PM Wants More Haredi Soldiers in the IDF
Netanyahu decides to adopt chief of staff’s recommendation; government to vote Sunday on plan to advance military and civilian service in ultra-Orthodox sector
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has adopted Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi’s stand and will aim to double the number of haredim serving in the army within five years.
Netanyahu’s office said Friday afternoon that the prime minister would ask the government to vote on a plan to advance military and civilian service in the ultra-Orthodox sector as early as Sunday.
The decision was made Friday morning at the end of a meeting between Netanyahu, Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and Major-General Avi Zamir, head of the IDF Personnel Directorate. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Netanyahu decided to adopts the recommendations the army chief submitted to him during their meeting Wednesday.
The statement added that the decision would make it possible to double the number of recruits from the haredi sector in the next five years. The PM’s Office expects the number of recruits in 2015 to total 4,800 – 2,400 in the army and 2,400 in national service. According to the plan, the IDF will also have additional combat systems take in haredi soldiers.