Israel's military nightmare: Haredi population grows, Occupying army's combat capability falls

Pars Today- An expert of Israeli issues informed of a critical problem seriously challenging and threatening the Zionist regime army.

According to Pars Today, Imad Abu Awad, director of the Al-Quds Center for Palestinian and Israeli Studies, referring to the issue of military service of Haredi Jews in the Zionist regime, said, "The issue of military service of Haredis in the Occupying army, is not a new issue, but it is among the complicated issues which Israel has been grappling with for decades. This crisis has been escalated for the recent years especially concurrent with the war in Gaza and the crisis of military recruitment in the army."

Abu Awad added, "The number of the Haredis has notably increased in Israel for the recent two decades which has enhanced the pressure on them to join the military service. Yair Lapid said on the issue that the escape of Haredis from war is harming Israel 120 billion shekels annually. This means that everyone who refuses to go to the military service will cost Israel nearly 1.5 million shekels.

Noting that there are many political and religious barriers in this way and these groups enjoy a lot of power in the coalition cabinet to ouster the cabinet if it ratifies military service law, he made it clear, "Netanyahu is presently unable to approve the law for military service of Haredis because this will bring his cabinet to the brink of collapse, the conditions will go towards insurgency and they [Haredi Jews] will embark on widespread street riot. Anyone in the Israeli political sphere understands the importance of keeping Haredis in the cabinet."

This expert of Israeli issues stated, "Persistence of these circumstances indicates a deep crisis in Israel which is directly affecting the capability of the regime's army for continuation of war, particularly, when the army is facing shortage of forces. This issue has affected Israel's military performance in various fronts."

Abu Awad pointed to the blackmailing the cabinet by of Haredis and added, "In spite of the current financial crisis, they have managed to gain their sustainable budget and are not included in the economic austerity policies exercised on other groups."

He concluded, "The crisis of military service for Haredis is not limited to Netanyahu, but it is a crisis which will face every cabinet in the present or future. Haredis are not only ready to exit the cabinet but also to stage broad street protests in case of any measure against them."

RM/ME