Israel Faces Soldier Shortage After a Year of War
More than a year into the Gaza war, Israel’s reservists are exhausted, and the country is struggling to recruit soldiers as it opens a new front in Lebanon.
Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, approximately 300,000 reservists have been called up, with 18% of them being men over 40 who should have been exempt.
Reservist Ariel Seri-Levy expressed his frustration in a social media post that went viral, saying, “We’re drowning.” He emphasised the need to end the war, stating, “We have to end this war because we are out of soldiers.”
Seri-Levy has been called up four times since the attack and questioned those who want Israel to “stay in Lebanon and Gaza.” He believes in serving one’s country but noted that “the concessions have become too great.”
Another reservist, a father of two, shared his struggles anonymously with AFP. He mentioned that, in addition to fatigue and moral exhaustion, he lost his job due to the prolonged reserve duty. Many freelance workers have had to close their businesses because of the war, despite the government’s guarantee of a minimum income for reservists.
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The reservist said, “The collective is still above the individual, but the cost is too great for my family.” He spent nearly six months in Gaza this year.
The ongoing war has sparked debate about drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews, who are currently exempt from military service. The ultra-Orthodox account for 14% of Israel’s Jewish population, representing about 1.3 million people.
Approximately 66,000 of those of conscription age are exempted. Under a rule adopted at Israel’s creation in 1948, ultra-Orthodox Jews have historically been exempted from military service if they dedicate themselves to the study of sacred Jewish texts.
In June, Israel’s Supreme Court ordered the draft of yeshiva students after deciding the government could not keep up the exemption “without an adequate legal framework.” Ultra-Orthodox political parties in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition called for such a framework before a vote on the budget at the end of the year.
Aryeh Deri, leader of the Sephardi ultra-Orthodox party Shas, hopes “to solve the problem of the draft” for seminary students. Meanwhile, around 2,000 wives of reservists from the religious Zionist movement signed an open letter asking to “lighten the load for those who serve.” Academic Tehila Elitzur, mother and wife of a reservist, emphasized, “There is no contradiction between Torah study and military service, both go hand in hand.”
David Zenou, a 52-year-old rabbi who fought for 250 days this year, including several weeks in Lebanon, said, “It’s an honor to serve my country, and I will continue to do it for as long as I can.” He stressed, “Above all, let’s not forget that this is war, and we are short on soldiers.” Zenou is a father of seven and grandfather of six.
The military has lost 367 soldiers in Gaza since the ground offensive began on October 27 last year and 37 in Lebanon since Israel started ground operations on September 30. Periods of reserve duty have been extended, taking a toll on reservists’ personal and professional lives.