Israeli Knesset Approves Extending Mandatory Military Service to 32 Months Amid Security Concerns

The Israeli Knesset approved a law on Thursday to extend mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to 32 months under a temporary provision. The legislation passed with 43 votes in favor and 12 against, amid public debate over equality in burden sharing. The law delays a planned reduction of service to 30 months, originally set for recruits in July 2024, pushing it back to June 2029 instead.

The extension aims to address immediate security needs, as explained in the bill's rationale, enabling the IDF to meet its operational goals. Despite the approval, military representatives stated the extension is insufficient, highlighting a shortage of approximately 12,000 soldiers, including 7,500 combat troops. IDF Chief of Staff recently warned cabinet ministers that a 36-month service would be necessary to prevent the army's collapse, describing the situation as raising "12 red flags."

Senior officers emphasized the urgent need to reduce the strain on the exhausted reserve forces and allow regular units adequate training. The approval comes during a politically tense week, which also saw the government advance a controversial bill to freeze arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders. This bill was temporarily blocked by the Supreme Court, which criticized the selective enforcement freeze.

To mitigate the impact on soldiers whose service is extended retroactively, the Finance and Defense Ministries proposed a financial compensation model called "subsistence pay for months 31-32." This applies to the "transition generation" who enlisted between July 2024 and June 2026. Frontline combat soldiers will receive about 8,780 shekels monthly for the extra two months, combining double subsistence pay with discharge grants and deposits. The compensation decreases for later enlistment dates, with non-combat soldiers receiving less. New recruits after the law's enactment will serve 32 months without additional pay for the last two months, maintaining their standard subsistence allowance throughout.

The legislation reflects ongoing challenges balancing national security demands with social and political pressures regarding military service obligations in Israel.