In a significant shift for Israel's ultra-Orthodox community, police recruitment numbers have nearly doubled over the past year under outgoing National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's tenure, new data reveals.
The figures, released Tuesday as Ben Gvir steps down following the Hamas hostage deal, show a striking 93% increase in ultra-Orthodox recruitment across various security services. This includes 100 recruits to mandatory police service, 66 to the specialized ultra-Orthodox Border Police unit, and 161 to civil security positions.
Most notably, the majority of these recruits have opted to continue into career service positions, potentially signaling a broader cultural shift in ultra-Orthodox attitudes toward national security service.
"This isn't just a personal achievement – it's a national one," Ben Gvir told local media outlet Kikar HaShabbat during his final day in office. "The ultra-Orthodox community is now showing willingness to join the police force, something that was practically taboo just years ago."
The recruitment surge comes amid ongoing debates over military service exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men. Ben Gvir's office had been planning to launch a major recruitment campaign next month, aimed at further boosting these numbers.
"I hope my successor will continue this policy," Ben Gvir added, who resigned Tuesday morning over disagreements regarding the hostage deal with Hamas.
This development represents a significant shift for Israel's ultra-Orthodox community, which has traditionally maintained distance from state security services. The high retention rate among recruits suggests this change could have lasting implications for both the police force and ultra-Orthodox integration into national service.
Many in Israel believe that Ben Gvir was a disastrous minister, who said whatever he felt like saying, even when it was inflammatory – and did nothing whatsoever for the country.
But this achievement, and the fact that he put an immediate end to favorable prison conditions for Palestinian prisoners - stands in direct opposition to those claims.
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