IDF chief: All parts of Israeli society should be drafted into the military

By Emanuel Fabian

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7 March 2024, 4:37 pm

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi speaks at a cadets graduation ceremony at the IDF's officers school in southern Israel, known as Bahad 1, March 7, 2024. (Screenshot/YouTube)

In comments aimed at the ultra-Orthodox community, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi says all members of Israeli society should be drafted into the military.

“At this time, it is not enough to praise the existing diversity in the IDF, but to call for it to be expanded, and to add troops from all corners of society,” Halevi says at a cadets graduation ceremony at the IDF’s officers school in southern Israel, known as Bahad 1.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi (left) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attend a cadets graduation ceremony at the IDF’s officers school in southern Israel, known as Bahad 1, March 7, 2024. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

“This is the need of the hour, not only because the IDF needs to fill the missing ranks and expand its ranks, but mainly to strengthen social cohesion, the source of our resilience and strength and an important component of Israeli antifragility,” he adds.