JERUSALEM: Chief of Israel’s air force Friday warned his country’s enemies might exploit a political crisis triggered by judiciary overhaul, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied would undermine the country’s democracy.
Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar said his forces needed to remain “vigilant and prepared” after parliament on Monday passed the first of PM Netanyahu’s widely contested changes, abolishing the Supreme Court’s authority to void what it deems “unreasonable” decisions by the government and ministers.
“It is possible that at a time like this they (Israel’s enemies) will try to test the frontiers, our cohesion and our alertness,” Bar said as he addressed his forces, according to a statement released Friday.
The overhaul pursued by Netanyahu’s right-wing government has sparked a seven-month crisis, inciting unprecedented protests, opening up a deep social divide and shaking some army reservists’ commitment to call-up duty.
Protesters see the prime minister working to weaken the courts’ independence even as he argues his innocence in a graft trial. One of their leaders, Eran Schwartz, said demonstrations would continue on Saturday, with actions planned at 150 locations.
As the crisis intensified following Monday’s vote, Israel’s Ynet news said Netanyahu received at least four letters from Military Intelligence warning of serious security consequences arising from the judicial overhaul.
