Israeli Men Must Serve Full 3 Years to Discharge... Will Women's 24 Months Change?

Mandatory service for men extended from 32 to 36 months under current law
Troop shortages due to prolonged conflicts like the Palestine war
Women’s mandatory service remains 24 months with no mention of extension

Israel has decided to extend the mandatory military service period for men from 32 months to 36 months.

Local media such as Haaretz and The Times of Israel reported on the 12th (local time) that the Israeli Security Cabinet decided in a meeting the previous day to extend men's military service by 4 months for the next 8 years.

The extension plan will be finalized after approval at the full cabinet meeting on the 14th and then by the Knesset (parliament). If the bill is approved, it will be valid for the next 8 years. The mandatory service period for women was not mentioned.

In Israel, all citizens aged 18 and over, regardless of gender, are subject to military service. Under current law, men must serve 32 months and women 24 months in the military.

Israeli trainees undergoing military training
[Image source=Yonhap News]

This measure comes as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) face manpower shortages amid the war in the Gaza Strip and confrontations with the Iran-aligned militant group Hezbollah on the Lebanon border. Over the past few months, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has been urging the government and parliament to extend the conscript service period to 36 months.

Minister Gallant also criticized the exemption benefits granted to Haredi men. He argued that it is unfair to extend the service period for some men while others are exempted from military service.

Under current law, Haredi men can defer military service annually by registering at a religious educational institution called a Yeshiva under the pretext of studying Jewish scriptures. Gallant expressed a firm stance that starting next month, Haredi men will also be conscripted.

Currently, it is estimated that about 12% of Israel's total population is Haredi. Among them, approximately 67,000 are currently subject to conscription.

Last month, the Israeli High Court ruled that "there is no longer a legal basis to exempt Haredi men from mandatory military service."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.