Israeli Government Keeps Mandatory Military Service at 32 Months Amid Haredi Draft Deal

The Israeli government is advancing a deal with the Haredi community to regulate the issue of military draft exemptions, as revealed by ynet. Despite a shortage of combat soldiers and public anger over proposals to extend mandatory service to 36 months, officials have decided to maintain the current length of compulsory military service at 32 months for now. This decision comes even though there was an original plan to reduce the service period to 30 months.

According to a statement sent to Knesset members and obtained by ynet, "In coordination with the Ministry of Defense, the government, and the IDF, it was decided to promote a temporary order in the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee to fix the length of mandatory service at 32 months. This measure addresses urgent operational needs and prevents shortening the service to 30 months." The committee is scheduled to discuss the matter on the upcoming Thursday.