Israel's 37 reserve pilots, who make up the majority of one of the most important fighter squadrons, announced that they will not participate in training scheduled for next Wednesday, in rejection of a government plan that the opposition says aims to weaken the judiciary.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, considered the most extreme right-wing government in Israel's history, is seeking judicial changes, including imposing restrictions on the Supreme Court, which it accuses of overstepping its powers.

Critics of the move worry that Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges he denies, wants to override the judiciary.

The Israeli pilots announced the announcement in a joint statement, and they are from the "Hammer Squadron" dedicated to attacking distant targets, consisting of 40 pilots, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

The squadron consists of F-15i fighters, and is based at Hatzrim Air Base in Beersheba, southern Israel.

In 2007, the squadron participated in the attack on the nuclear reactor in Syria, and its pilots participated in the bombing of what Israel says are Iranian targets in Syria, according to the newspaper.

Haim Ramon, who previously held ministerial positions in various governments, including the Minister of Justice and the Interior, warned of the repercussions of the increasing calls for refusing military service in Israel.

"Those who talk about refusing military service, this is a complete dismantling of Israeli society, this is a breaking of all legitimate things in the country," Ramon said, in Sunday's remarks, reported by the private Israeli Channel 12.

According to Haaretz, the Israeli army has expressed, in recent weeks, its concern about the emergence of a serious crisis in the reserve system in the wake of the protest against the plan to reform the judiciary.

An army official described this concern as the most serious they have faced since the October 6, 1973 war.

During a speech last February, Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy called on reserve officers not to involve military service in the dispute over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan regarding the judiciary.

Many reservists have already signed petitions warning that they will not serve in the reservists if the plan "by which Israel will not continue as a democratic state" is passed, according to their words.

And on Tuesday, reservists in the "Elite Unit 8200" of Israeli military intelligence threatened to boycott service if the government went ahead with what it considers a plan to rebalance the three powers, the executive, legislative and judicial.

The opposition describes the plan, which is being debated by the Knesset (parliament), as a "judicial coup" that would limit the power of the Supreme Court and give the executive branch control over the judge appointment committee.

For the ninth week in a row, more than 250,000 Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv and other cities, rejecting that plan.