Record Number of Haredi Men Enlist for Combat Roles in IDF

Approximately 260 Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) young men enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Tuesday, marking the first day of a combat roles recruitment cycle. This represents a significant increase of about 30% compared to the same day last year, when 198 Haredi men enlisted. The number also shows an increase from the previous recruitment cycle, which saw 211 Haredi recruits on its first day.

Of the new recruits, over 100 joined the Netzah Yehuda battalion, a unit specifically for religious soldiers. More than 30 enlisted in the Paratroopers Brigade, a notable number for this elite unit, and 75 joined the Hasmonean Brigade, a Haredi brigade established within the IDF. Defense officials anticipate further growth in Hasmonean Brigade enlistments in the coming days.

These recruits will be assigned to various roles and tracks within the IDF. Current assessments suggest that some of these tracks may meet their recruitment targets set by the Head of the Personnel Directorate, Major General Dadi Bar Kalippa. The figures emerge amidst ongoing efforts to expand Haredi enlistment in the IDF and increase their participation in combat roles, against the backdrop of a persistent public and political debate surrounding the conscription of yeshiva students.