Tel Aviv has announced a plan to extend mandatory military service in response to the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) growing personnel shortage.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu revealed the move during a security cabinet meeting after IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned the military could “collapse” without urgent action to address the issue.
In addition to lengthening service periods, the government proposes to revise draft exemption laws to optimize the IDF’s staffing processes, according to local media.
Under current legislation, the service obligation for men covers 32 months, while women have a duration of 24 months. If approved, the planned collective term could be extended to up to 36 months.
Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fuchs said officials will review the changes immediately after the Jewish Passover, which runs from April 1 to 9 this year.
15,000 Warfighters Needed
IDF Spokesperson Effie Defrin specified that the military is experiencing a shortage of approximately 15,000 personnel, including 8,000 combat soldiers, as part of the manpower crisis.
Officials link the gap to expanding troop demands in multiple campaigns, particularly across Palestine, Iran, and Lebanon, while numbers continue to fall.
Zamir in his cautionary talk also pointed to the mounting strain on reserve forces, saying the military is raising “10 red flags” over its ability to sustain operations.
Rift in Drafting
Sources said the conscription proposal has intensified ongoing political tensions over the drafting of Ultra-Orthodox Haredim, which has traditionally received exemptions from military service due to its religious doctrine.
Netanyahu also dismissed pushback from a legal adviser to the Israeli House of Representatives’ Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, who questioned the legality and fairness of drafting individuals from the community.
The prime minister’s coalition partners from the group have already boycotted parliamentary votes in response, highlighting divisions within the government.
