As the war in the Gaza Strip enters its second year and tensions escalate with the Lebanese Hezbollah, the Israeli army faces great pressure in recruiting reserve forces.
A number of reserve soldiers expressed their dissatisfaction with the lengthy period of service and the increasing psychological pressure on them.
According to the Jerusalem Post, service has jumped Reserve soldiers In the Israeli army from a pre-war average of 25 to 42 days per year, to about 136 days per year for combatants during the war.
Reservist Ariel Siri Levy wrote in a post that spread widely on social media platforms, that the situation had “beyond the limits of tolerance,” recalling his repeated summons to service since October 2023.
Levy believes that “ending the war has become a necessity, especially in light of the continuing shortage in the number of soldiers.”
Another reservist, a father of two children, told Agence France-Presse that “losing his job increased the physical and psychological pressure on him.”
While the Israeli government provides a basic income to reservists, many small business owners have been forced to close their businesses.
Another soldier added: “Although the priority is the public interest, the cost has become very heavy for my family,” explaining that he spent about 6 months in Gaza this year.
During 2023 and 2024, reserve force commanders will serve longer, at a rate of 168 days per year, with some soldiers serving at the front for up to 142 days, while reservists serving in office positions for approximately 121 days.
Although Israeli army He said that 85 percent of reserve soldiers are still serving. The Jerusalem Post newspaper doubted this, noting that “the numbers are much lower, even approaching 50 percent,” considering this “a potential threat to the ability of the Israeli army to continue the tasks assigned to it.” By the government as part of the ongoing war.”
This comes at a time when I am unable to do so Israeli government About the adoption of legislation to officially and permanently increase the period of compulsory service from 32 to 36 months, in addition to the difficulty of including religiously extremist Jewish institute students known as “Haredim” into the army in larger numbers.
