Jerusalem: Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has criticized current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ability to secure military victories, highlighting the government's struggles with troop shortages in ongoing operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran. Bennett, in an interview with Channel 12, claimed that the political leadership is hindering the military's effectiveness by prioritizing political over security needs.
According to Anadolu Agency, Bennett pointed to a shortage of approximately 20,000 troops, suggesting that drafting ultra-Orthodox Jews could help bridge the gap. However, he accused the government of avoiding this solution due to political considerations. Bennett stated that the current leadership lacked the capability to achieve success in any military arena.
Separately, Israeli military spokesperson Effie Defrin was cited by Haaretz as acknowledging a shortfall of about 15,000 soldiers, attributed to expanded operations and a lack of legislation mandating ultra-Orthodox enlistment. Defrin emphasized the need for reinforcement in Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank, and Syria, and highlighted the importance of Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir's forthcoming assessment of military readiness. The necessity of passing a law to mandate ultra-Orthodox conscription was underscored.
Yedioth Ahronoth reported that Zamir warned of increasing internal strain within the army due to growing operational demands and the absence of recruitment legislation. The proposed law aimed at introducing enlistment quotas for ultra-Orthodox communities has faced strong opposition from religious parties, which would impose financial and criminal penalties for non-compliance.
These developments unfold as the US and Israel have maintained attacks on Iran, sparking concerns about regional escalation and possible ground invasions. Israel expanded its military operations in Lebanon with airstrikes and a limited ground incursion, while in Gaza, Israeli forces continue to violate a ceasefire, causing significant Palestinian casualties and raising reconstruction costs to around $70 billion as per UN estimates.