Chief of Staff Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi addressed rumors that IDF reserve officers have threatened to leave the army if legal reforms are approved in the Knesset. Halevi did so at the exchange ceremony of the Southern Command this morning (Sunday).

"These days require us to focus on the security mission and the cohesion that supports it so that we are ready for any challenge that presents itself," he said. "In the current reality, no one has the privilege not to show up for every challenge and mission," added Halevi.

"Recently, we saw both in the Operation Shield and Arrow (in Gaza) and again in Jenin that different arenas influence each other, and therefore wisdom is required in the use of force. We are in strong need of powerful, independent-thinking commanders."

The Chief of Staff continued: "A great price is exacted at times - last week we lost two soldiers: Yitzhak Yehuda David and Shilo Amir Z"L. The fight against terrorism does not end with one operation; it requires operational determination and perseverance alongside the resilience of the State and its citizens."

At the officers' graduation ceremony about a week and a half ago, Defense Minister Gallant said Israel could not "allow soldiers to use the IDF as a countermeasure for political campaigns or as part of inflammatory statements by anonymous individuals." "The calls for refusal to serve and threats to quit reserve duty undermine the basic values of the IDF as a people's army - and endanger its competence," he pointed out.

"Anyone who calls for refusal is not acting as part of a legitimate protest. Such statements harm the most important thing we have - the security of the State of Israel. We must all, and especially elected officials, coalition and opposition alike, denounce and condemn this phenomenon. It is our duty as a society that desires its continued existence to maintain our army," said Gallant at the time.