The reason is that... according to American media, the "strongest military in the Middle East" is experiencing cracks in the front line | military | cracks
On July 20th, the Associated Press reported that the Israeli military is experiencing cracks, with the most well-equipped and powerful military in the Middle East facing one of the most dangerous attacks it has encountered - infighting.
The report emphasizes that a controversial judicial reform plan by the Israeli government has caused profound divisions within the country's society. These cracks have infiltrated the military, and some reserve personnel in key units have vowed that if this reform plan is implemented, they will not be called up to enlist.
According to reports, the letters signed by thousands of reserve personnel over the past seven months have so far mainly been a threat. However, recently 161 Air Force personnel in key positions announced that they will cease service, which has raised concerns about whether the military is prepared for situations such as refusal to serve, especially in the face of escalating violence and escalating tensions on multiple fronts. On July 19th, hundreds of reservists participated in a parade in Tel Aviv and announced that they would not enlist again.
The report mentions that reserve personnel are of great significance for supplementing the regular Israeli military forces. After Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu announced the judicial reform plan in January this year, protest groups led by reserve personnel have become the core of grassroots movements opposing the plan.
The report suggests that these refusal to enlist are still largely a threat and will not immediately affect the military's readiness. But the statement of 161 Air Force personnel ceasing service immediately shocked the entire military.
Israel relies on its air force to strike enemy targets in neighboring Syria. The Israeli Air Force is also an important component of combating armed militants in the Hamas ruled Gaza Strip, and air strikes have become more frequent in recent years. Recently, drones have also been applied to the West Bank region of the Jordan River. Israel also threatens to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and strikes against Iran almost certainly require fighter jets.
The report states that all these fronts require Israel to maintain a well-trained team of pilots who need to be able to launch airstrikes at any time. When a pilot refuses to participate in training, even if it's only a few weeks, his readiness will be affected. When ground personnel refuse to be on duty, like the target identification personnel or coordination experts who signed the letter this week, the entire system will be greatly affected.