Israel Delays Extending Mandatory Military Service to 36 Months Until Next Government

Israel has postponed the decision to extend mandatory military service from 32 to 36 months until the next government takes office. After extensive discussions among the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), the Ministry of Defense, and the Government Secretary, a temporary solution was agreed upon to maintain the current service length at 32 months. This interim measure aims to prevent the reduction of service to 30 months and provides some relief to the reserve forces by stabilizing the service duration.

The decision comes amid legal and political challenges, including opposition from the Knesset's legal advisor, which has made it difficult to separate the service length issue from the broader conscription law. As a result, the extension to 36 months will not be advanced in the current government and is expected to be revisited at least six months later, potentially by the incoming administration.

The temporary regulation will be promoted through the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee as an urgent step to provide certainty to Israel's defense system until a permanent legislative solution is formulated. This approach reflects a consensus among all involved parties that legislative amendments are necessary but currently unattainable. The move also aims to ease some of the burdens on the IDF's reserve forces while maintaining operational readiness.