On October 7, 2023, a surprise attack by Hamas against Israel triggered a series of major events in Middle East. This offensive caused the deaths of numerous Israeli civilians and led to a massive military response from Israel in the Strip. Gaza. Military operations have expanded, also involving exchanges of fire on the Lebanese border with the Hezbollahally of Hamas. This situation required an unprecedented mobilization of Israeli forces on several fronts.
An army under increasing tension
The Israeli army, faced with considerable human needs, is now struggling to maintain its numbers. Around 300,000 reservists have been called up since October 2023, almost a fifth of whom were initially exempt due to being over 40. The human toll increases with 771 soldiers dead and 4,500 injured since the start of the conflict. This situation highlights the limits of the Israeli military system, which traditionally relies on an active force of 170,000 soldiers, supplemented by reservists.
Reservists on the verge of collapse
The extension of service periods causes a wave of discontent among reservists. Some, like Ariel Seri-Levycalled four times since October, publicly denounce the devastating impact on their personal and professional lives. The economic consequences are particularly felt among self-employed workers, forced to cease their activity despite the minimal aid granted by the State. A father of two, who remains anonymous, testifies to having lost his job after spending almost six months in Gaza in one year.
The controversy of religious dispensations
The situation highlights the thorny issue of exemptions granted to ultra-Orthodox Jews. The latter, representing 14% of the Israeli Jewish population, historically benefit from exemptions to pursue their religious studies. Around 66,000 men of military age are thus evading their military obligations, creating tensions within Israeli society. The Supreme Court recently ordered their conscription, but the ultra-Orthodox parties, crucial allies of the Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahoustrongly oppose this decision. The debate takes on a particularly sensitive dimension as six volunteers initially exempted lost their lives in combat in the space of a week in October, including a father of ten children. This situation crystallizes the divisions between different components of Israeli society, with some calling for a more equitable sharing of the military burden, while others, like Rabbi David Kneeaged 52 and having served more than 250 days this year, consider military service a patriotic duty despite its high personal cost.
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