In a sea of Israeli flags, Yiftach Golov stands out with his brown flag bearing the logo of "Brother and Sisters in Arms," an organization comprising veteran military personnel who have taken it upon themselves to fight against Israel's draconian judicial overhaul plan.
The group, made up mostly of elite forces veterans, sees themselves as defending not just their country but also its democracy. Golov, a former special forces reconnaissance unit member, was never particularly political until the protest movement began in January. Now, he's leading the charge, alongside hundreds of thousands of protesters who have taken to the streets for 13 weeks running.
Golov's fellow veterans are using their military skills to organize and mobilize protests, but they're driven by a deeper sense of purpose – a feeling that they're part of something bigger than themselves, willing to sacrifice everything to defend their country. For Golov, it's about reclaiming the flag, which he believes has become tainted by years of democratic erosion.
The group's motivation is clear: they believe that Israel's democracy is under threat and will fight to preserve it. The pressure from these veteran voices has been instrumental in pushing Netanyahu to delay votes on the legislation, at least for now. However, many protesters don't trust the pause, seeing it as a mere stalling tactic.
As Golov puts it, "We'll start deactivating only when we know 100% that Israel will stay a functional democratic country." It's clear that these veterans won't rest until they've achieved their goal – defending not just Israel but its democracy.
The group, made up mostly of elite forces veterans, sees themselves as defending not just their country but also its democracy. Golov, a former special forces reconnaissance unit member, was never particularly political until the protest movement began in January. Now, he's leading the charge, alongside hundreds of thousands of protesters who have taken to the streets for 13 weeks running.
Golov's fellow veterans are using their military skills to organize and mobilize protests, but they're driven by a deeper sense of purpose – a feeling that they're part of something bigger than themselves, willing to sacrifice everything to defend their country. For Golov, it's about reclaiming the flag, which he believes has become tainted by years of democratic erosion.
The group's motivation is clear: they believe that Israel's democracy is under threat and will fight to preserve it. The pressure from these veteran voices has been instrumental in pushing Netanyahu to delay votes on the legislation, at least for now. However, many protesters don't trust the pause, seeing it as a mere stalling tactic.
As Golov puts it, "We'll start deactivating only when we know 100% that Israel will stay a functional democratic country." It's clear that these veterans won't rest until they've achieved their goal – defending not just Israel but its democracy.
I mean, what's next? A squad of ex-soldiers in superhero capes fighting for the right to vote? 
Just kidding, kinda. But seriously, it's refreshing to see veterans taking a stand against their own government's moves. Golov and his crew are all about reclaiming the flag, and I gotta admire that level of commitment.
And it's not just about them; it's about the people on the streets, too. The fact that 100k+ people have taken to the streets for weeks is a testament to how passionate and concerned they are.
. What if this pause turns into a permanent delay? What if Netanyahu finds another way to undermine democracy? Only time (and probably more protests) will tell.
. These vets seem determined to keep pushing until they know Israel's safe – and I think that's something we should all be rooting for 
I'm seeing so many videos of protests and it looks like people are really passionate about this judicial overhaul plan. I feel for Yiftach Golov, he's leading the charge with his fellow veterans and they're using their military skills to organize and mobilize protests. It's crazy to think that people would be willing to sacrifice everything to defend their country's democracy 
. I mean, who wouldn't want a functional democratic country, right? 
! I love how passionate and dedicated they are - it's amazing to see veterans taking a stand for their country and its democracy 
. The fact that they're using their skills to organize and mobilize protests is just mind-blowing, you know? They're not just fighting for themselves, but for the future of Israel and its people 
. And I'm totally with them on this - we need more people standing up for what's right, even if it means making sacrifices 
I mean, 100% guarantee is a pretty high standard, btw? 
Like, they're saying they want to defend Israel's democracy, but aren't they just gonna end up creating a two-tiered system with these elite forces vets having all the power? 
And what about the protests? I mean, hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets for 13 weeks... isn't that just exhausting and potentially counterproductive? 
On the other hand, I guess it's great that they're getting Netanyahu to delay votes on the legislation... or is that just a temporary reprieve until the opposition comes up with something better? 
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️. I think it's amazing to see them reclaiming a symbol that's meant to represent something bigger than themselves, and I'm curious to see what the outcome will be 
... I just hope that Netanyahu will actually deliver on his promise and make real changes that benefit the people, not just himself 
it's like they're saying "hey we know a thing or two about defense" and using those skills to organize protests but what really gets me is that they see themselves as defending not just their country but its democracy too 
It's inspiring to see them using their skills for something bigger than themselves - it's like they're saying "we're not just soldiers, we're citizens too!" 
The pressure from Netanyahu to delay votes on this legislation has been huge, but it's clear these vets aren't backing down - and honestly, neither should we be!