Army recruitment goals of Ultra-Orthodox Jews not being met: Israeli attorney general warns

Israeli Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara has told Defence Minister Israel Katz that the army’s recruitment goals of Ultra-Orthodox Jews are not being met, adding that the government is legally obliged to take action against those who fail to enlist.

In a letter sent yesterday, Baharav-Miara cited security officials as saying that during the war between Israel and Hamas, “a significant increase in the regular order of battle was required and that the enlistment of members of the Ultra-Orthodox community is a vital security necessity.”

“The recruitment figures for the current year, as reported, fall far short of the military’s needs, the targets set and presented to the High Court of Justice,” the statement added, stressing that “according to the position of all professional and legal authorities, strengthening personal enforcement measures – including revoking benefits for draft evaders and expanding the range of administrative and economic sanctions against individuals – is a necessary condition for filling the ranks of the military.”

She also pointed to the government’s recent decision to allow the call-up of up to 400,000 reserve soldiers if Israel returns to war in Gaza, saying it exacerbates the inequality between those required to serve long periods in reserve service and those who do not.

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