Israel: the chief of staff warns of a risk of collapse of the army for lack of soldiers

Israeli army chief of staff Eyal Zamir warned at a security cabinet meeting that the shortage of soldiers could lead to an internal collapse of the army.

Still according to the Jerusalem Posthe mentioned “ten warning signals” to illustrate the seriousness of the situation, in a context of prolonged war which puts personnel under great strain. Military sources cited by the newspaper speak of “immense” concern about this lack of manpower, which is not limited to the war period but also concerns the functioning of the army in peacetime. The media also points out that no law has yet been adopted to significantly increase the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews, a major sticking point in the management of this crisis.

An army caught up in its own contradictions

Editor’s note: Behind this unusual alert lies a deeper reality: that of an army long perceived as all-powerful, but now confronted with its structural limits. In the context of a genocidal war in Gaza, and while regional tensions are part of a logic of annexation, particularly in Lebanon, and destruction of Iran with a view to causing chaos, this recruitment crisis takes on an even more significant dimension. The myth of absolute military superiority today comes up against the duration of the conflict, the wear and tear of men and a growing dependence on reservists who are already in high demand. The illusion of invincibility gives way to tangible vulnerability.