Israel sends first draft orders to ultra-Orthodox men, 3,000 expected to be drafted over 4 weeks

Release of draft orders could lead to coalition problems with ultra-Orthodox parties

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The IDF on Sunday distributed recruitment orders via SMS messaging to about 1,000 young ultra-Orthodox men, instructing them to appear for recruitment and screening.

The first draft orders were sent to men between the ages of 18 and 26, with another 2,000 orders expected to be delivered over the next four weeks.

Last Thursday, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the first batch would be delivered at the beginning of this week.

According to the IDF, all 3,000 men selected for recruitment were chosen based on indicators that they were not engaged in full-time studies at a yeshiva, a religious studies school.

The Israeli military is addressing concerns about the decreasing number of permanent soldiers. In recent years, a growing number of recruits have chosen to return to civilian life and perform reserve duty instead of pursuing careers as full-time soldiers.

At the same time, because of the ongoing war in Gaza, the IDF needs more recruits for a possible two-front war. According to the IDF, it will need to mobilize an additional 10,000 soldiers to meet the need based on the length of the Gaza War, the number of casualties, and the possibility of fighting on two fronts.

Last week, the IDF revealed it was making several concessions to ultra-Orthodox recruits, including placing them under religiously observant commanders and ensuring they would not be required to serve with women. The military reportedly hopes to establish an ultra-Orthodox battalion.

After several ultra-Orthodox rabbis instructed their followers to ignore the summons, the IDF said those who refuse to report will be blocked from leaving the country and face arrest by the Military Police.

On Monday morning, at the start of a party meeting, opposition leader Yair Lapid of Yesh Atid commended the IDF for following through with the recruitment of Haredi, ultra-Orthodox, young men.

“Recruitment to the IDF is the law and it is also an existential security need. The state should behave like a state. For the first time in years, she is doing it. It's starting, and we'll make sure it continues,” he said.

Responding to charges that an increase in Haredi enlistment would lead to a civil war, Lapid said, "The goal is not civil war, and the goal is not to quarrel with the ultra-Orthodox, the goal is for them to enlist and serve, just like our children.”

He said the army “needs at least 12 more battalions.”

“At least ten thousand young Haredim will need to be recruited, and they need to be recruited quickly, already this year,” Lapid stated, pledging that Yesh Atid “will work through the committee, with the Defense Ministry, to make sure that enough orders are sent so that there will be enough soldiers.”

For decades, ultra-Orthodox parties have resisted attempts to increase Haredi recruitment into the Israeli army. Several Haredi Knesset members have threatened to leave the coalition over the issue.

Last month, the High Court ruled that the government must increase ultra-Orthodox recruitment to comply with existing law.