Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said his party will demand a higher Haredi enlistment rate as a condition for entering the next government, vowing to 'bring about a revolution' on the issue. According to a report by Amit Segal (N12), Smotrich set a target of reducing the annual reserve duty burden to 30 days per soldier by 2027. The plan includes placing approximately 50,000 soldiers in reserve units and establishing a national program for Haredi recruitment, including expanding dedicated tracks for yeshiva students.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Thursday demanded a significant increase in the rate of Haredi enlistment as a non-negotiable condition for his party's participation in the next government, according to a report by Amit Segal (N12). Smotrich vowed to 'bring about a revolution' in the issue.
The minister set a target: soldiers will serve no more than 30 reserve days per year by 2027. To achieve this, he outlined a plan involving the placement of approximately 50,000 soldiers in reserve units and the establishment of a national program to recruit Haredi men into the IDF, including expanding dedicated service tracks for yeshiva students.
The demand adds to the ongoing political deadlock over the conscription law, which has seen the IDF warn of a personnel crisis without legislative action, as The Zioneer has previously reported. Smotrich's conditions could shape coalition negotiations after the next election.
2 developments
- DevelopingSmotrich says he hopes Haredim will 'correct' course on enlistment
- DevelopingSmotrich mulls additional reserved slots in Religious Zionism list to attract Mizrahi, light-religious voters
- DevelopingHaredi official accuses Smotrich of using Finance Ministry opinions to block Torah study law
- DevelopingDefense Minister Katz advances expansion of civilian national service for Haredim
Source and signal
- Open-source intake