After more than a year of war, Israel lacks soldiers
More than a year after the start of the war against Hamas in Gaza, the Israeli army is struggling to recruit soldiers and reservists are crumbling under the weight of tours of duty. According to the army, around 300,000 reservists have been called up since October 7, 2023, of which 18.3% were exempt for being over 40 years old.
The army has about 170,000 soldiers on active duty (all career military, on active duty, unlike the reserve army) and military service is mandatory for boys and girls over 18 years of age, but some benefit from various exemptions.
Israel is waging a war on several fronts, particularly against Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, which has left 771 dead and 4,500 wounded among its soldiers. Reserve periods have been extended and some reservists are protesting against these measures that deprive them of a family life, sometimes for more than six consecutive months.
The recruitment of ultra-Orthodox Jews, who are partially exempt from military service, is at the center of public debate. They represent about 14% of Israel’s Jewish population, according to the Israel Democracy Institute (IDI), or nearly 1.3 million people.
Some 66,000 men of military age benefit from the exemption because they are dedicated to the study of the sacred texts of Judaism, according to the military, according to a rule established when Israel was founded in 1948.
Ultra-Orthodox political parties, key members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, demanded from the government a law making this exemption permanent ahead of the crucial vote on the state budget at the end of the year.
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