Daijiworld Media Network – Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Mar 27: Israel’s main opposition leader Yair Lapid on Thursday accused the government of pushing the country towards a “security disaster” due to a severe shortage of combat soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces.

In a televised statement, Lapid said the military is overstretched and operating beyond its limits. “The IDF is stretched to the limit and beyond. The government is leaving the army wounded out on the battlefield,” he said, echoing concerns reportedly raised by military chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir to the security cabinet.

According to Israeli media reports, Zamir warned that the army is nearing a breaking point, with forces deployed across multiple fronts. Military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin also acknowledged the shortage, stating that more combat troops are urgently required, particularly on the Lebanese front, as well as in Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and Syria.

Lapid highlighted the strain on reservists, claiming some have been called up for their sixth or seventh rotations. “These reservists are worn out and exhausted and can no longer meet our security challenges. The army does not have enough soldiers for its missions,” he said.

He further urged the government to end exemptions granted to men from the ultra-Orthodox Haredi community, who have historically been excused from mandatory military service since Israel’s founding in 1948.

Calling for immediate action, Lapid said the government must halt funding for draft evaders and ensure broader conscription to address the manpower crisis.