As IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warns of a severe manpower shortage in the military, a letter sent to his office and revealed for the first time claims there is a pool of more than 3,500 young people who were born in or grew up in Israel and want to enlist in the Israel Defense Forces but remain barred from recruitment because of administrative policy rather than any legal restriction.
According to Israel’s Population and Immigration Authority, more than 3,500 young people ages 15 to 25 currently living in Israel hold only temporary residency status. According to the letter, many were born in Israel or arrived at a young age, studied in the Israeli school system, speak Hebrew, regard Israel as their home and wish to serve in the military.
According to sources familiar with the matter, officials from the ultra-Orthodox Shas party are blocking the initiative. The sources said Shas fears that after completing three years of military service, it would be difficult to oppose granting Israeli citizenship to those recruits.
Continue reading this article on ynetnews.com
