IDF Official Warns of 90,000 Draft Dodgers Amid Ultra-Orthodox Recruitment Crisis

Brigadier General Shay Tayeb issued a stark warning on June 30, 2026, during a Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee session about the escalating crisis in recruiting ultra-Orthodox Israelis into the military. He predicted that within a year and a half, the number of draft dodgers could reach 90,000. Tayeb explained that some young men refuse to enlist because their brothers have already dodged service, while others avoid enlistment due to overcrowding in military units.

Tayeb emphasized the urgent need for effective conscription legislation, stating that temporary orders currently in place are insufficient for managing manpower planning. He highlighted that arrests and detentions remain essential tools for enforcing the Security Service Law. Despite the challenges, he noted an increase in recruitment numbers, estimating that the latest recruitment cycle would surpass 3,500 new soldiers.

The general’s remarks underscore the ongoing difficulties the IDF faces in integrating the ultra-Orthodox population into military service and the necessity for legislative reforms to address the growing issue of draft evasion.