Haredi Protests Against Military Service

TEHRAN (Defapress) - Haredi settlers blocked the street in front of the recruitment office in Tel Hashomer, located in central occupied territories, to protest against mandatory military service.

In related news, the Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the Israeli army’s decision to extend mandatory military service has sparked frustration due to the inequality between soldiers who have been fighting for over a year and a half.

An Israeli sergeant stated that this decision has demotivated him and his comrades, saying morale is low and everyone wants their service to end.
"I was in Gaza six months ago, and my friends were there for the entire 14-month operation. The government is exploiting us cruelly," he said.

Another officer mentioned that troops are gradually shifting to other duties because they are exhausted.

Yair Golan, an Israeli reserve general, commented on the conscription law, stating that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government prefers appeasing Haredi Jews at the expense of depleting combat forces, harming military capabilities, and increasing risks to soldiers and civilians.

"This negligence has led to a dangerous situation where the Israeli army is forced to send soldiers to the battlefield before they complete training while relying on exhausted reserves for prolonged service," he added.

Golan emphasized, "The failure to conscript Haredi Jews is a blatant violation of Israel’s security."

The Zionist regime’s broadcasting authority reported that Israel’s Supreme Court has demanded the cabinet explain why Haredi Jews are not being conscripted to meet army needs and why those refusing service are not being penalized.

Facing a critical troop shortage, the Israeli army enacted Order 77, extending regular soldiers' service by four months beyond their mandatory term, bringing active duty to 3 years. Under the new order, soldiers will not receive regular leave until they complete additional reserve duty.

This measure aims to address the worsening manpower crisis caused by 19 months of war. The decision came after the Israeli government, under pressure from extremist Haredi parties, failed to pass a law extending mandatory service. Haredi parties conditioned their support on exempting their community from conscription, leaving the army without legal backing.

Under the new order, battalion commanders may exempt up to 30% of soldiers based on professional and personal criteria.

Despite soldiers’ anger, the army clarified that those continuing service would receive bonuses, potentially amounting to tens of thousands of shekels.

The Zionist regime’s military stressed that this is a temporary measure, lasting until legal reforms or improved security conditions.

The army faces a shortage of 10,000 soldiers, including 7,000 combat troops.

Yedioth Ahronoth reported that due to the manpower crisis, the Israeli army is implementing a reform requiring soldiers to remain active even after their service ends.

The newspaper stated that the army had issued an order mandating regular soldiers to serve four additional months in the reserves after their mandatory service.

"Due to the ongoing war and the failure to draft Haredim, we are short by about 10,000 soldiers," the army told Yedioth Ahronoth.

The report added that reserve soldiers have already served around 500 consecutive days.

Yair Lapid, leader of the Zionist regime’s opposition, said, "Instead of drafting Haredim, the government is placing more burdens on reserve soldiers."

Meanwhile, Israel Hayom cited a high-ranking Israeli source warning that if no progress is made in negotiations within two weeks, the army will escalate hostilities.

The source stated that escalation would involve a large-scale mobilization of reserves.

Former Zionist Prime Minister Naftali Bennett called Netanyahu’s cabinet "cowardly," stating that the difficult situation faced by "the Israeli army in Gaza" stems directly from government policies depriving the military of its key asset—soldiers.