In Israel, the backbone of the protest movement is not just made up of activists and ordinary citizens but also veterans from elite military forces. These men and women have fought in various conflicts and now feel they are fighting on a new battlefield – to save Israeli democracy.
A group called "Brother and Sisters in Arms" is at the forefront of this movement, with many members being veterans like Yiftach Golov, who served in a special forces reconnaissance unit during the second intifada. They have taken up the cause as their new mission, using skills they learned in the military to organize and mobilize protests.
The pressure from these veterans has been seen as a key factor in moving the needle on the issue of the Israeli government's judicial overhaul plan. The plan aims to give the governing parties more control over Israel's judiciary, which would be a significant shift away from the country's democratic values.
Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that he would delay votes on the legislation until after the Passover recess in April, many protesters believe it is just a stalling tactic. They say that unless there is genuine progress towards creating a functional democracy, they will not stop fighting.
For these veterans, the struggle for justice and liberty has become an all-consuming passion. They feel a deep sense of duty to defend their country's values, even if it means making personal sacrifices. "We're fighting for justice and liberty, just like the American story," says Golov. "That's the values that are being represented on our flag – something that was lacking for the last few decades."
The protests continue, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets every week. The movement is not limited to veterans but has also drawn in ordinary citizens who are determined to defend their country's democratic values.
As one protester said, "We will start doing deactivation only when we will know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country. Whatever needs to be done for that."
A group called "Brother and Sisters in Arms" is at the forefront of this movement, with many members being veterans like Yiftach Golov, who served in a special forces reconnaissance unit during the second intifada. They have taken up the cause as their new mission, using skills they learned in the military to organize and mobilize protests.
The pressure from these veterans has been seen as a key factor in moving the needle on the issue of the Israeli government's judicial overhaul plan. The plan aims to give the governing parties more control over Israel's judiciary, which would be a significant shift away from the country's democratic values.
Despite Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement that he would delay votes on the legislation until after the Passover recess in April, many protesters believe it is just a stalling tactic. They say that unless there is genuine progress towards creating a functional democracy, they will not stop fighting.
For these veterans, the struggle for justice and liberty has become an all-consuming passion. They feel a deep sense of duty to defend their country's values, even if it means making personal sacrifices. "We're fighting for justice and liberty, just like the American story," says Golov. "That's the values that are being represented on our flag – something that was lacking for the last few decades."
The protests continue, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets every week. The movement is not limited to veterans but has also drawn in ordinary citizens who are determined to defend their country's democratic values.
As one protester said, "We will start doing deactivation only when we will know 100% that Israel state will stay a functional democratic country. Whatever needs to be done for that."
I remember when protests were all about saving the environment and fighting for social justice back in the day... like the Occupy Wall Street movement, you know? 
It's crazy how times change and now it's veterans taking up the cause to save Israeli democracy. Their skills from military service are being used to organize protests, I mean that's some serious multitasking 
. And I feel for them, they're putting their lives on hold for something bigger than themselves. The fact that they're drawing parallels with American history is a good point, after all, those values are what our founding fathers fought for 
. Anyway, it's heartening to see ordinary citizens joining in too, so the movement isn't just about veterans anymore 
.
And what about the protesters who are saying they won't stop fighting until democracy is "functional"? Doesn't that sound like a pretty subjective standard to me? Shouldn't we be demanding concrete reforms and not just, you know, waving flags around? 
Its like they took that same sense of duty and patriotism and turned it into a mission to save Israeli democracy. I'm glad to see more ordinary citizens joining forces with them too, its not just about the vets anymore its about the whole country coming together to stand up for what matters 
They're not just talking the talk, they're walking the walk, and it's got to be hard for them to see their country's values being, like, totally thrown under the bus.
It feels like they're just trying to buy some time before, you know, things get really ugly.
I mean, we can all talk about justice and liberty, but when it comes down to it... only they know what it means to have their backs against the wall.
, but not elite forces like those veterans. He told me it's crazy how they're using their skills to fight for democracy now. I mean, can you imagine? Saving the country from itself 
. It got me thinking, what would happen if our own country did something similar? Like, what if politicians started undermining the very system that allows us to speak freely online? 
.