Who will stop Order 8
Dr. Ariel Heyman, a reserve brigadier general and senior researcher at INSS, analyzes the ongoing use of Order 8 to activate the reserve system since October 7, 2023. He argues that the tool, designed for short-term emergencies, has become the IDF's permanent mechanism, wearing down soldiers and their families, and leaving the system without oversight or a cap. Heyman calls on the Knesset, the Treasury, or the military itself to regulate the issue, warning that if nothing is done, it may be necessary to turn to the High Court of Justice.
Dr. Ariel Heyman, a reserve brigadier general and senior researcher at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), analyzes in his article the ongoing use of Order 8 to activate the Israeli reserve system. He notes that the order was declared on the morning of October 7, 2023, has been extended over ten times, and by the end of the month will be extended into its fourth year. Heyman argues that the tool, designed for short-term emergencies, has become the IDF's permanent activation mechanism, without a cap on service days, without advance notice, and without a gap between deployments. The result, he says, is a growing burden on soldiers and their families, citing economic data: the cost of salaries and grants for reservists in 2025 stood at about 27 billion shekels, and the cost of a month of service for a soldier aged 31-39 is estimated at about 68,000 shekels. Heyman criticizes the military, which has refrained from amending the law because the order is convenient for it, and the Knesset, which is reluctant to touch the law for fear of enshrining an increased burden. He calls on the military to impose limits on itself, and warns that if nothing is done, it may be necessary to turn to the High Court of Justice on the grounds that the situation exceeds the bounds of reasonableness.