Gaza Herald – Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has warned that the Israel Defense Forces face a “risk of collapse” due to an acute shortage of soldiers. He placed responsibility for the ongoing conscription crisis on the government of Benjamin Netanyahu, particularly amid escalating disagreements regarding the enlistment of Haredi Jews.
Bennett, leader of the opposition “Yesh Atid” alliance, made these remarks in statements relayed by Channel 12 Hebrew. He stated that there are serious strategic security warnings indicating that the military lacks sufficient personnel to address all threats highlighted by the current government.
He added that prolonged war campaigns drain troops and harm their operational readiness. The lack of forces sometimes forces the army to abandon previously controlled positions because it cannot provide enough soldiers to maintain them.
Bennett criticized what he described as government support for “draft evasion.” He argued that voting for the coalition supporting this trend is a direct vote against the soldiers of the army. He questioned how enemies can be fought if the prime minister continues to encourage mass draft evasion and causes the army’s collapse.
In a post on his X account, Bennett said the one responsible for the refusal of approximately 120 thousand Haredi settlers to enlist is not the individuals of this sect, but rather the “government of Israel.” This comes after Netanyahu warned of a possible attack before the Knesset elections scheduled for October 27.
During a visit to Tel Nof Airbase, Netanyahu indicated that there are signs that “enemies of Israel will try to attack it before the elections,” without specifying the entity or the nature of the indicators. Analysts suggested he plans to create a security event to delay the elections.
Bennett’s warnings about the manpower crisis are not new. In March last year, the IDF admitted that the shortage reached an “unbearable” level. Spokesperson Evi Darin stated on March 31 that the army suffers from a deficit ranging between 12 thousand and 15 thousand soldiers.
Darin called for enacting a law allowing the enlistment of more elements, pointing to the need to include new segments, primarily Haredim. Earlier, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir also warned of a potential collapse if the shortage was not addressed amidst expanding operations.
Haredi protests against military service have continued since the Supreme Court decision on June 25, 2024, mandating enlistment and stopping financial aid to religious institutions whose students refuse service. Senior rabbis oppose enlistment, while the opposition insists on expanding recruitment to solve the shortage.
This report was produced in the Gaza Herald newsroom.
