In Israel, the streets have become a battlefield - not in the classical sense, but as many veterans of the elite military forces now find themselves fighting to save their democracy.
Yiftach Golov is one such veteran, who at 50 years old, has seen his fair share of battles. During the second intifada in the early 2000s, he served in a special forces reconnaissance unit and never thought that this would be his next mission - to defend Israel's democracy against its own government.
A group called "Brother and Sisters in Arms" brought Golov out of retirement, along with hundreds of thousands of other veterans and military reservists who have joined the cause. The group has a unique symbol - a brown flag - that represents their commitment to justice and liberty.
These are not your average protesters. Many of them come from elite forces, including Air Force reservists who are now threatening not to train or serve if the government's planned judicial changes go ahead.
Golov describes this as a "very deep feeling" that he is part of something bigger than himself, willing to sacrifice anything necessary - including his career and health - for what he believes in. The group is driven by a sense of determination and conviction, often motivated by a desire to reclaim their flag and its values.
As the protests continue, with over 150,000 people taking to the streets last Saturday, Israel's government has finally been forced to take notice. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause to the legislation, citing security concerns and a need for discussion. But many protesters don't believe that this is genuine - they see it as just another tactic from the government to stall and buy time.
The pressure on the government has been building, with Israel's largest general strike in history, protests, and international condemnation. As Golov puts it, "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country".
Yiftach Golov is one such veteran, who at 50 years old, has seen his fair share of battles. During the second intifada in the early 2000s, he served in a special forces reconnaissance unit and never thought that this would be his next mission - to defend Israel's democracy against its own government.
A group called "Brother and Sisters in Arms" brought Golov out of retirement, along with hundreds of thousands of other veterans and military reservists who have joined the cause. The group has a unique symbol - a brown flag - that represents their commitment to justice and liberty.
These are not your average protesters. Many of them come from elite forces, including Air Force reservists who are now threatening not to train or serve if the government's planned judicial changes go ahead.
Golov describes this as a "very deep feeling" that he is part of something bigger than himself, willing to sacrifice anything necessary - including his career and health - for what he believes in. The group is driven by a sense of determination and conviction, often motivated by a desire to reclaim their flag and its values.
As the protests continue, with over 150,000 people taking to the streets last Saturday, Israel's government has finally been forced to take notice. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced a pause to the legislation, citing security concerns and a need for discussion. But many protesters don't believe that this is genuine - they see it as just another tactic from the government to stall and buy time.
The pressure on the government has been building, with Israel's largest general strike in history, protests, and international condemnation. As Golov puts it, "We will start doing deactivation only when we know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country".
...vets who fought for their country are now fighting against the govt they served in. the passion & conviction of these soldiers is palpable, and it's hard not to admire their commitment to justice & liberty 
. but what's also worrying is that this isn't just about stopping a specific law - it's about the future of israel's democracy 
. will the gov really follow through on its promise to discuss the issue, or is this just another stalling tactic? only time will tell 
, I love how they're taking a stand for justice and liberty. And can you blame them if they think their government is just trying to stall? 
The fact that 150k people showed up last Saturday is proof that the people won't back down 
. The pressure's on, let's see how Netanyahu's gonna respond 
. On one hand, you gotta respect their commitment to justice and liberty - that takes a lot of guts. But on the other hand, what if Netanyahu just uses this as a way to silence them? I don't know if I trust him anymore 
. The fact that they're talking about deactivation if they don't see change is scary, but also kinda beautiful 
. Yiftach Golov is just so inspiring, you know? He's 50 years old and still willing to risk everything for what he believes in. I remember watching the news about the second intifada back in the day... it was such a scary time 
. But I guess that's what happens when you feel like your country's values are being taken away from you.
. The brown flag symbol is so cool – it's like they're saying, "Hey, we know what's at stake here." And 150,000 people taking to the streets? That's crazy! I hope it doesn't get too ugly 
. The fact that they're using a brown flag symbol is like, so powerful, it represents justice and liberty, and ppl are feeling it 
. I think its cool that these vets are taking a stand, they're not just sitting back and letting the gov push them around 
. The fact that over 150k people took to the streets last weekend is like, insane! 
. But at the same time, I don't trust the gov's tactics, they're just trying to stall and buy time 
. Whatever happens next, I hope these ppl keep fighting for what they believe in 
But seriously, it's amazing to see how people are coming together and demanding change. I'm keeping an eye on this situation and hoping for a positive outcome - Israel needs its democracy to thrive 
.
. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the fact that they want to keep their pensions and benefits intact...