An Israeli army officer was removed from duty on Sunday for attending a political demonstration while in uniform, the first of its sort amid the turmoil over the government’s proposed judicial reform.
According to local media, a major was broadcast carrying a stretcher as part of a PR stunt at a pro-government event planned on Thursday to counter months of protests against the changes.
The military confirmed his rank but provided little more information about the infraction other than the fact that he had engaged in a protest while in uniform the previous week.
Concerns over judicial independence have arisen as a result of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition’s attempts to rein in Israel’s Supreme Court. He said that the law, which is now on hold, is aimed to make government more equitably dispersed.
The Israeli military, which depends heavily on conscripts and has long attempted to serve as a melting pot for a divided society, has felt the repercussions of the rivalry. If the modifications are implemented, some military reservists have threatened to defy their call-up orders.
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant criticized the pace of the redesign in March, expressing worries about the country’s military readiness. In reaction, Netanyahu fired Gallant, but then reversed his decision, citing the need to address security concerns.
