Netanyahu at Border Police base
Netanyahu at Border Police baseGPO

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu participated in the reading of the Book of Esther at the Border Police base in Beit Horon Monday evening, together with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Netanyahu criticized the soldiers and pilots who are refusing to report for duty in protest against the government's planned judicial reforms.

"The refusals threaten the foundation of our existence,” Netanyahu said. “In society there is room for protest, room for opposing viewpoints, but no room for refusals, because as soon as it is legitimized, it will spread and become a [common] method."

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir said: "I call on Lapid and Gantz - show some responsibility and unity. We need to understand that we are all the same. And to those who want to demonstrate on Thursday: we will protect your right to demonstrate, but we will not allow incitement, anarchy, or harm to the State."

Ben-Gvir compared the Border Police officers at the base to the Biblical figures of Mordechai and Esther, the heroes of the Book of Esther,

"Our struggle against our enemies should be a determined struggle under the leadership of the prime minister. An uncompromising struggle, a struggle that will last many years, but as is stated here, our unity is our strength. No one can beat us when we are united. Yes, there are disagreements, there is the right and the left, there are the religious and the secular. But when a terrorist is looking through the window, he does not make any of these distinctions," he said.

Over 200 doctors in the IDF reserves have announced that they will not report for duty if the judicial reforms are enacted.

In a letter which was given to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi and Chief Medical Officer Elon Glassberg, the doctors demanded the freezing of the legislative process "immediately and without preconditions."

In light of the many refusals in different branches of the IDF, Defense Minister Gallant and Chief of Staff Halevi will meet with reserve soldiers tomorrow from the various units in the IDF. The meeting will be held at the Defense Minister's Office in the Kirya in Tel Aviv.