IDF Halts DNA Collection for 20,000 Recruits Amid Budget Dispute

Approximately 20,000 Israeli soldiers who enlisted in recent months were not given DNA samples upon their induction into the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The collection of these samples, crucial for identifying soldiers in casualty events, was halted for several months due to a dispute between the Military Rabbinate and the Medical Corps regarding the funding of preservation materials.

This lapse in DNA sample collection affects soldiers, including combat troops, who enlisted in July and August. The samples are maintained by the IDF for years to facilitate identification in the event of casualties, creating a gap in the database for thousands of recruits from this period.

The immediate cause for the halt was a shortage of specialized cards used for long-term blood sample preservation. The underlying issue was a disagreement over which body, the Military Rabbinate or the Medical Corps, was responsible for budgeting these preservation supplies.

According to a source familiar with the matter, the shortage of these preservation materials was known for nearly two years before the collection was stopped, yet no action was taken. The source described the situation as "absurd," with each entity shirking responsibility and blaming the other.