Brothers and Sisters in Arms

Brothers and Sisters in Arms, also known in Hebrew as Achim Laneshek and sometimes shortened to Brothers in Arms, is an Israeli civic and protest movement founded in January 2023 by reserve members of the Israel Defense Forces, including reserve Lieutenant-Colonel Ron Scherf, reserve Sergeant-Major Eyal Naveh, and reserve Sergeant-Major Eitan Herzel. The movement emerged after Justice Minister Yariv Levin announced a program of judicial reforms backed by Benjamin Netanyahu's thirty-seventh government. Its founders and supporters argued that the proposed changes threatened democratic checks and balances and could weaken Israel's institutional and social resilience. The organization initially presented itself as a network of reservists and veterans from several IDF units, with particularly strong representation from former members of Sayeret Matkal. It combined military-style organization with public protest. Its structure included a steering committee responsible for strategy, operations, communications, intelligence, foreign relations, and related areas, supported by administrative staff and volunteers. The movement also developed large WhatsApp networks, reportedly reaching tens of thousands of participants and supporters. Activities were funded through public donations and sales of branded merchandise such as shirts and hats. Its methods ranged from conventional demonstrations and public advocacy to highly visible disruption actions. Members organized vigils outside ministers' homes, supported nationwide demonstrations, addressed Israeli and overseas audiences, and staged symbolic interventions at government offices, political events, transport facilities, and sites associated with the judicial-reform campaign. Examples included blocking Highway 1, creating a symbolic border crossing between democracy and dictatorship, obstructing access to the offices of the Kohelet Policy Forum, demonstrating at the Port of Haifa, establishing symbolic recruitment offices to advocate equal military service, and hanging large signs at prominent locations. The movement also encouraged reservists to sign declarations that they would suspend voluntary reserve service if the reform proceeded. A major early turning point came in February 2023, when the organization led a three-day march from Latrun to the Supreme Court in Jerusalem. Participation grew substantially during the march, and the event helped transform a small reserve network into a prominent component of the wider anti-government protest movement. During the spring and summer of 2023, the organization continued to coordinate demonstrations, national disruption days, visual campaigns, and actions focused on judicial reform, government accountability, civil equality, and the relationship between military service and civic obligation. On 28 March 2024, the movement announced a temporary suspension of its principal protest campaign after Netanyahu said that further legislative action would be delayed to allow negotiations. The organization indicated that it could resume demonstrations rapidly if the reform process continued, and it maintained dialogue and protest-related activity during the pause. It subsequently returned to more extensive protest activity after government figures stated that the reform agenda remained active. Following Hamas's attack and the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war on 7 October 2023, Brothers and Sisters in Arms suspended its political and protest operations and redirected its personnel and networks toward civilian assistance and emergency relief. This work was conducted under the name Brothers and Sisters for Israel. The organization supported aid and relief efforts during the national emergency, although the precise scope and institutional boundaries of that activity are not fully documented in the available material. By mid-2024, the movement had resumed nationwide protest activity, calling for new elections and for the ultra-Orthodox community to be subject to military conscription requirements comparable to those applied to other citizens. In June 2024, President Isaac Herzog presented the organization with the Presidential Award for Volunteerism. The award recognized its volunteer activity, including its emergency-relief work after 7 October. The movement therefore developed from a focused reservists' protest network into a broader civic organization combining democratic advocacy, public mobilization, volunteer relief, and campaigns concerning equal national service.

Brothers and Sisters in Arms was established in January 2023 by Israeli IDF reservists and veterans in response to the judicial-reform program announced by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and supported by Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Ron Scherf, Eyal Naveh, and Eitan Herzel were identified as founding figures, with the initial network drawing heavily on former members of Sayeret Matkal while remaining open to veterans of other military units and civilians who supported its objectives. The movement began as a WhatsApp group and quickly developed a volunteer structure influenced by military organization. A steering committee divided responsibility among areas such as strategy, operations, communications, intelligence, and international relations. Beneath it were staff, administrative functions, and operational departments. The organization also maintained extensive messaging groups for members and supporters. Its activities were financed by donations and sales of branded clothing and other merchandise. Its early objective was to prevent or halt the proposed judicial changes and to reinforce democratic institutions. The organization used demonstrations, vigils, public advocacy, foreign outreach, and civil-disobedience tactics. A three-day march from Latrun to Jerusalem in February 2023 became one of its defining early events. Attendance increased from roughly 1,000 participants on the first day to approximately 10,000 on the third, according to the cited reference material. The march helped establish the movement as a recognizable force within the broader protest movement. During 2023, members organized actions at ministers' residences, Knesset-related events, government facilities, transport sites, and locations associated with organizations supporting the reform agenda. They blocked Highway 1, used barriers at the offices of the Kohelet Policy Forum, conducted a boat-based protest at Haifa port, erected symbolic recruitment offices to advocate equal military service, and installed large banners and visual displays at prominent sites. The movement also supported declarations by reservists stating that they would suspend voluntary service if the legislative program advanced. Some actions resulted in arrests, while others were designed primarily as symbolic public communications. The movement's agenda expanded beyond judicial reform to include democratic governance, government accountability, social cohesion, and equality in national service. It criticized coalition funding arrangements and campaigned against the exemption of many Haredi men from compulsory military service. The organization's protests frequently combined military symbolism, Israeli national imagery, and highly visible public installations. The Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 changed the organization's immediate priorities. Brothers and Sisters in Arms suspended its political and protest activities and shifted its network toward civilian aid and emergency relief under the name Brothers and Sisters for Israel. This transition illustrated the movement's reliance on volunteer coordination and reserve-community networks during a national crisis. On 28 March 2024, the organization announced a temporary protest suspension following the government's stated intention to delay further judicial-reform legislation and seek dialogue. The pause was conditional rather than a permanent withdrawal, and protest activity resumed after government representatives indicated that the reform agenda was continuing. By mid-2024, the movement was again publicly campaigning throughout Israel, with demands including new elections and equal application of military-service obligations. In June 2024, President Isaac Herzog awarded Brothers and Sisters in Arms the Presidential Award for Volunteerism. The recognition covered the organization's volunteer contribution, including its emergency-relief activities. The available material does not establish a conventional corporate ownership structure, a commercial parent, or a permanent chief executive. It is best understood as a volunteer civic movement whose identity and public presence function as a movement brand rather than as a conventional consumer or corporate brand.

• 2024

  Temporary protest suspension

  [1]Brothers and Sisters in Armsen.wikipedia.org

  The organization paused its principal protest campaign on 28 March while the government announced an effort to pursue negotiations over the judicial-reform program.

• 2024

  Presidential Award for Volunteerism

  [1]Brothers and Sisters in Armsen.wikipedia.org

  President Isaac Herzog awarded the movement the Presidential Award for Volunteerism in June.

• 2024

  Return to nationwide protest

  [1]Brothers and Sisters in Armsen.wikipedia.org

  The movement resumed broader demonstrations focused on new elections and equal military-service obligations.

• 2023

  Movement founded

  [1]Brothers and Sisters in Armsen.wikipedia.org

  Reserve officers and non-commissioned officers Ron Scherf, Eyal Naveh, and Eitan Herzel established the movement in response to the government's proposed judicial reforms.

• 2023

  Latrun-to-Jerusalem march

  [1]Brothers and Sisters in Armsen.wikipedia.org

  A three-day march for democracy helped expand the organization from a small reserve network into a major participant in the national protest movement.

• 2023

  Emergency-relief transition

  [1]Brothers and Sisters in Armsen.wikipedia.org

  Following the 7 October Hamas attack, the organization suspended political activity and operated an aid initiative under the name Brothers and Sisters for Israel.

A volunteer-led Israeli reservists' and veterans' movement positioning itself as a defender of democratic institutions, civic solidarity, and equality in national service.

• Merchandise · 2023

  Branded apparel

  The movement funds part of its activity through the sale of branded items, including shirts and hats. These products function primarily as identity and fundraising tools, allowing supporters to display affiliation with the organization rather than serving as a conventional commercial product line.

• Civic advocacy · 2023

  Civic protest campaigns

  The organization's principal offering is a coordinated set of public campaigns involving demonstrations, vigils, communications, symbolic installations, disruption actions, and reservist mobilization. Campaigns have addressed judicial reform, democratic institutions, government accountability, and equality in national service.

• Emergency relief · 2023

  Brothers and Sisters for Israel

  After 7 October 2023, the organization redirected its volunteer infrastructure toward aid and relief under this name. It represented a wartime emergency-response identity distinct from the movement's preceding political protest activities.

• 2024Equal Service and Elections Campaign

  Israel

  After returning to protest activity, the movement called for new elections and for Haredi men to be subject to military-service requirements.

  Source
• 2023Journey to Preserve Democracy

  Israel

  A three-day march from Latrun to the Supreme Court in Jerusalem brought together reserve veterans, members of the defense community, and civilian supporters opposing the judicial-reform program.

  Outcome. The march substantially increased the movement's visibility and participation.

  Source
• 2023Days of Disruption

  Israel

  The organization participated in coordinated disruption days involving road blockades, actions at the Kohelet Policy Forum, port protests, symbolic recruitment offices, and large public signs.

  Outcome. The actions generated national attention and, in some instances, arrests and confrontations with authorities or opponents.

  Source
• 2023Brothers and Sisters for Israel

  Israel

  The organization shifted its volunteer network from political protest to civilian aid and emergency relief after the 7 October Hamas attack.

  Outcome. The relief initiative became the movement's principal wartime activity for a period.

  Source

• 2024

  Temporarily suspend judicial-reform protestsStrategy

  Background

  On 28 March, the government announced a delay in further legislative action while it considered negotiations.

  Action taken

  Movement leaders announced a conditional suspension of the main protest campaign while retaining the ability to resume quickly.

  Aftermath

  The organization resumed broader protest activity after government figures indicated that judicial reform remained on the agenda.

  Source

• 2023

  Redirect operations to emergency reliefStrategy

  Background

  The 7 October Hamas attack and ensuing national emergency changed the organization's operating environment.

  Action taken

  The organization suspended political and protest activity and devoted its network to aid and relief under the Brothers and Sisters for Israel name.

  Aftermath

  The movement later returned to political protest activity in 2024.

  Source

1. 1Brothers and Sisters in Armsen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Brothers and Sisters in Arms official websiteahimlaneshek.org