Israel’s main opposition leader, Yair Lapid, has raised alarms over what he calls a growing threat to national security due to a shortage of combat soldiers. Speaking to the public yesterday, Lapid warned that the government’s current approach could lead the country into a “security disaster.”
“The IDF is stretched to the limit and beyond. The government is leaving our soldiers exposed on the battlefield,” Lapid said, echoing concerns recently voiced by military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir to the security cabinet.
Lapid criticized the government for sending the army into multiple potential conflict zones without a clear strategy, adequate resources, or sufficient personnel. According to media reports, Zamir warned that “the IDF is on the verge of collapse.”
Addressing the issue, military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin acknowledged that more combat soldiers are urgently needed, particularly on the Lebanese front. He also highlighted increased military requirements in the West Bank, Gaza, and Syria.
Lapid emphasized the exhaustion among reservists, some of whom are serving sixth and seventh rotations. “These reservists are worn out and exhausted and can no longer meet our security challenges. The army does not have enough soldiers for its missions,” he said.
Calling for decisive action, Lapid proposed drafting men from the ultra-Orthodox Haredi community, traditionally exempt from military service. “The government must stop being cowardly, immediately halt all funding for Haredi draft dodgers, send the military police after deserters, and draft the Haredim without hesitation,” he urged.
This warning from the opposition comes at a time of heightened regional tensions, putting Israel’s military readiness under intense scrutiny and raising urgent questions about how the nation will safeguard its security in the months ahead.
