Tachles: A modern Hebrew word of Yiddish origin that means “to the point.”

Yesterday it was reported in the media that reservists from a fighter squadron announced that they would not be attending training. Thirty-seven fighter pilots from the Israel Air Force’s 69th Fighter Squadron said they’d boycott training maneuvers in protest over the judicial reform. The fighter pilots announced that they would report for duty in the event of an emergency. This is the first time we’ve seen something like this in Israel’s modern history! Instead of training, a meeting is to be held, which will deal with the topic “Democracy and National Unity.”

The WhatsApp group where me and my military comrades from the 80s and the First Lebanon War lit up.

We are all now over 55 years of age, but maintain a lively friendship. Three our comrades–Oren, Ronen and Alex–fell in Lebanon.

But even among us, who had fought, bled and died together, we could not find a common denominator on current events. Such a division has never before occurred in our circle. Most of  the group became vocal as the discussion began, and that alone is a statement. The dispute over judicial reform, or the “judicial coup,” speaks to us all. Among us are big Bibi fans, but also firm opponents of the current prime minister. What unites us is love for the country and people.

Yaron: “Anyone disagree with that?”

Guy: “Anyone who disagrees should leave the group.”

Amit: “I don’t agree.”

Yaron: “Understood, I won’t publish that.”

Eli: “But friends, are there any of us who still get called up?”

Amit: “Thanks Yaron.”

Guy: “Amit, why are you against this post?”

Jeremiah: “Yaron my dear, instead of asking the question reserve service yes or no, write something else. The division among the people hurts us all and we all want unity. Signed by right-wing and left-wing comrades, united.”

Pinchas: “Yaron, you are very smart! You don’t ask something like that beforehand. First you publish the post and then you tell us that the post has been published. After that you can ask who agrees with it or not.”

David: “Yaron, respect for your initiative. We follow you.”

Yitzhak: “A blessed initiative.” (Response to the above post by Jeremiah suggesting a different version of a group statement)

Yaron: “Agreed. Let’s take your (Jeremiah’s) version. The division among the people hurts us all and we all want unity. Signed by right-wing and left-wing comrades, united.”

Ariel: “I’m all for it and I will always speak up.”

Amit: “I’m against it. Leave politics outside. What’s nice about us is that we all have different opinions and still love each other.”

Pinchas: “What has he already written? We’ll report for reserve duty, that’s all. We didn’t say anything against the judges and legal coup. By the way Guy, where are you? Back in Georgia?” (Guy is originally from Georgia and now partly lives there again)

Pinchas: “Hello friends, write down that I only report for reserve duty with my dog, I can’t come without dogs. Write down his name. Mekita is the name of my dog.”

Aviel: “With Mekita or without, leave politics out of our community. We know who we are and what we will all do in an emergency.”

For Purim, Pinchas dresses up as a cowboy with a pistol in his hand and sends a selfie to us: “To all the protesters. I’m on my way!”

Ronen reacts to the photo of Pinchas: “That’s not funny at all!”

Pinchas: “Chag Purim Sameach (Happy Purim) friends. Let’s celebrate and stop arguing.”