Newsletters
Israel is facing a shortage of thousands of troops as it continues military operations on multiple fronts, officials said, highlighting the growing strain on the army.
Military spokesperson Effie Defrin said the Israeli army needs around 15,000 additional soldiers, including about 8,000 combat troops, to meet operational demands.
Defrin said the army’s missions have expanded significantly in scope and geography.
“We are required for a range of missions,” he said. “The range of the missions has expanded, the surface area of the missions has expanded, it is not as it was in the past.”
Israeli officials pointed to ongoing operations in Gaza and Lebanon, as well as the occupation of parts of the Gaza Strip and security duties in the occupied West Bank, as factors increasing personnel needs.
The army can call up tens of thousands of reservists, but repeated deployments have led to reported pushback, with some reservists citing exhaustion and financial strain from leaving work and family.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid said the army was “stretched to the limit” and called for the immediate conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the government plans to extend compulsory military service due to the personnel shortage.
According to reports, Netanyahu told a security cabinet meeting that legislation on mandatory military service and extending service duration would be addressed after the Passover holiday.
The issue of conscripting ultra-Orthodox Jews has been politically sensitive, with debates over exemptions contributing to tensions within the government and parliament.
Cabinet Secretary Yossi Fox said the government would consider both extending service and changes to conscription laws together after the holiday.
Israel’s Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir warned during the meeting that failure to resolve the personnel crisis could have serious consequences.
“If we do not find a solution to the personnel crisis, the army will collapse,” he said.
Currently, military service in Israel is mandatory at age 18, with men serving 32 months and women 24 months. Proposals are under discussion to extend service to 36 months.
On Thursday, Netanyahu paid tribute to two Israeli soldiers killed during ground operations in southern Lebanon.
He identified them as Sergeant Aviaad Elchanan Volansky and Staff Sergeant Ori Greenberg, both 21, saying they had “fought with valour and courage.”
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
1 min read
