Israel's army chief Eyal Zamir warned that the military could face internal collapse if the government fails to address a growing manpower shortage.
Speaking during a security cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Zamir said he was "raising 10 red flags before the IDF collapses in on itself," according to The Jerusalem Post.
Military sources expressed "tremendous concern" about the shortage, especially amid the ongoing war, noting that even in peacetime, more troops would be required on multiple fronts, including Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank.
Officials warned that without additional personnel, "there will be places with large gaps" in operational coverage. The shortage has been attributed in part to the lack of legislation that would significantly expand recruitment among the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) population.
A proposed bill aimed at increasing haredi recruitment was shelved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the name of unity during the war. Opposition figures sharply criticized the government after the army chief's remarks, warning of broader security risks.
Members of the Yesh Atid Party described the stalled military recruitment effort as "a security risk," adding that "it is no longer possible to ignore this." Opposition leader Yair Lapid declared that "In the coming catastrophe, the government will not be able to say 'We didn't know.'"
Yisrael Beytenu party leader Avigdor Liberman called for general military conscription while former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asked: "What are you waiting for, for God's sake?"
Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot said that compulsory service for all "is the need of the moment" while other political figures warned that reliance on reservists is reaching unsustainable levels.
