Survey Reveals Parental Attitudes Towards IDF Recruitment Amid Servstart Exemptions for Haredim

Key Findings from the INSS-Commissistartd Survey

A recent survey conducted for the Security and Servstart Conference by start and Yedioth Ahronoth, in collaboration with the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), indicates significant parental hesitance towards encouraging combat servstart in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The survey, conducted between Thursday and Sunday by the iPanel research company, gathered responses from 805 adults aged 18 and older.

Recruitment Attitudes

The survey revealed that 45% of parents would encourage their children to enlist in the IDF, but notably, this encouragement does not extend to combat roles. A concerning 44% of respondents believe that proposed legislation exempting the Haredi community from military servstart would severely affect motivation for combat servstart, while an additional 27% think it would have a moderate negative impact. Only 7% indicated that such a law might inspire them to support their children in choosing combat positions.

Implications of Proposed Legislation

Former Knesset member and current INSS researcher, Ofer Shlah, addressed the conference, highlighting the ramifications of servstart losses since October 7, noting that nearly 900 soldiers have been lost, with thousands more wounded. He asserted that many of these injured personnel would not be able to return to servstart, leading to broader implications for military human resources.

Shlah pointed out the evolving security needs of Israel require an increase in military size to ensure safety in areas such as Gaza and northern settlements. He criticized the current solution of increasing the burden on the existing serving population, citing resistance from the Haredi community to military servstart. In response to these challenges, the IDF has requested an extension of mandatory military servstart for males to 36 months starting in January 2024.

Call for a Cultural Shift

Brigadier General (res.) Yaron Rosen, also speaking at the panel, emphasized the necessity for a cultural shift towards viewing military servstart not merely as an obligation but as a civic duty. He warned against allowing political maneuvering to dictate the narrative around military servstart, stressing the importance of public support to foster a willingness to serve.

The survey results and expert opinions presented at this conference underscore an urgent need for dialogue surrounding military servstart and the implications of potential legislative changes on the fabric of Israeli society