Eitan Herzel (Hebrew: איתן הרצל; born 12 January 1968) is the founder and CEO of Brothers in Arms, a political movement that was established as part of the protests against the judicial reform.
Eitan Herzel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | January 12, 1968 |
| Education | Hadassah Academic College |
| Known for | Leading 2023 Israeli judicial reform protests |
| Title | Founder and CEO of Brothers in Arms |
Biography
editEitan was born and raised in Kibbutz Sa'ad to Chaim Herzel, a Holocaust survivor, Talmud teacher and Bnei Akiva member. His mother, Deborah Herzel, worked as an educator in the kibbutz.
Eitan studied at Kvutzat Yavne High School and enlisted in the Israeli Defense Forces in 1986, serving as a fighter in Sayeret Matkal. After military service, he studied at Hadassah Academic College, earning a degree in physics with a specialization in electro-optics. He later held various management roles at KLA Corporation.
Activism
editIn January 2023, Eitan heard about Yariv Levin's judicial reform. in response, he established a team of people (that included Ron Scherf and Eyal Naveh) to protest against the plan and seek its cancellation. The team, led by Eitan, initiated a three-day campaign calling on reservists to join the protest to amplify public opposition to the perceived "coup d'état", and to strengthen the Supreme Court of Israel as an essential and independent authority.[1][2][3]
Eitan initiated and led protest activities in front of members of the Knesset, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
On 27 June 2023, he was arrested after demonstrating in front of the home of the Minister of Justice, Yariv Levin, but was released by a court that determined the arrest was arbitrary.[4]
On 20 May 2024, Eitan was arrested after protesting against the new conscription law. The case was closed without charges being filed.[5]
In June 2024, the Presidential Award for Volunteerism (formerly the “Presidential Award for Volunteers”)[6] was awarded by the President of the State of Israel, Isaac Herzog, to the Civil Defense Force that the organization operated during the Iron Swords War.[7]
Civil assistance
editFollowing the attack of Hamas on Israel in 2023, Eitan, together with Dror Erez and other activists from the organization, established the Beit Kama Command. This initiative rescued thousands of residents from border Kibbutzim and the towns of Netivot, Sderot, and Ofakim. Additionally, the command provided tens of thousands of hot meals and essential equipment to both soldiers and evacuees of the affected communities.[8]
In the immediate aftermath of the war's outbreak, Herzel mobilized the movement's volunteer system to support farmers in agricultural communities near he border, led by Ronnie Piper.[9]
In early November 2023, Herzel, joined by high-tech protest leaders Ziv Krupp and Dr. Lia Moran Gilad, went to Eilat at the invitation of Shlomo Mendelovitz, the Ministry of Health's mental health project director. There, they established and oversaw a psychological assistance system for the evacuees who had been sent to the city.[10]
Personal life
editEitan is married and has 3 children. He lives in the Jezreel Valley.
References
edit- ^ גולדיטש, חיים; אלבז-אלוש, קורין; לוקש, אלכסנדרה (2023-02-08). "במחאה על המהפכה המשפטית: מילואימניקים צועדים 50 ק"מ לירושלים". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-07-30.
- ^ עמי, ליאור בן (2023-07-27). ""נרדמנו המון שנים, עכשיו אנחנו חוזרים לחזון משותף": מאחורי הקלעים של מחאת "אחים לנשק"". Ynet (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-07-30.
- ^ "ראשי מחאת המילואים: "מי שהעביר את הזירה לחו"ל זה נתניהו. אז גם המחאה חוצה גבולות" - וואלה חדשות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 2023-09-21. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
- ^ "עם צמיגים בוערים: עצורים במחאה מול ביתו של לוין". Kan 11.
- ^ "12 עצורים בפעילות אחים לנשק בשער הגיא - ביניהם ארבעה ממובילי התנועה - וואלה חדשות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 2024-05-20. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ "Presidential Prizes and Awards; The Presidential Award for Volunteerism". Office of the President (Israel). Retrieved October 12, 2024.
- ^ "Brothers and Sisters in Arms: Leading the volunteers". Israel21c. Retrieved October 12, 2024.
- ^ "מורה ומחנך נערץ על תלמידך, ב-7 באוקטובר קמת ועזבת הכול - וואלה חדשות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 2024-06-19. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ "שדות של תקווה | מוסף כלכליסט". newmedia.calcalist.co.il. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
- ^ אורלי, גולדקלנג (2023-12-04). "אמא לשני ילדים הגיעה לבשר שהם סוף־סוף יצאו מהחדר". מקור ראשון (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-08-26.