Chairman of US Joint Chiefs will visit Israel to assess IDF readiness for war

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, is set to visit Israel next week to address concerns and assess the Israel Defense Forces’ readiness for war following months of nationwide protests against the government’s judicial reform program, i24News reports.

Many IDF volunteer reservists stopped reporting for duty after a new law was passed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s governing coalition that limits the ability of the Supreme Court to review and overturn government-approved legislation, i24News reports.

The situation has led senior Israeli military leaders to warn of a gradual decline in the IDF’s preparedness for conflict, i24News said.

Among the military leaders concerned is Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, who said during an address to volunteer reservists last week: “The current assessment is that the Air Force is competent, but there is harm [to its readiness] that is worsening.We shoulder the responsibility for security…While some of you may have issues, we expect you to keep coming.”

Gen. Milley, who is set to retire in October, will meet Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and Israeli Army Chief Herzi Halevi during his visit to Israel, i24News reports. It has not been confirmed whether he will meet with PM Netanyahu. The Pentagon has not commented on the visit.

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