Israeli draft

Israeli youth eager for combat, majority see IDF as victorious - poll

Despite their faith in the IDF, just 59% expressed medium-to-high levels of trust in the IDF's senior command, while 41% said that they had low or very low trust in the army's senior leadership.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen Eyal Zamir meets with soldiers in southern Lebanon, July 4, 2026.
Reservists Party leader Yoaz Hendel presents national PTSD recovery plan after October 7, May 10, 2026.

'Abandoning values': Yoaz Hendel accuses Religious Zionist Party of encouraging mass draft evasion

Maj.-Gen. David (Dado) Bar Kalifa, Head of the Manpower Directorate attends a State Control Committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem, on September 17, 2025.

Mandatory service extension will not solve army manpower crisis, head of IDF personnel warns

 Haredi men are seen protesting the effort to draft ultra-Orthodox Israelis into the IDF.

Over 70 mayors, council leaders file petition against haredi draft exemption law


WATCH: Bodycam shows soldier rescued by police from haredi protest amid threats, attacks

The soldier was rescued after getting off a blocked bus in Jerusalem, where he was surrounded by an agitated crowd of protesters.

HAREDI MEN protest against the jailing of yeshiva students who failed to comply with an IDF draft order, in May 2026.

The controversy over mixed-gender IDF units still ruffles Israeli society - opinion

The deeper challenge lies in the clash between equality at any price and adherence to Jewish law.

IDF forces during the “Sulfur and Fire” readiness exercise on May 15, 2026.

IDF draft moving forward amid Operation Roaring Lion, includes over 500 new immigrants

The batch of recruits for March-April 2026 is expected to consist of thousands of soldiers, including those drafting into combat roles.

Maj.-Gen. Dado Bar Khalifa, head of the IDF’s Human Resources Department, addresses ultra-Orthodox recruits as they enlist in the military.

IDF overhauls pre-draft medical screening checks during military conscription process with AI

The IDF is overhauling its pre-draft medical screening to streamline the process, remove unnecessary exams, and introduce new tests for better accuracy and efficiency in preparing draft candidates.

Young Israelis arrive to the Israeli army recruitment center at Tel Hashomer, outside of Tel Aviv on March 17, 2020.

Former hostage Nimrod Cohen announces return to IDF: 'Didn't do enough during my mandatory service'

"I didn't really do my service, the way I see it. I served for ten months until I was kidnapped," Cohen said in an interview for N12's Ulpan Shishi.

Released Israeli hostage Nimrod Cohen at the funeral of Israeli soldier Staff Sgt. Daniel Oz, at the military cemetery in Kfar Saba.

Lapid, Eisenkot, and Bennett back reservists at Jerusalem draft law protest

"I hope that Knesset receives the message to promote a draft law and not a [draft] evasion law," Eisenkot said.

Yair Lapid and Gadi Eisenkot embrace at draft law protests in Jerusalem on January 15, 2026.

IDF cancels ultra-Orthodox Hashmonaim Brigade event for parents in Bnei Brak after haredi riot

The event was interrupted by a group of several dozen haredi extremists associated with the Jerusalem faction, who tried to break into the compound where the event was being held.

HAREDIM SCUFFLE with police outside Jerusalem’s IDF Recruitment Center, Nov. 12.

Katz rejects appt of Col. (res.) Gitelman, claims he promoted draft dodging

"Those who preach or encourage refusal will not serve in the IDF and will not be promoted to any position," Katz said.  

IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir attends the funeral of Israeli soldier Hadar Goldin, who's body had been held captive by Hamas in Gaza since 2014 and released a few days ago, at the Kfar Saba military cemetery. November 11, 2025.

Bismuth's haredi draft bill advances in heated Knesset panel, lawmakers call it 'not nearly enough'

The continued discussions on the bill come after the chairperson of the committee, MK Boaz Bismuth (Likud), laid out his updated version of the legislation to the panel on Monday. 

Protests against haredi draft begins in Jerusalem, October 30, 2025.

'A movement takes time': How one rabbi is slowly changing the haredi draft debate

Behind protests and politics, a quiet revolution is reshaping ultra-Orthodox attitudes toward military service.

Ultra-Orthodox Jews carry a banner in Hebrew that reads, “to prison and not the army,” during a “million man” protest against military conscription, in Jerusalem October 30, 2025.