The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has announced plans to call up 54,000 students from religious institutions of higher learning who were previously exempt from service. About this informs IDF press office.
Invitations are scheduled to be sent out in July, and the enrollment process will continue until the end of 2025. The IDF explained its decision by the need “to fill the ranks as soon as possible in view of the growing operational need for persons with high combat potential.”
For recruits from an Orthodox background, the army promised to create conditions that “respect their unique way of life” and implement special programs to facilitate integration into military service. In addition, the army announced its intention to strengthen measures against draft evasion and desertion among all categories of the population.
In Israel, military service is mandatory for most Jews starting at age 18 and lasts 24 to 32 months, followed by reserve duty. Until last year, religious students were exempt from service, but Israel’s Supreme Court overturned this right.
It will be recalled that on the night of June 13, Israel launched a military operation called “Eastern Lion”, during which the IDF carried out “preemptive strikes” on objects related to the Iranian nuclear program, with the aim of preventing Tehran from obtaining weapons of mass destruction.
On June 24, after 11 days of fighting, Israel agreed to a cease-fire with Iran, ending an operation aimed at destroying the country’s nuclear capabilities.
