Disclosure here: False reports of the number of ultra-Orthodox soldiers recruited in recent years • IDF: "An error was detected in the count of ultra-Orthodox soldiers in recent years"

• Photo: Oren Ben Hakon

The IDF deliberately forged and significantly increased the number of ultra-Orthodox soldiers who enlisted in the army, this morning (Wednesday) revealed in the "This Morning" program here and Network B. According to the publication, the army did not report accurate data to all government agencies, including: the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, The chief of staff and the defense minister, in order to meet the recruitment goals.

Some recruitment data have been doubled and even tripled. In 2017, 3,070 ultra-Orthodox soldiers were reportedly recruited, while the number was only 1,300. The figures reporting the number of ultra-Orthodox soldiers enlisted by the IDF were added by soldiers who did not meet their agreed upon criteria and those who were not religious at all.

Approximately one thousand ultra-Orthodox protesters against recruitment law // Photo Archive: Paz Bar

Following the Tal Law, in 2013-2018, the IDF exerted efforts to recruit ultra-Orthodox men, and in fact falsified the number of ultra-Orthodox soldiers who were recruited to lower the criticism. In 2011, there were 600 ultra-Orthodox enlisted men, but in fact, the IDF reported 1,200 ultra-Orthodox. Enlisted. Each year steadily, the IDF increased the numbers and reported an increase.

In 2018, Lieutenant Colonel Telem Hazan, Lieutenant Commander of the Paratroopers Brigade, was asked to report on the number of Haredim enlisted that year, and a check that he reached 1,650 ultra-Orthodox soldiers. 3,070 ultra-Orthodox soldiers enlisted.

Response from the IDF: "The IDF recently discovered a mistake in counting the number of ultra-Orthodox soldiers in recent years. When the mistake became known, lessons were learned regarding the counting criteria and the strict adherence to the body counting the ultra-Orthodox soldiers within the IDF. It should also be noted that the figures for the 2018 recruitment year (ending June 2019) have not yet been compiled. "