"Equality of Burden" Has Passed Its Time: Liberalism and the New Military Model

Dr. Moshe Elhanati argues in an opinion piece that the demand for 'equality of burden' in drafting Haredim should be replaced with a professional, volunteer-based standing army model, similar to the Air Force. According to him, the shortage of combat soldiers is not an absolute truth, and there are plans to restructure the IDF that would provide thousands of experienced career soldiers.

Dr. Moshe Elhanati, a historian of the modern era, argues in an opinion piece that the demand for 'equality of burden' in drafting Haredim is irrelevant and should be replaced with a professional standing army model. According to him, the shortage of combat soldiers is not an absolute truth, and many security experts, including former IDF generals, have proposed plans to restructure the military to rely on volunteer career soldiers, similar to the Air Force. Elhanati claims that enough volunteers will be found, both from the religious Zionist camp, which views service as a sacred value, and from secular youth attracted by salary and benefits. He calls on the leaders of the 'Change Bloc' to present such a plan in negotiations with the Haredi parties, as a liberal and feasible solution to the social conflict.