Halevi Drops Bombshell on Netanyahu Over 2023 Reservist Crisis: ‘Don’t Dismiss Them’

Former IDF chief of staff Herzi Halevi has reportedly said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected his proposal to dismiss military reservists who stopped reporting for duty during the 2023 judicial reform crisis.

According to a report by N12, Halevi made the claim during a recent meeting with a small group of bereaved families seeking answers about events surrounding the October 7 massacre and the absence of a state commission of inquiry.

Halevi Warned Netanyahu of Growing Security Risk

The reported conversation took place after the Knesset passed legislation removing the reasonableness standard, one of the most controversial elements of the government‘s judicial overhaul.

Halevi told the families that he had subsequently met with Netanyahu and warned him that Israel was entering a dangerous period.

The former military chief reportedly asked the prime minister to publicly support the reservists and instruct ministers to stop attacking those who had announced that they would no longer volunteer for military service.

Netanyahu Allegedly Rejected Calls for Dismissals

Halevi said he wanted to establish exactly where Netanyahu stood on the issue and directly asked whether he should dismiss the reservists who were refusing to report for duty.

According to Halevi’s account, Netanyahu strongly rejected the idea.

The former chief of staff reportedly quoted the prime minister as warning that dismissing the reservists could trigger an even larger wave of refusals.

Halevi said Netanyahu told him not to proceed with such a move.

Former IDF Chief Claims Public and Private Messages Differed

Halevi also reportedly described a significant difference between Netanyahu’s public statements about the military and what he heard from the prime minister during their private meeting.

According to the former chief of staff, Netanyahu publicly criticised the IDF and its handling of the reservist crisis while taking a different position behind closed doors.

The alleged contrast adds another dimension to the political dispute surrounding the military during the judicial reform period.

Reservist Crisis Raised Fears Over Military Readiness

The reservists’ protest became one of the most serious security controversies surrounding the government’s judicial overhaul.

Reservists from several units announced that they would stop volunteering for duty in opposition to the government’s legislation.

The move prompted concerns over military preparedness, with Halevi among those who warned about the potential consequences for Israel’s operational readiness.

The confrontation also intensified an already bitter political divide over the government’s plans to reshape the judiciary.

October 7 Inquiry Remains a Major Political Issue

The allegations come as pressure continues over the establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre.

The bereaved families who met with Halevi reportedly sought explanations about unresolved issues surrounding the period leading up to the attack and the military’s preparedness.

The question of accountability has become increasingly prominent in Israeli politics, with opposition parties promising to establish a state commission of inquiry if they succeed in forming the next government.

Netanyahu Office Declines to Comment

The dispute is also unfolding ahead of Israel’s October 27 election, making the issue particularly politically sensitive.

Opposition leaders have pledged to prioritise an investigation into the October 7 failures if they take power.

Neither the Prime Minister’s Office nor representatives of Halevi reportedly offered comments on the N12 report, leaving the former IDF chief’s account as the basis for the latest claims about the 2023 reservist confrontation.