Israeli Knesset Committee Approves Extending Mandatory Military Service to 32 Months

The Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee approved a temporary provision to extend mandatory military service in Israel to 32 months. The decision was passed in a second and third reading with an 8-1 majority during a session held overnight between Monday and Tuesday. This extension delays the planned reduction of service length from 32 to 30 months, originally set for July 2024, by five years to June 2029, affecting soldiers who will be discharged in January 2032.

The approval follows a political controversy sparked by IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir's letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The IDF emphasized that even 32 months of service is insufficient for operational needs, advocating for a 36-month service period due to severe manpower shortages and heavy burdens on the reserve forces. Brigadier General Shay Tayeb, head of the IDF's Planning and Human Resources Division, warned that the regular forces are reaching their limits and some units could collapse if service is shortened. He stated that returning to 30 months would immediately reduce thousands of soldiers and significantly harm the IDF's operational readiness.

Government Secretary Yossi Fox highlighted the need to separate the immediate operational requirements of the IDF from the broader public debate about drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews. He noted that the current government must address the urgent manpower crisis, while a future government could conduct a more comprehensive discussion on service length.

The approved law also includes financial compensation for soldiers serving the additional months, with higher payments for those closer to their discharge date. The extension aims to stabilize the IDF's manpower and maintain its combat effectiveness amid ongoing challenges.