Conscription Not a Political Bargaining Chip, Advocate Argues
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
Noa Mivorach, a leader in the conscription struggle, argues that political negotiations are neglecting the IDF's critical need for 12,000 more soldiers, including 7,000 combat troops. She criticizes the idea of a reserve-focused army and calls for the conscription of Haredi and Arab citizens as essential for national security and the state's future. Mivorach urges the formation of a unified Zionist government to address these vital issues, emphasizing that conscription is a matter of survival, not political leverage.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- IDF needs 12,000 more soldiers, including 7,000 combat troops, annually, according to Noa Mivorach.
- Mivorach argues conscripting Haredi men is a necessity, not a political bargaining chip.
- She criticizes transforming the IDF into a reserve-focused army as a strategic error.
- The advocate calls for a unified Zionist government to address conscription and security needs.
- Mivorach highlights long-term economic challenges posed by the growing Haredi population.
- She suggests shared military service can foster social integration and economic participation.
A prominent advocate for military conscription, Noa Mivorach, argues that the ongoing political maneuvering surrounding government formation is dangerously misplacing priorities, particularly concerning the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) need for more regular soldiers. She criticizes the notion that the October 7th attacks did not fundamentally alter the military's requirements, stating that past assumptions about military, political, and social needs are no longer valid. Mivorach emphasizes that the IDF currently lacks approximately 12,000 soldiers, including 7,000 combat troops, and that this deficit must be addressed annually.
She contends that transforming the IDF into a "reserve army" is a strategic, economic, and ethical error that will ultimately strain either the treasury or families. Mivorach dismisses the idea of further streamlining reserve duty as a mere "band-aid" insufficient after prolonged conflict. She asserts that increasing the number of regular soldiers is a vital, non-partisan issue essential for national security, supported by both right-wing and left-wing voters who desire safety for their children.
Mivorach criticizes both the outgoing government's failure to prioritize conscription and the incoming coalition's potential to use it as a bargaining chip, especially in relation to judicial reform. She insists that addressing the conscription of Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men is a matter of necessity, not a luxury, and calls for a unified Zionist government to tackle this and other critical issues. She also suggests that Arab citizens who view themselves as equal should also be integrated into national service.
Mivorach highlights the long-term economic implications of the Haredi population's growth, projecting they will constitute over a third of the working-age male population in thirty years, posing a challenge to economic stability. However, she believes that shared military service could foster greater social integration and a desire to participate in Israel's economic growth. The conscription of all segments of Israeli society, she concludes, is fundamental to the continued existence of a Jewish and democratic state.
