Israel set to mobilize up to 450,000 reservists amid legal, social challenges

The Israeli government is scheduled to approve the mobilisation of up to 450,000 reservists by August 31, marking a significant escalation in its military preparedness.

According to legal assessments, the extension of Order No. 8, which governs conscription and reserve service, faces considerable legal hurdles, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

Central to these difficulties is the government’s perceived failure to implement effective measures to increase the conscription rates among the ultra-Orthodox community, a longstanding contentious issue in Israeli society.

The proposed government decision also estimates that the daily cost of maintaining a single reservist stands at approximately 1,000 shekels ($279,6), underscoring the substantial financial implications of large-scale mobilisation.

Israel's Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara addressed these complexities during remarks at the Bar Association’s annual conference. She emphasized the intrinsic link between military mobilisation and societal fairness, stating, “Discussing war requires discussing equality of burden. In practice, not everyone is equal and the basic sense of justice is seriously compromised.”

On the issue of sanctions for individuals evading military service, Baharav-Miara highlighted the necessity for targeted enforcement, observing, “Effective sanctions must be personalised. Group sanctions do not have the same potential.”

The mobilisation plan, set against the backdrop of ongoing security concerns, exposes the persistent tensions within Israeli society over military service obligations and equitable burden-sharing.

By Vafa Guliyeva