The Israeli military chief warned the cabinet Wednesday that the army “could collapse into itself” as the government has yet to pass legislation regulating ultra-Orthodox enlistment, update reserve duty laws or extend mandatory service to 36 months.
Under current law, mandatory service is set to be reduced to 30 months in January 2027 unless legislation is changed, despite the military’s request to extend it. The government has delayed advancing such measures, amid expected public backlash over extending service while many ultra-Orthodox men continue to receive exemptions.
The result, according to military officials, is a growing strain on forces already engaged in operations in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iran and the West Bank, alongside a significant manpower shortage of thousands of troops.
During the meeting, Zamir also warned of rising Jewish nationalist violence in the West Bank. The military has already deployed an additional battalion to the area, and commanders say another may be needed. Following cabinet approval to legalize dozens of outposts, Zamir cautioned that the move further increases manpower demands that the army is struggling to meet.
“At this pace, the IDF will not be prepared for its routine missions in the near future,” Zamir said. “Reservists will not hold.”
Military officials said the reserve system is showing signs of strain and emphasized the need for additional personnel as operational demands continue to grow. Zamir has previously issued similar warnings. During a visit to Gaza in June, he said Israel “cannot exist on a minimal force structure” and requires broader security margins, adding that more regular and reserve forces would ease the burden on reservists.
Despite a recent announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that legislation granting broad draft exemptions would not be advanced, enlistment orders issued to ultra-Orthodox men have largely not been enforced. The military has avoided arrests in ultra-Orthodox communities, and police have not actively participated in such efforts.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials reported a surge in settler violence in the West Bank in recent weeks. In the village of Tayasir, local officials said four residents were injured, two seriously, in an overnight attack involving clubs and sharp objects. “It was a violent attack with a lot of blood,” a resident said. Palestinian officials also reported that a new outpost was established near the village of Karwan, heightening tensions in the area. Additional incidents were reported near Nablus, including claims that an ambulance crew was attacked by settlers near Beita.
[Ynet News/A]
Chief of Staff Zamir warns IDF will collapse due to lack of manpower, raises 'ten red flags'
Israel would still need more soldiers in peacetime, while there is still no law set in place to significantly increase haredi conscription into the army.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir attends the funeral of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin, who's body had been held captive by Hamas in Gaza since 2014 and released a few days ago, at the Kfar Saba military cemetery.
The IDF could soon collapse if there is no solution to the shortage of manpower, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir warned in remarks during a security cabinet meeting held on Wednesday. “I am raising 10 red flags before the IDF collapses into itself,” Zamir said during the cabinet meeting, The Jerusalem Post confirmed. IDF sources also told the Post that there is tremendous concern due to the severe manpower shortage, especially amid the ongoing war.
Even in peacetime, Israel would still need more soldiers – not fewer – on the border in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank, the sources said. If the government does not add more soldiers, then there will be places with big gaps, they added.
There has also been no law set in place to significantly increase haredi (ultra-Orthodox) conscription into the army, contributing to the lack of manpower. Before Operation Roaring Lion, the government was rapidly advancing controversial legislation that was said to enforce haredi conscription. Critics argued the proposed bill was a political measure intended to appease the haredi parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and would not effectively enforce conscription.
Members of the Yesh Atid Party sent a letter to Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairperson MK Boaz Bismuth, demanding that he convene an emergency session to discuss ways to expand the IDF's ranks. The haredi draft bill was being advanced by Bismuth’s committee. The Yesh Atid letter notes that the stalling of the haredi conscription is not a political dispute but a security danger that rises to the level of pikuach nefesh (a matter of saving life).
“After we have warned many times, it is no longer possible to ignore this. The chief of staff’s remarks point to an internal collapse within the IDF stemming from the lack of conscription and the burden on reservists,” the letter adds.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) stated that “In the next disaster, the government won’t be able to say ‘We didn’t know.’ It bears responsibility. This is on its head.” Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman called to draft everyone and said that the government has become accustomed to ignoring warnings before a disaster, as he referenced the October 7 massacre.
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett also slammed the government. “What are you waiting for, for heaven’s sake?” he asked. He added that a government dependent on Shas Party leader Arye Deri and United Torah Judaism leader Yitzhak Goldknopf “is incapable of providing security.”
Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz said that while the government was promising to “change the Middle East” and win the war, it was promoting mass draft evasion and “doesn’t even ensure there will be soldiers to actually win. “You will not be able to sweep this disgrace under the rug; you will not be able to say ‘we didn’t know’ when the next disaster arrives,” he added.
Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot (Yashar!) said that implementing a law for mandatory service for all “is the need of the hour. It is a moral imperative. Only it will return Israel to the right path, fulfill the IDF’s mission, and safeguard Israel’s security.” Reservist Party leader Yoaz Hendel stated, “The chief of staff is right. Listen to him. Victory requires soldiers. The government repeatedly uses the reservists as a resource and wears them down to the limit.” “Even if they [the government] told the cameras that they froze the draft evasion law, in practice they continue to transfer money to institutions that encourage evasion and do not enforce the existing law,” Hendel added.
[Jerusalem Post/A]
Under current law, mandatory service is set to be reduced to 30 months in January 2027 unless legislation is changed, despite the military’s request to extend it. The government has delayed advancing such measures, amid expected public backlash over extending service while many ultra-Orthodox men continue to receive exemptions.
The result, according to military officials, is a growing strain on forces already engaged in operations in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iran and the West Bank, alongside a significant manpower shortage of thousands of troops.
During the meeting, Zamir also warned of rising Jewish nationalist violence in the West Bank. The military has already deployed an additional battalion to the area, and commanders say another may be needed. Following cabinet approval to legalize dozens of outposts, Zamir cautioned that the move further increases manpower demands that the army is struggling to meet.
“At this pace, the IDF will not be prepared for its routine missions in the near future,” Zamir said. “Reservists will not hold.”
Military officials said the reserve system is showing signs of strain and emphasized the need for additional personnel as operational demands continue to grow. Zamir has previously issued similar warnings. During a visit to Gaza in June, he said Israel “cannot exist on a minimal force structure” and requires broader security margins, adding that more regular and reserve forces would ease the burden on reservists.
Despite a recent announcement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich that legislation granting broad draft exemptions would not be advanced, enlistment orders issued to ultra-Orthodox men have largely not been enforced. The military has avoided arrests in ultra-Orthodox communities, and police have not actively participated in such efforts.
Meanwhile, Palestinian officials reported a surge in settler violence in the West Bank in recent weeks. In the village of Tayasir, local officials said four residents were injured, two seriously, in an overnight attack involving clubs and sharp objects. “It was a violent attack with a lot of blood,” a resident said. Palestinian officials also reported that a new outpost was established near the village of Karwan, heightening tensions in the area. Additional incidents were reported near Nablus, including claims that an ambulance crew was attacked by settlers near Beita.
[Ynet News/A]
Chief of Staff Zamir warns IDF will collapse due to lack of manpower, raises 'ten red flags'
Israel would still need more soldiers in peacetime, while there is still no law set in place to significantly increase haredi conscription into the army.
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir attends the funeral of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin, who's body had been held captive by Hamas in Gaza since 2014 and released a few days ago, at the Kfar Saba military cemetery.
The IDF could soon collapse if there is no solution to the shortage of manpower, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir warned in remarks during a security cabinet meeting held on Wednesday. “I am raising 10 red flags before the IDF collapses into itself,” Zamir said during the cabinet meeting, The Jerusalem Post confirmed. IDF sources also told the Post that there is tremendous concern due to the severe manpower shortage, especially amid the ongoing war.
Even in peacetime, Israel would still need more soldiers – not fewer – on the border in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank, the sources said. If the government does not add more soldiers, then there will be places with big gaps, they added.
There has also been no law set in place to significantly increase haredi (ultra-Orthodox) conscription into the army, contributing to the lack of manpower. Before Operation Roaring Lion, the government was rapidly advancing controversial legislation that was said to enforce haredi conscription. Critics argued the proposed bill was a political measure intended to appease the haredi parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition and would not effectively enforce conscription.
Haredi draft bill 'set aside' amid war
Netanyahu announced at the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion that the draft bill would be “set aside” for unity reasons and would not be advanced during the war. Opposition politicians sharply criticized the government in response to Zamir’s remarks, warning that the lack of preparedness and enforcement of haredi conscription could lead to a major security crisis in the country.Members of the Yesh Atid Party sent a letter to Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairperson MK Boaz Bismuth, demanding that he convene an emergency session to discuss ways to expand the IDF's ranks. The haredi draft bill was being advanced by Bismuth’s committee. The Yesh Atid letter notes that the stalling of the haredi conscription is not a political dispute but a security danger that rises to the level of pikuach nefesh (a matter of saving life).
“After we have warned many times, it is no longer possible to ignore this. The chief of staff’s remarks point to an internal collapse within the IDF stemming from the lack of conscription and the burden on reservists,” the letter adds.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) stated that “In the next disaster, the government won’t be able to say ‘We didn’t know.’ It bears responsibility. This is on its head.” Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman called to draft everyone and said that the government has become accustomed to ignoring warnings before a disaster, as he referenced the October 7 massacre.
Former prime minister Naftali Bennett also slammed the government. “What are you waiting for, for heaven’s sake?” he asked. He added that a government dependent on Shas Party leader Arye Deri and United Torah Judaism leader Yitzhak Goldknopf “is incapable of providing security.”
Blue and White Party leader Benny Gantz said that while the government was promising to “change the Middle East” and win the war, it was promoting mass draft evasion and “doesn’t even ensure there will be soldiers to actually win. “You will not be able to sweep this disgrace under the rug; you will not be able to say ‘we didn’t know’ when the next disaster arrives,” he added.
Former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot (Yashar!) said that implementing a law for mandatory service for all “is the need of the hour. It is a moral imperative. Only it will return Israel to the right path, fulfill the IDF’s mission, and safeguard Israel’s security.” Reservist Party leader Yoaz Hendel stated, “The chief of staff is right. Listen to him. Victory requires soldiers. The government repeatedly uses the reservists as a resource and wears them down to the limit.” “Even if they [the government] told the cameras that they froze the draft evasion law, in practice they continue to transfer money to institutions that encourage evasion and do not enforce the existing law,” Hendel added.
[Jerusalem Post/A]
