Ground reality difficult amid severe manpower shortages: Israeli media

Israeli media reported severe shortages in manpower within the Israeli occupation military, with reports revealing major reductions in combat soldiers, while the Israeli occupation government drafts the exemption of the Haredi community from military service.

Over the past years, there has been a 1% average decline in male soldier enlistments, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth stated, citing reports. These reports further noted that 33%, or one in every three men bound for conscription, have not completed their recruitment, as 15% deserted from service and did not enlist with reserve formations entirely.

Moreover, the total of those exempted from military service due to mental or medical reasons spiked from 4% to 8%, making it the most prominent clause of exemption.

According to data from the Human Resources Division, there are 18,000 combat reserve soldiers and 20,000 combat support personnel who are registered as part of the reserve force of Israeli army units, and they do not join when called up.

The newspaper further added that the commanders of the reserve brigades and battalions, who were asked to handle the issue, explained to the outgoing commander of the Personnel Directorate, Major General Yaniv Asor, that the matter “relates to serial evaders and cannot be brought in by force.”

No war achievement amid shortages

“The situation on the ground is difficult, as the Israeli army needs 7,000 recruits urgently,” and while the Israeli military claims it will be able to recruit 3,000 Haredim (starting from last August), in the previous recruitment year, only 1,200 were recruited out of about 13,000 candidates for military service, the newspaper highlighted.

Yedioth Ahronoth emphasized that ‘the Israeli army realizes that it will not achieve the goal with these numbers, even if it issues recruitment orders for 9,000 Haredim as planned, which requires direction from the political level and the Minister of Security.”

The newspaper mockingly indicated that it is likely that Security Minister Yoav Galant will end his tenure before Haredi battalions don military uniforms.

Israeli Army Radio reported that preliminary data on the Haredi recruitment process indicates that less than 4% of the 3,000 recruitment orders issued to Haredi youths since last July have resulted in individuals joining the military service.

This comes as Haredi protests persist against conscription, declaring they would rather die than serve in the Israeli military.

On Thursday, members of the Jerusalem Faction attempted to block buses at the Tel Hashomer base, prompting Israeli security forces to intervene, according to Ynet.

Israel Police announced that three officers were injured and six individuals arrested during the anti-draft protest staged by ultra-Orthodox Jews, known as Haredi Jews, in al-Quds on Thursday afternoon.