Israeli Knesset Committee Approves Extending Mandatory Military Service to 32 Months

The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved in second and third readings a bill extending mandatory military service in Israel to 32 months. During the committee discussions, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that even 32 months would be insufficient and called for a 36-month service period. Brigadier General Shay Tayeb, head of the IDF Planning and Human Resources Division, warned that the regular army is reaching its operational limits, and the reserves could also face collapse if the situation continues. Government Secretary Yossi Fox urged lawmakers to temporarily set aside disputes over ultra-Orthodox conscription, emphasizing that the immediate concern is the damage to the IDF's capabilities.