The government intends to present a law to raise the age of exemption from military service in the reserve forces, for approval by the Knesset in a first reading, tomorrow, Monday, which would increase anger among the ranks of these forces, in light of the coalition’s efforts to extend the exemption of the Haredim from compulsory conscription, and while there is Defense Minister Yoav Galant is on an official visit to Washington.

The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation (“Kan 11”) pointed to a trick used by the government secretary, Yossi Fuchs, to push the draft law, so that he presented it at the end of the weekly government session that was held earlier today, after most of the ministers had left, in an attempt to avoid their opposition to the draft law. Controversial law.

Legal authorities strongly criticized the government secretary, and considered that he was "violating the regulations." Kan 11 noted that the law proposal was put on the government secretariat table ten days ago, and in order to avoid popular opposition and ministerial opposition to the draft law, Fox presented it at the end of the government session, after a number of ministers left the hall.

The law requires raising the military service age for reserve soldiers from 40 years to 41 years, and raising the exemption age for officers from 45 years to 46 years. The age of soldiers in the special forces in the reserve will be raised from 49 years to 50 years. The draft law indicated that reserve soldiers who perform service under this amendment “are entitled to a special reward.”

While the text of the proposal indicates that the law will be “temporary”; The law will be voted on so that its validity period will be three months, after the government’s judicial advisor, Ghali Beharav-Mayara, opposed the first draft of the proposed law, while she made clear that she would not oppose a watered-down version subject to “the government taking immediate steps to exhaust the capabilities of recruiting reserve personnel.”

In her comment on the first draft that the government presented of a draft law extending the service of the reserve forces in the ranks of the Israeli army or raising the age of exemption from military service in the reserve forces, the government’s judicial advisor confirmed that “there are legal impediments to increasing the burden of service on those who serve in the ranks of the army.” .

The government's judicial advisor stressed the need to provide "important solutions in practice, within the current time frame, to reduce inequality in the distribution of the burden of (military) service, and without exhausting all legislative and other options to increase the recruitment potential and bear the burden for the entire population."

However, the Attorney General agreed to extend the “temporary order” (“the clock order” under which the IDF currently operates) which expires at the end of the month, allowing the exemption age to be temporarily raised. The judicial advisor agreed to extend the temporary order for a period of three months (until next September) if the government takes “immediate steps to exhaust recruitment capabilities.”

The draft amendment to the law regarding raising the exemption age stated, “Extending the state of emergency stems from immediate needs, the volume of missions, and the lack of the ability to respond to military needs by other means, because removing those who serve in the reserve forces from the overall army forces during the war would cause damage to the military.” Competencies and continuity of unit performance, especially with regard to combat units, and prolonging (the age of exemption) is required in order to mobilize the ranks and expand combat frameworks.”

The draft added, “Steps have been taken to increase the size of the forces through other means, including encouraging volunteering to serve in combat for those who did not perform reserve service, or bringing back those who were serving and were exempted from service. And expanding the size of the forces related to the needs of combat by changing the purpose of serving in the reserve for a person based on professions.” And competencies he acquired after regular service in the Israeli army and according to need.”

The draft continued, "Due to the size of the number of forces required and the exceptional and immediate needs of the Israeli army, these steps will not provide an immediate and urgent response as required, and it is not even possible to rely on individuals volunteering in the reserve."

The draft amendment to the law indicated that the Israeli army is currently facing fighting on several fronts, and therefore requires “large amounts” of manpower. The draft stated that the number of soldiers killed and wounded in the war is “very high,” and that “the Israeli army believes that during this period the reserve elements who are expected to be discharged due to their age cannot be replaced by other elements due to their competencies.”