As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s extremist cabinet moves forward with its radical and destructive policies, the former head of Israel’s internal security service, Shin Bet, has warned that the occupied territories are on the verge of “civil war.”
According to Times of Israel, in support of the Israeli military reservists who have threatened to stop reporting for duty in protest at the occupying regime’s alleged plans to overhaul the judiciary, Nadav Argaman raised the alarm on Thursday.
If the so-called judiciary reform plan is approved, hundreds of military reservists, including pilots in the air force, have declared that they will no longer volunteer to perform their specialized duties.
read more: Protests against Israel’s extremist cabinet as thousands hit the streets
On Thursday, the Law, Constitution, and Justice Committee of the Knesset approved a bill that would limit judges’ ability to question “unreasonable” cabinet decisions, clearing the way for the bill to advance to the Knesset’s final votes.
According to Argaman, who called Netanyahu’s overhaul plan a “regime coup,” some people will declare that they will not serve in the security forces of a dictatorship if the legislation is passed. We’ll notice a fraying and people leaving the security forces.”
Argaman stated, “Any legislation that does not have a broad consensus will lead…Israel to chaos,” pointing to the months-long demonstrations against the alleged reform plan in the occupied territories. I’m worried about Israel because a law is expected to pass on Monday. I genuinely worry that civil war is just around the corner.”
Putting the blame on those volunteers, pilots, or special units is a grave error, according to the former Shin Bet director, who was appointed by Netanyahu in 2016 and oversaw the organization for five years.”
The prime minister of Israel alone, according to Argaman, bears the entirety of the responsibility.”
Argaman added that Netanyahu should be told “Enough” by the chief of staff of the Israeli military, Herzi Halevi, and the director of the Shin Bet security service, Ronen Bar.”
The former head of Israel’s so-called internal security service expressed concern in March that if the plans for judicial reform were carried out, the security apparatus of the regime might “collapse from within.”
Protesters took to the streets in Tel Aviv and other cities on Thursday night to voice their rage and defiance as the far-right cabinet’s push for the contentious bill continues.
At least 15 protesters were reportedly detained by Tel Aviv police for allegedly disturbing the peace and assaulting officers.
Throughout the evening, protesters who began at Habima Square repeatedly blocked the main Tel Aviv thoroughfare, forcing the closure of the Ayalon Freeway’s northbound lanes until after midnight. When police tried to remove the protesters from the road, the protesters set fires, played drums, and tried to avoid them.
Similar scenes played out both during the day and at night as opponents of the cabinet policies blocked intersections and held protests in various places throughout the occupied lands. Protesters for several hours blocked a major intersection at Highway 4 in Rana’ana, a wealthy suburb north of Tel Aviv.
To clear the road of protesters in Tel Aviv, police employed horses and a water cannon.
For the 28th consecutive week, thousands of Israelis protested in the streets across the occupied territories on Sunday against the policies of the extremist cabinet of the regime. In the city of al-Quds, the protesters also held a demonstration in front of Isaac Herzog’s home.
The goal of the so-called “judicial overhaul” plan is to deny the Israeli Supreme Court the ability to overturn political decisions made by the ruling party. Additionally, it aims to give the Israeli cabinet more control over the selection of judges for the court.
Supporters claim that the proposal will put an end to decades of judicial overreach, while detractors claim that it will do away with necessary restraints on political power.
Additionally, critics claim that Netanyahu, who is facing several counts of corruption-related charges, is attempting to use the scheme to overturn potential judgments.
As long as the cabinet decides not to move forward with the overhaul plan, protesters have vowed to continue holding massive rallies.
