Gallant says ‘all segments of the public’ must enlist, warns ‘more challenges ahead’

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant says all parts of Israeli society need to draft to the military, amid the ongoing war.

“We need everyone to protect ourselves in this country. We will bring everyone possible, from all segments of the public, from all levels, we will draft them, we will give them equal opportunity, and as far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t matter where you came from, what your parents did, what part of the country you live in, you can reach any unit,” Gallant says while meeting troops from the elite Yahalom combat engineering unit.

“There are more challenges ahead,” he adds.

His remarks come hours after lawmakers voted to apply “continuity” to a bill from the previous Knesset dealing with the military service of yeshiva students.

Gallant, of Likud, was the only coalition lawmaker to vote against the legislation, which if eventually approved, would lower the current age of exemption from mandatory service for Haredi yeshiva students from 26 to 21 and “very slowly” increase the rate of ultra-Orthodox conscription.

As ultra-Orthodox men are generally exempt from military service due to controversial longstanding arrangements, the IDF has begun to move to extend the period in which conscripted and reservist soldiers serve, as it faces personnel constraints amid the long war, as well as due to the thousands of casualties.