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Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant: Situation in Israel Extremely Concerning

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the army’s operations room on July 3, 2022 (Image: DPA)
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the army’s operations room on July 3, 2022 (Image: DPA)
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Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant: Situation in Israel Extremely Concerning

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the army’s operations room on July 3, 2022 (Image: DPA)
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in the army’s operations room on July 3, 2022 (Image: DPA)

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant is racing against time to achieve broad consensus on the judicial reform plan before the anticipated vote in the Knesset to repeal the “reasonability clause” on Monday, in an effort to avoid further divisions within Israel and the military.

Gallant described the situation in Israel as extremely concerning after hundreds of air force pilots and crew members announced their refusal to continue their service in the military in protest against the proposed judicial reforms.

Channel 12, an Israeli news outlet, quoted him as expressing support for delaying the legislation.

In a statement released by Gallant’s office, he emphasized that he is working tirelessly to achieve broad consensus, with the aim of safeguarding Israel’s security and keeping the military away from political disputes.

Gallant’s actions followed the signing of additional reservists in the Israeli Air Force who declared their refusal to continue volunteering for military service.

On Friday, over 1,100 reserve soldiers in the Israeli Air Force, including hundreds of pilots, sent a message announcing the suspension of their voluntary reserve service in protest against the government’s plans to reform the judicial system.

The announcement sent shockwaves through the Israeli military, which is already struggling to stem the increasing flow of reservists declaring their refusal to continue voluntary service.

Defense officials have raised concerns that this growing phenomenon could impact the readiness of the army.

At least 1,142 air force reservists declared their intention to suspend volunteer service if parliament passes the bill next week.

“We all share a responsibility to stop the deep division, polarization and rift among the people,” the reservists said in a declaration whose signatories included 235 fighter pilots, 173 drone operators, and 85 commando soldiers.

They called on the government to “arrive at a broad consensus, strengthen the trust of all parts of the people in the judicial system and maintain its independence.”

Any legislation carried out in an “unreasonable manner would erode my agreement to keep risking my life and would force me, with great sorrow, to suspend my voluntary reserve service,” the signatories said.

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FBI Finds 150 Homemade Bombs at Virginia Home in One of Largest Such Seizures

The seal of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seen on the Headquarters in Washington, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP)
The seal of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seen on the Headquarters in Washington, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP)
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FBI Finds 150 Homemade Bombs at Virginia Home in One of Largest Such Seizures

The seal of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seen on the Headquarters in Washington, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP)
The seal of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is seen on the Headquarters in Washington, Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024. (AP)

Federal agents found one of the largest stockpiles of homemade explosives they have ever seized when they arrested a Virginia man on a firearms charge last month, according to a court filing by federal prosecutors.

Investigators seized more than 150 pipe bombs and other homemade devices when they searched the home of Brad Spafford northwest of Norfolk in December, the prosecutors said in a motion filed Monday. The prosecutors wrote that this is believed to be "the largest seizure by number of finished explosive devices in FBI history."

Most of the bombs were found in a detached garage at the home in Isle of Wight County, along with tools and bomb-making materials including fuses and pieces of plastic pipe, according to court documents. The prosecutors also wrote: "Several additional apparent pipe bombs were found in a backpack in the home’s bedroom, completely unsecured," in the home he shares with his wife and two young children.

Spafford, 36, was charged with possession of a firearm in violation of the National Firearms Act. Law enforcement officers allege he owned an unregistered short barrel rifle. Prosecutors said that he faces "numerous additional potential charges" related to the explosives.

Defense attorneys argued in a motion Tuesday that authorities haven't produced evidence that he was planning violence, also noting that he has no criminal record. Further, they question whether the explosive devices were usable because "professionally trained explosive technicians had to rig the devices to explode them."

"There is not a shred of evidence in the record that Mr. Spafford ever threatened anyone and the contention that someone might be in danger because of their political views and comments is nonsensical," the defense lawyers wrote.

Messages were left Wednesday seeking further comment from the defense lawyers who signed the motion, Lawrence Woodward and Jerry Swartz.

The investigation began in 2023 when an informant told authorities that Spafford was stockpiling weapons and ammunition, according to court documents. The informant, a friend, told authorities Spafford had disfigured his hand in 2021 while working on homemade explosives. Prosecutors said he only has two fingers on his right hand.

The informant told authorities that Spafford was using pictures of the president, an apparent reference to President Joe Biden, for target practice and that "he believed political assassinations should be brought back," prosecutors wrote.

Numerous law enforcement officers and bomb technicians searched the property on Dec. 17. The agents located the rifle and the explosive devices, some of which had been hand-labeled as "lethal" and some of which were loaded into a wearable vest, court documents state. Technicians detonated most of the devices on site because they were deemed unsafe to transport, though several were kept for analysis.

At a hearing Tuesday, federal Magistrate Judge Lawrence Leonard determined that Spafford could be released into house arrest at his mother's home but agreed to keep him detained while the government files further arguments.

In response, prosecutors reiterated why they believe Spafford is dangerous, writing that "while he is not known to have engaged in any apparent violence, he has certainly expressed interest in the same, through his manufacture of pope bombs marked ‘lethal,’ his possession of riot gear and a vest loaded with pipe bombs, his support for political assassinations and use of the pictures of the President for target practice."