IDF Official Urges Extending Mandatory Service to 36 Months Amid Personnel Crisis

A senior Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) official stated on Wednesday evening that the military urgently needs to extend mandatory service from 30 to 36 months. "We are at the edge, it is do or die," the official said, emphasizing that 32 months is the minimum required to prevent further deterioration. The extension to 36 months would reduce the need for 8,000 reservists daily. The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee is scheduled to discuss the service extension on Thursday.

The IDF plans to compensate soldiers with a salary of approximately 11,000 shekels for the additional four months if the service is extended to 36 months. However, this full extension is unlikely under the current government. Instead, the Knesset is expected to approve a 32-month service period, with soldiers receiving double pay for the extra two months.

Earlier on Wednesday, IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi addressed the manpower crisis, warning that the army is at its minimal size relative to threats. He called for a significant expansion of the IDF to meet all operational demands, stressing that defending the country is a collective responsibility and a moral and Zionist duty. The article also briefly mentions political tensions involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bezalel Smotrich regarding budget discussions tied to legislation on Torah study, with demands to prioritize soldiers first.