IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Wednesday at the northern border that the military must replicate the Jonathan Battalion and expand the Hasmonean Brigade into a full combat brigade, citing rising ultra-Orthodox enlistment, according to the IDF Spokesperson. Zamir committed to enabling service while preserving the recruits' way of life, and said expanding the service circle will ease the burden on reserve soldiers.
The Chief of Staff's call to replicate the Jonathan Battalion marks a specific step in the IDF's plan to expand ultra-Orthodox combat service. The Jonathan Battalion, an ultra-Orthodox combat unit, is seen as a model for integrating Haredi recruits into front-line roles while accommodating their religious lifestyle.
As The Zioneer reported at 18:00, Zamir said during a meeting with commanders of the Hashmonaim Brigade at the northern border that the 'lesson of October 7' is that the IDF must grow and strengthen its ground forces. At 18:05, The Zioneer reported Zamir's goal of expanding the Hasmonean Brigade into a full combat brigade. The new statement adds the specific call to replicate the Jonathan Battalion, indicating a concrete plan to scale the model.
Zamir emphasized that the integration of Haredi soldiers is 'vital to the security of the State of Israel and the entire people of Israel.' He said the IDF is committed to enabling service while preserving the recruits' lifestyle, and that expanding the circle of service will help ease the burden on reserve forces.
Implementation details, including timelines and the number of new battalions, were not specified in the statement.
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