IDF Personnel Chief Warns of Deepening Manpower Crisis
Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa, the head of the IDF Personnel Directorate, warned of a severe shortage of thousands of combat soldiers and said the crisis could worsen. In remarks presented as an unusual WhatsApp exchange with journalist Moshe Nussbaum, he also revealed the very high reserve burden and warned against shortening compulsory service.
Bar Kalifa said, "I fear the IDF is small in size compared with the threats facing us." The warning comes amid broader public debate over IDF manpower, including the draft of ultra-Orthodox men and women, both mentioned in the article's context.
The exchange ended with a surprising video of Bar Kalifa doing push-ups. The piece was published by N12 Magazine on June 24, 2026, at 12:38.
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