The Israeli army's recruitment strategy underscores the ongoing challenges faced by the military amid prolonged conflicts, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon.
The resistance from Haredi leaders indicates a deep-seated cultural and political divide regarding military service in Israel, which could complicate future recruitment efforts.
The proposed extension of compulsory military service reflects the urgent need for personnel but may provoke further political backlash from religious factions.
If the recruitment plan for Haredi youth is successfully implemented, it could lead to a significant shift in the demographics of the Israeli army.
Continued resistance from Haredi leaders may result in prolonged debates over military conscription laws, potentially delaying recruitment efforts.
The ongoing conflicts may necessitate further adjustments to military policies, including possible changes to the duration of service and recruitment targets.
Israeli Channel 12 reported that the Israeli army is facing a significant shortage of approximately 7,000 fighters and combat support personnel due to ongoing conflicts in multiple sectors. To address this issue, the Israeli Defense Minister has proposed plans to recruit ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim) into the military. The target is to enlist 4,800 Haredi youth annually, with plans to increase this number over the coming years, aiming for a total of 10,000 new recruits to compensate for losses sustained in the Gaza and Lebanon fronts.
The recruitment plan includes a timeline where 4,800 Haredi youth are expected to join the army in 2025, followed by an additional 1,700 in 2026, totaling 6,200 Haredi soldiers within two years. This initiative aims to alleviate the burden on reserve soldiers and bolster regular combat units, highlighting a crisis within the Israeli military.
Despite the urgency of the situation, the recruitment efforts face significant opposition from Haredi party leaders in the Knesset, who are resistant to changes in conscription laws and oppose sanctions for non-compliance. The Israeli army is also grappling with a low response rate to reserve calls, which has dropped to about 70% in recent months.
