Israeli Knesset Confirms Mandatory Military Service Will Remain 32 Months Until 2029

The Israeli Knesset approved a final decision on Thursday night to maintain the length of mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) at 32 months until 2029. Contrary to previous plans to reduce service to 30 months for those enlisting in July 2024 and discharged from January 2027 onward, the reduction will now only apply to recruits enlisting in June 2029, who will be discharged in January 2032. The vote saw 43 members of Knesset supporting the proposal, 12 opposing, and one abstention.

The explanatory notes for the proposal emphasized the urgent need to extend regular service to meet the IDF's operational goals and current security demands. Earlier in June, a senior IDF official publicly stated the army's critical need to extend mandatory service to 36 months, describing the situation as "do or die." The official argued that 32 months is the minimum required to prevent further deterioration and that a 36-month service would reduce the reliance on 8,000 reservists daily.

This decision comes amid ongoing discussions linking legislative approvals with budget considerations, reflecting demands from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Religious Zionist Party leader Bezalel Smotrich for parliamentary sessions to address these issues. The extension aims to ensure the IDF's readiness and capacity in the face of evolving security challenges.