'Zero tolerance': Katz bans Omri Ronen from IDF service following reserve duty refusal remarks

Jerusalem Post/Israel News/Israel PoliticsRonen, who joined The Democrats Party in February, is a leader of the Brothers and Sisters in Arms organization, having participated in protests against the government’s judicial reform. Follow us on GoogleNew 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)ByJERUSALEM POST STAFFJULY 19, 2026 17:21Updated: JULY 19, 2026 17:26Social activist and IDF reservist Omri Ronen will not be allowed to return to service in the military, Defense Minister Israel Katz said in an X/Twitter post on Sunday."I will not allow the scourge of refusal to return to the ranks of the IDF - for any reason," said Katz. "Zero tolerance for refusal.""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," he added.Katz's order, sent as a formal letter to IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, came after comments Ronen made in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" on Saturday, saying he would refuse reserve duty as a form of political protest.Ronen, who joined the Democrats Party in February, is a leader of the Brothers and Sisters in Arms organization and has participated in protests against the government’s judicial reform. Defense Minister Israel Katz at Jerusalem City Hall, December 15, 2025. (credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)Ronen responded to Katz's order later on Sunday, saying that the minister "has no shame.""The minister for promoting the draft evasion law, the deserter of fighters and the protector of deserters, is afraid that we will come to replace him," responded Ronen. "We are the true servants of this country and those who are destroying it have no right to preach to us."Katz: Omri's comments encourage refusalAccording to Katz's letter, Omri's statement "effectively encourages refusal to serve and harms the IDF’s resilience," underscoring the severity with which Katz views the matter."There is no place to summon for reserve duty anyone who publicly calls for failure to report for duty or refusal to serve, or who speaks out against military service and thereby harms the IDF’s values, cohesion, and operational readiness," the letter continued.The defense minister warned that the policy will be carried forward to future such cases, saying that the military "must remain outside political disputes, and serve only Israel's security."Keshet Neev contributed to this report.Follow us on Google