Chief of Staff Orders Immediate Draft Expansion for Haredim
Amid ongoing combat, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has directed the IDF’s Manpower Directorate to urgently present a plan to expand Haredi conscription and increase the number of draft orders issued to members of the ultra-Orthodox community. This directive comes in response to the ongoing operational situation and the evolution of fighting across various arenas. It also reflects a strategic push to improve the army’s readiness for absorbing new recruits.
Severe Manpower Shortage: 10,000 Troop Gap Identified
Last weekend, the IDF released its readiness outlook for 2025, revealing that the current security reality requires expansion of the force.
The army has identified a significant shortfall of approximately 10,000 soldiers, including 7,000 combat troops—a gap that must be closed to provide the IDF with operational breathing room.
A senior military official stated: “A conscription law that grants exemptions and the right to evade service for Haredim could harm missions and the military itself. Recruiting members of the ultra-Orthodox sector is a clear operational necessity, and broad efforts are underway to create a support framework while issuing draft orders in accordance with the law.”
386 Haredi Soldiers Enlisted in April Draft
On the central draft day for the April intake held last week, hundreds of Haredi recruits were assigned to combat and support roles in specialized tracks.
386 Haredi soldiers enlisted in total with 196 placed in combat roles, 167 in combat-support roles, and 23 are still in the placement process. They were assigned to units tailored for the Haredi population, including, the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, the Hashmonaim Brigade, the Tomer Company in the Givati Brigade, the Chetz Company in the Paratroopers, and the Magen HaNegev Unit in the Air Force.
Simultaneously, 26 reserve soldiers joined Phase B of training, with around 100 more set to begin that phase soon—all within the Hashmonaim Brigade.
