Defense Minister Israel Katz has barred reservist Omri Ronen from returning to IDF service after Ronen said he would refuse reserve duty as a political protest against judicial reforms. Katz sent a formal letter to the IDF chief of staff and warned of "zero tolerance" for public calls to refuse service, saying such statements harm military cohesion and readiness. Ronen, a leader in Brothers and Sisters in Arms who joined The Democrats Party in February, rejected the move as hypocritical. The IDF had not yet confirmed whether it would implement Katz's directive.
Katz Bans Reservist Omri Ronen From IDF Over Call To Refuse Reserve Duty
New member of the Democrats party Omri Ronen at a faction meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, on February 16, 2026. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced on Sunday that Omri Ronen, a reservist and social activist, will not be permitted to return to Israel Defense Forces (IDF) service after publicly saying he would refuse reserve duty as a form of political protest.
Katz said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that he would not tolerate public calls to refuse service. "I will not allow the scourge of refusal to return to the ranks of the IDF – for any reason. Zero tolerance for refusal," he wrote. Katz said he had formalized the decision in a letter to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir.
"I am determined to eradicate the phenomenon of refusal from the IDF, as I have done since the beginning of my term as defense minister."
Ronen made the remarks during an interview on Channel 12’s Meet the Press, saying he would decline reserve duty to protest the government's judicial reform. He joined The Democrats Party in February and is a leader in the Brothers and Sisters in Arms movement, which has been active in demonstrations opposing the reforms.
Defense Minister Israel Katz at Jerusalem City Hall, December 15, 2025. (credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)
Ronen responded angrily to Katz's announcement, calling the minister hypocritical and accusing him of protecting draft evaders while promoting laws against draft evasion. "He has no shame," Ronen said, accusing Katz of being "the minister for promoting the draft evasion law, the deserter of fighters, and the protector of deserters."
At the time of reporting, the IDF had not confirmed whether it would implement Katz's directive. Military sources initially suggested a response was imminent but later said the decision had been postponed; it remained unclear when or whether an official IDF announcement would follow.
Why Katz Says The Ban Is Necessary
In his letter to Lt.-Gen. Zamir, Katz argued that Ronen "effectively encourages refusal to serve and harms the IDF's resilience." Katz wrote that individuals who publicly call for failure to report for duty, or who speak out against military service in ways that undermine values, cohesion and operational readiness, should not be summoned for reserve duty. He added that the instruction should also apply to future cases, and emphasized that the IDF must remain outside political disputes and focus solely on Israel's security.
The report includes contributions from Yonah Jeremy Bob and Keshet Neev.
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