Israeli Finance Minister Admits Reserve Duty Strain Not Due to Haredim
Translated & summarized from JDN by baba
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich admitted that the strain on IDF reservists is not due to the non-recruitment of Haredim, calling the claim a "complete lie." He stated the army faces challenges absorbing 50,000 reservists due to a lack of resources and infrastructure. Despite this, Smotrich continues to push for Haredi conscription and plans to establish a special directorate under his control to manage it.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich stated the burden on IDF reservists is not due to Haredi non-recruitment.
- Smotrich called the claim that Haredi non-service increases reservist burden "a complete lie."
- He cited a lack of frameworks, equipment, and infrastructure as the primary cause of reservist absorption issues.
- The minister acknowledged about 50,000 combat-qualified reservists are available for service.
- Smotrich plans to create a special directorate under his authority to manage Haredi recruitment.
- He continues to advocate for Haredi conscription as a security and values necessity.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has stated that the heavy burden on IDF reservists is not caused by the non-recruitment of the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) population. Smotrich declared that the claim that the burden on reservists is great because Haredim do not serve is "a complete lie." According to the minister, there are approximately 50,000 combat-qualified reservists in the IDF who wish to return to service, but the army struggles to absorb them due to a lack of frameworks, equipment, and infrastructure. He attributed the core problem to the "small and smart army" concept adopted for decades.
Despite acknowledging these structural issues, Smotrich continues to advocate for Haredi conscription, framing it as a security and values imperative. He announced that in the next term, he would demand the establishment of a special directorate within the Ministry of Defense, subordinate to him, to manage Haredi recruitment and optimize personnel in the IDF. "I will not let the army manage this as it is," Smotrich said, indicating his desire to centralize control over the process and drive a change in the lifestyle of the Haredi public.
The contradiction in his statements is evident: Smotrich admits the reserve duty crisis stems primarily from structural failures and a shortage of military frameworks, not from the non-recruitment of Haredim. Nevertheless, he maintains Haredi conscription as a top priority, urging them to alter their way of life, while proposing a plan to be managed under his exclusive political authority.
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