The cabinet has approved a decision to extend mandatory military service to 36 months for the next eight years. The government is set to vote on this requirement, put forth by the Defense Minister and the IDF, in a session on Sunday.
This approval comes in the wake of harsh criticism from Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who stressed the urgency of the move due to ongoing conflict and accused the government of prioritizing political interests over security needs.
Defense Minister Gallant provided a briefing at the beginning of the week, emphasizing the immediate need to extend the duration of military service in light of the increasing threat and significantly reduced force structure. "The need on the ground is clear, but for months, political needs and the desire for headlines have taken precedence," Gallant criticized during the briefing. He addressed his fellow ministers, stating, "It is the responsibility of everyone in this room to provide the IDF with the basic conditions to continue fighting. People are the most important; Without this, there is nothing."
The call to extend mandatory service also came from the IDF. The service duration was initially set to be reduced by two months to 30 months, but due to the ongoing war, the IDF demanded a return to the 36-month service period. This decision is driven by an increasing shortage of soldiers alongside the persistent threats in various regions.
Gallant's criticism received a strong response from other ministers. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi questioned Gallant during the briefing, "How can you agree to extend mandatory service without broad consensus, yet insist on broad agreement for the draft exemption law?" Gallant clarified, "Israel's security is not politics. Security is a condition for our existence. There is a difference between the need to recruit soldiers and the need to exempt people from service."
* Channel 12 contributed to this article.
