IDF Reserves commanders warn planned conscription legislation could harm Israel’s security

Dozens of commanders in the IDF reserves send a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and other senior officials warning that the current outline of the planned conscription legislation will not only deepen the inequality between those who serve in the IDF and those who do not but will harm Israel’s security.

The IDF’s plan to increase the time conscripts and reservists serve in the military, combined with the Haredi enlistment law, will create an “extremely unequal” situation, the commanders charge.

The government is trying to “solve the need for more soldiers in the easiest way for politicians — increasing the burden on those who are already serving,” the letter warns.

“Under the new outline, the IDF will no longer be the ‘People’s Army.’ This is an outline that will greatly increase injustice and inequality and perpetuate serious discrimination between our people,” it continues.

The commanders also warn that beyond the feeling of inequality, there are concerns that under the new proposal, “the reserve system will not be able to meet its requirements, to the point of difficulty in manning operations.”

“We demand from you, the people responsible by law and by virtue of your authority for our routine and emergency operation, to stand firm and prevent any discriminatory and offensive recruitment plan of this kind,” the commanders add.