IDF faces soldier shortage as Liberman shows flexibility on Haredi draft

The IDF reports a shortage of thousands of soldiers, including combat troops, amid political debates over Haredi conscription. Sources differ on the exact number of missing soldiers and the expected number of Haredi recruits.

Amid the declaration by Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Liberman of willingness to compromise on the issue of ultra-Orthodox conscription, the IDF clarifies that the manpower shortage remains unchanged. According to military data, about 12,000 soldiers are missing, including about 7,500 fighters. A senior General Staff official says that "the need for fighters has not changed due to the elections" and calls for a new conscription law that would extend service to 36 months and reduce exemptions. The article notes that the number of ultra-Orthodox recruits is expected to rise from 2,800 to 4,300 this year, but only about 900 of them integrate into the combat force. The burden on fighters in the field is described as heavy, with jumps between combat zones and reduced rest periods. The article criticizes Liberman for "hypocrisy" and states that continued political arguments will not fill the battalions.