Called to serve, Israeli reservists await deployment

After the war in Lebanon, a major change occurred: dozens of reservists were killed after being thrown into battle in the final days of the invasion. That led to outrage, forcing the Israeli army to revise the system. The army reduced the size of the reserves, losing many fewer well-trained members. Today, less than 5 percent of Israel’s population serves in a reserve unit.

The military has created different levels of reservists, from highly trained troops who serve in elite units or pilots flying fighter jets, to less well-trained people who monitor settlements in the West Bank or patrol villages along the Lebanese border. But elite reservists are deployed in Gaza, some in units that also include professional soldiers.

The diverse economic and social backgrounds of reservists cause some to be openly critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel, even as they fervently believe in the military’s mission. In addition to their army-issued fatigues, some wear T-shirts bearing the symbols of last summer’s massive demonstrations against Netanyahu’s overhaul of Israel’s judiciary.

Now that there is time left, political debates are common. “There will be guys making fun of each other and saying, ‘I hope you don’t go back to the demonstrations when you go home,'” said Dr. Erez. “It’s not very controversial. People realize this is something important; they agree that something bigger is going on.

If you are too outspoken, there are consequences. On Monday, Israeli news media reported that an air force reservist was fired for criticizing Mr Netanyahu in a private WhatsApp group. “Political comments while serving in uniform are against the rules,” an Israeli military spokesman said.

Military analysts said the opposition to Netanyahu could pose problems for Israeli commanders if the reservists were asked to take part in operations that could endanger the 240 people held by Hamas. The government’s handling of the hostages has struck a chord with the public.

“The risk is that the hostage issue will not be resolved quickly, and we see a danger to the hostages in the ground operation,” said Yagil Levy, a professor and expert on the military at the Open University of Israel. “You may see some kind of protest and even resistance among some units in the military.”

In the idle hours, rumors and dark theories can take root. “They tell me they take a child of 8 or 9 years old, put him in an explosive vest and send him,” Sergeant Schnider said of the militants in Gaza. ‘What should you do? I really don’t want to be in that situation.”

Although reservists tend to be older and in poorer physical condition than regular soldiers, military officials insist their training and equipment are suited to the task in Gaza or elsewhere. Some former commanders argue that their achievements outside the military are a net plus for the war effort.

“The reservists may run slower, but they are level-headed,” Brigadier General said. General Ari Singer, former chief reserve officer of the Israeli army. “The leadership in the reserves is more authentic, not related to the ranks you have on your shoulder.”

Yet reservists can also become restless if their tours last too long. Many are married with children, and the call has disrupted work and family.

Manuel Trajtenberg, director of Tel Aviv University’s Institute for National Security Studies, estimated that some 500,000 workers were off work due to the mobilization and the ripple effects on spouses who were forced to take time off from their jobs to take on household responsibilities.

The loss of so many workers, he said, is likely to cause a rare, significant decline in Israel’s per capita economic growth.