Government OKs measure to keep 320,000 reservists eligible for draft until March 2025

By Sam Sokol 24 November 2024, 10:49 pm

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Reservists of the 8th Armored Brigade operate in southern Lebanon, in a handout image published on November 6, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)

The government approves the extension of a special measure raising the number of reservists the IDF is authorized to call up for service, a spokesman for the Prime Minister’s Office confirms to The Times of Israel.

According to media reports, up to 320,000 reservists will remain eligible to be drafted until March 2025.

Tweeting ahead of the decision, Opposition Leader Yair Lapid slammed the government for extending the eligibility for service of people “who have been serving for 250 and 300 days.”

“If the government would recruit thousands of ultra-Orthodox youths, it would be possible to ease the burden on those who both serve and work,” he stated.

In June, the government raised the number of reservists the IDF was authorized to call up in case of need from 300,000 to 350,000 until August 1.