and widespread strike action came after Netanyahu said he had decided to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for advocating a delay in passing the legislation.
Netanyahu indicated that the delay was only temporary, insisting that the overhaul was necessary, and reiterated criticism of refusal to train or serve in protest at the planned changes.
Many protesters don't believe that the pause is real, saying it's simply a stalling tactic to give Netanyahu some breathing room before he plows on with the reforms.
"We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country," Golov said.
The demonstration in Tel Aviv was estimated to be around 150,000 people by CNN affiliate Channel 12, but organizers claimed it was much larger.
Golov attended one protest demonstration and soon became part of thousands of veterans and military reservists who have taken up the cause against the government's judicial overhaul plan. The group, called "Brother and Sisters in Arms," is characterized by a brown flag that represents their organization.
"We believe this is our responsibility to go once again called to the flag of the nation to stop this madness to defend Israel," Golov said as he weaved his way through protesters on Tel Aviv's Kaplan street.
The group uses skills they learned in the military, such as organizing and mobilizing, now for the protests. They have taken it a step further, threatening not to heed the call to train or even serve in protest of the government's plans.
Some members are using their military background to lead the chants at the protests. One is leading the "Pink Front," a group of coordinated drummers who look like they are dressed for a rave.
Their motivation is rooted in a deep feeling that they are part of something bigger than themselves, willing to sacrifice anything needed to defend the country's values and democracy.
Israel's protest movement is made up of many disparate groups, but the pressure from Israel's vaunted veterans has been seen as a key factor in moving the needle.
Last week, mass protests and widespread strike action came after Netanyahu said he had decided to fire Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for advocating a delay in passing the legislation.
Netanyahu indicated that the delay was only temporary, insisting that the overhaul was necessary, and reiterated criticism of refusal to train or serve in protest at the planned changes.
Many protesters don't believe that the pause is real, saying it's simply a stalling tactic to give Netanyahu some breathing room before he plows on with the reforms.
"We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country," Golov said.
The demonstration in Tel Aviv was estimated to be around 150,000 people by CNN affiliate Channel 12, but organizers claimed it was much larger.
what's interesting is how these military veterans are now using their experience to fight for the values they once protected - democracy 
. It's like they're flipping a switch and taking on a new role, one that requires them to be just as vocal as they were when serving in combat zones. The "Brother and Sisters in Arms" group is pretty cool too, using their military skills for good instead of evil 
. I'm loving the creativity behind the "Pink Front" drumming squad 
- it's all about redefining what it means to be a force for change. And hey, if Netanyahu thinks firing one minister will silence them, he's sadly mistaken 
. It just fuels more passion and momentum among these protesters!
It's amazing to see them take a stand for democracy and country values. Their determination is inspiring 
. I mean, who wouldn't want to defend what they believe in? The "Pink Front" drummers though 
Either way, it's awesome to see citizens making their voices heard. Let's keep hoping for a functional democracy 
.
. They're putting their skills to use for a cause they believe in, and it's amazing to see how passionate they are about defending Israel's democracy 
. It's great that they're not just marching for the sake of it, but actually have a plan in place to stop this judicial overhaul plan 
. Their determination and willingness to take a stand is truly inspiring 
. And let's be real, who wouldn't want to see Netanyahu's plans foiled by a group of brave veterans? 
.
anyway back to israel... i think its awesome that these vets are standing up for democracy but at the same time i dont know if gov's gonna listen cuz netanyahu's like super stubborn 
still gotta keep an eye on this one tho 
. And it's not just about them - it's about the bigger picture: defending Israel's values and democracy.
. As more people speak out against authoritarianism and in favor of democratic principles, it's inspiring to see veterans from different backgrounds taking a stand 
. The fact that Netanyahu is trying to use them as a bargaining chip by threatening to fire Defense Minister Gallant just shows how desperate he is to silence them 
.
. One thing is for sure, though: these veterans are not going down without a fight 
They're using their skills from the military to organize and mobilize the protests, and it's totally inspiring to see them putting themselves on the frontlines to defend Israel's democracy. 
The fact that they're willing to threaten not to train or serve if their demands aren't met shows just how serious they are about protecting Israel's values. It's also kinda cool (in a not-at-all-cool way lol) to see these former special forces guys leading the chants and using their military background to lead the "Pink Front" drumming squad 
And what's with the whole "100% guaranteed democracy" thing? Is that even possible? It feels like they're just trying to appease Netanyahu and make themselves feel good about it. 
I'm all for democracy, but let's not get too caught up in patriotic posturing – we need substance over spectacle! 
. I mean, these military vets are coming out of the woodwork and leading protests, which is actually kinda awesome? They've got skills to organize and mobilize, but at the same time, it's also kinda sad that they need to take up arms against their own government 
. The idea of a functional democratic country is still super important to me, and I hope these vets are right on the money about wanting to protect that 
. It's like he's saying "nope, we're good" when everyone knows it's a huge mess 
.
!