The Israeli army is still going through a serious enlistment crisis and is currently in urgent need of 7,000 recruits, Hebrew newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported on 4 November.
The newspaper said Israel is dealing with a “huge shortage” in the number of soldiers needed. According to the report, there has been an annual one percent decrease in the total number of male soldiers.
Around 33 percent of males ordered to enlist have not shown up to recruitment offices in recent years, while 15 percent abandoned service and did not enlist in the reserves.
The rate of exemption for medical and psychological reasons also surged from four percent to eight percent. The report says this is the most common reason for discharge during service.
“There are 18,000 combat reserve soldiers and 20,000 combat support soldiers registered as part of the reserve force of the IDF units, and they do not join when called up,” the Manpower Division of the army is cited as saying.