IDF Chief Halevi: Haredim must increase numbers in army

Most of Halevi's comments were kept classified as part of the closed session, but select remarks were leaked to the media.

 IDF CHIEF OF STAFF Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi attends a state ceremony in October marking the first anniversary of the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem. (photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
IDF CHIEF OF STAFF Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi attends a state ceremony in October marking the first anniversary of the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023, at Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem.
(photo credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Many more haredim (ultra-Orthodox) must join the military, IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Tuesday.

Most of Halevi’s comments were kept classified as part of the closed session, but select remarks were leaked to the media.

Halevi did not appear to use the platform to attack Defense Minister Israel Katz’s new bill for drafting haredim, which opposition parties have said is a thinly disguised bill for de facto keeping the haredi exemption, even if on its face the bill says it seeks to heavily increase their draft numbers.

 ‘THE HAREDI leadership argues that it is forbidden to draft yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession and that they defend the State of Israel through their studies.’ (credit: Marc Israel Sellem/Jerusalem Post)Enlrage image
‘THE HAREDI leadership argues that it is forbidden to draft yeshiva students whose Torah is their profession and that they defend the State of Israel through their studies.’ (credit: Marc Israel Sellem/Jerusalem Post)

However, he did say the IDF could draft the full cohort of haredim in around two years if the government directed it to, even as Katz’s bill shoots for closer to a 30-40% draft number two years from now, reaching 50% in seven years.

Halevi also explained to the Knesset committee the reasons for resigning from his post.

Halevi's resignation 

Earlier in January, Halevi said he would resign on March 6. He will step down after two years and two months in office, about 10 months earlier than the standard three-year term.

Halevi said he is resigning in keeping with his promise since October 2023 that he would take responsibility for the October 7 failure.

Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.