It has been many months since the disclosure of the fake ultra-Orthodox recruitment data, but in the army they have not yet recovered • A military source for "Israel Today": "They have lost interest in the political system"
IDF soldiers pray // Photo: EPI
Many months after the exposure of the fake recruitment data among the ultra-Orthodox, the ultra-Orthodox administration in the IDF is having a hard time recovering.
Half a year has passed since Col. Telem Hazan finished his position as head of the administration, and the IDF is having a hard time finding a suitable replacement.
In the near future, a reserve officer is expected to head the administration temporarily, for a limited time only.
At the moment, it seems, no official commander will be appointed to the challenging position in the near future.
Israel Today has learned that in the meantime, some officers and soldiers who were in key positions have left the administration, which is supposed to coordinate the entire issue of ultra-Orthodox recruitment in the IDF.
A military source told Israel Today that "the feeling is that the ultra-Orthodox administration is falling apart."
He said, "If in the past there were active recruitment activities, now more people are investing in the ultra-Orthodox exemption, because there is no pressure from the political system. Suddenly the whole story of ultra-Orthodox recruitment is not interesting."
The source's statements are confirmed by the data recently presented in the Knesset, according to which there is a jump in exemptions for young people who are candidates for security service among the ultra-Orthodox sector.
During the discussion, it emerged that the reason for the "teaching of his art" among IDF exemptions is 16 percent and is rising all the time. On the other hand, the IDF says that the reason for the increase in exemptions is the increase in the number of ultra-Orthodox in general.
The fact that there is no one leading the Haredi administration is problematic, among other things, due to two trends that are taking place these days in the IDF - reports of a jump in demand for IDF recruitment, along with reports from the military that there is no significant increase in actual recruitment.
According to the source, in the absence of a head of the administration, there is no one to push forward the issue of recruiting the ultra-Orthodox.
In the army, it will be said, they apologized for this claim and said that the administration operates as required even without a commander, and even improves.
"Some make a horseshoe"
The ultra-Orthodox companies and battalions, along with organizations involved in the field, report a surge in inquiries to them during the Corona period.
"The ultra-Orthodox society is going through a crazy process and many yeshiva students have been 'beheaded' as a result of the corona," a fighter told Israel Today. "There is a significant increase in their applications - some actually enlist and others make a U-turn."
The Shahar organization, which prepares boys for the security service, also reports a significant increase in the demand for participation in the various programs, including a tens of percent increase in running groups. Among other things, Rabbi Hanoch Rogozinski notes that "And in cruises, and we are making the relevant changes in order to adapt the programs to fill the gaps in knowledge and ability of the ultra-Orthodox young people in preparation for their integration in these tracks as well."
In the past, it has been argued that the IDF is not able to recruit more than a certain quota for combat roles. Which may be that some applicants do not finally realize their desire to enlist.
Sources in the IDF point out that there is a decrease in the number of conscripts in the combat units, and these do not meet their recruitment targets.
In response to the question of whether there are more recruits among the ultra-Orthodox, we were referred by the IDF to a Noma report detailing the recruits by 2018. " In an ultra-Orthodox institution that has not yet been recognized for the purpose of counting as ultra-Orthodox recruits, this affects the number of ultra-Orthodox recruits reported by the IDF.
"The IDF is working to update the list with the relevant parties."
The NEWS1 website reported yesterday that the number of conscripts last year was 1,222 soldiers, almost half of the number of ultra-Orthodox who enlisted in 2018.
The administrative system will be strengthened
"Regarding the appointment of a new head of administration," the IDF said, "at this time the right candidate for this unique position has not yet been found.
At the same time, the personnel of the Personnel Division continue to engage in the integration of conscripts into the IDF.
