IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Wednesday that the Hasmonean Brigade, established to integrate ultra-Orthodox soldiers, will become one of the leading brigades in the military, according to the IDF Spokesperson. Speaking at the northern border with the brigade's Jonathan Battalion, Zamir cited rising ultra-Orthodox enlistment and said the IDF must continue to expand and grow as a lesson from the October 7 attack.
The IDF Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, held a discussion with troops of the 'Jonathan' Battalion of the Hasmonean Brigade at the northern border on Wednesday evening, according to an IDF Spokesperson statement. Zamir said the Hasmonean Brigade, established to integrate ultra-Orthodox soldiers into the IDF while preserving their religious way of life, 'is breaking new ground' and will become 'one of the leading brigades in the IDF.'
'One of the lessons we learned from the October 7th massacre is that the IDF must grow, expand, and become stronger,' Zamir told the soldiers. He said the military must 'increase our reinforcement and build more battalions and brigades capable of operating, defeating the enemy, and defending the State of Israel.' Zamir specifically cited rising enlistment of ultra-Orthodox soldiers in both combat and combat support roles, and called for replicating the Jonathan Battalion model and developing the Hasmonean Brigade into a full combat brigade.
The Chief of Staff also met with commanders of the 55th Reserve Brigade, noting that this is the third consecutive year of reserve duty and hundreds of days of service. He said expanding the regular service pool is necessary to 'balance the scope of service and ease the burden' on reservists.
The statement comes as the IDF continues to manage operational demands across multiple fronts. The Hasmonean Brigade, named after the Maccabean dynasty, was established to create a dedicated framework for ultra-Orthodox service, combining military training with religious accommodations. The Jonathan Battalion, named after Jonathan the Hasmonean, is the first operational battalion within the brigade.
The Zioneer reported earlier Wednesday that Zamir characterized the need for military expansion as an 'operational necessity and a Zionist and moral duty.' The latest remarks provide additional detail on the specific units and integration goals.
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