Israel Considers Recruiting Jewish Youth from Abroad

(MENAFN) Israel's defense forces are reportedly contemplating a strategy to recruit Jewish youth from overseas, as part of efforts to alleviate what officials describe as a critical shortage of personnel, according to Army Radio on Monday.

The report indicates that military authorities are considering outreach initiatives directed at Jewish communities around the world, encouraging young individuals to enlist and bolster the army’s numbers.

This proposal emerges in the midst of a serious troop deficit, estimated between 10,000 and 12,000 soldiers.

The shortfall is attributed primarily to the ongoing refusal of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish population, known as Haredim, to participate in mandatory military service.

Comprising approximately 13% of Israel's 10 million citizens, the Haredim maintain that their lives are devoted to “Torah study” and argue that joining the secular military system would compromise their religious way of life.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent push for legislation that would provide blanket exemptions for Haredim has encountered strong opposition from both government coalition partners and opposition members.

Detractors have labeled the proposal “discriminatory,” arguing it unfairly privileges one segment of the population.

As per Army Radio, the military's plan includes focusing recruitment efforts on significant Jewish populations abroad, especially in the United States and France, with a goal of attracting around 700 new soldiers annually.

This manpower gap has intensified broader challenges facing Israel’s military, which also struggles with outdated equipment and a reserve force depleted by extended operations in Gaza.

Many reservists have reported “psychological trauma” and extreme fatigue due to prolonged engagement in the conflict.

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