IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gadi Eizenkott told military correspondents on Tuesday evening, 24 Elul, that there has been an increase in the number of chareidim inducted into the military. The commander was providing a wrap up of the year as he prepares to step down in coming months.

Eizenkott revealed details of the trend in the decline in the percentage of enlistment among the Israeli public, while at the same time indicating an increase among chareidim.

During his review, Eizenkott referred to the recruitment figures in Israeli society, saying that of every 100 youths, only 67 are enlisting. Looking at the numbers by gender, a picture emerges showing that 72% of the men who are eligible for enlistment are on the uniform, and the rest are evading service.

When Eizenkott gave data on the recruitment of chareidim, the picture was quite surprising, after he made clear that there was an increase in chareidi recruitment. He cited 7,600 chareidim who are currently serving in the IDF, 7200 of them in compulsory military service and 400 in the career army.

According to the army’s data, this is a very sharp increase, which in the past year has been the recruitment of 3,000 religious girls R”L, whereas five years ago there was an annual recruitment of between 500 and 900 girls.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)