cross-posted from: https://news.abolish.capital/post/38035
Netanyahu’s government has been unable to force the ultra-Orthodox into military service despite the multiple ongoing wars
The Israeli army's chief of staff, Eyal Zamir, warned on 25 March that the military is “going to collapse in on itself” after failing to pass a law to recruit soldiers among the ultra-Orthodox (Haredim) and to extend military mandatory service to 36 months.
“The reserves will not last, I am raising 10 red flags,” Zamir stated in an interview with Channel 13.
The warning comes as Israel's military is fighting wars against Gaza, Iran, and Lebanon – where Israeli troops are engaged in a ground campaign to conquer and annex Lebanon's south.
Unless the existing law is changed, the duration of compulsory service is set to decrease to 30 months in January 2027, despite a shortage of many thousands of soldiers.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet has found it politically difficult to continue to extend mandatory military service while at the same time exempting tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox men from conscription into the army.
Left-wing and secular Israelis are angry that the Haredim are not required to share the burden of participating in the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and expanding the borders of “Greater Israel” in Lebanon.
Zamir made the comments during a cabinet meeting attended by the prime minister, heads of the defense establishment, and ministers.
“In a short time, the IDF will not be prepared for its routine mission. The reservists will not last,” the chief of staff told attendees.
“The reserves are being eroded. The law needs to be regulated, more reserves are needed, and the tasks are only growing. Maintaining these areas requires reserves, there have been gaps for a long time,” an army source added.
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