All about Israel's mandatory armed service for men and women

Indian Express

8 hours ago

Israel is one of the few democratic countries that still practices conscription – mandatory armed service – for both men and women.
This FAQ explores the key aspects of Israel's conscription system, addressing who serves, how roles are assigned, and why this policy remains both vital and contentious amid current regional tensions
Mandatory military service, known as conscription, is a legal requirement for Jewish Israeli citizens to serve in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). Established in 1949, a year after Israel's founding, this policy ensures national security in a region marked by persistent geopolitical tensions. The IDF, often called 'the People's Army,' relies on conscription to maintain a large, ready force. Beyond defence, the system fosters social cohesion, blending civic duty with military readiness, and has become a cornerstone of Israel's national identity, shaping generations of citizens through shared service.
Every Jewish Israeli, regardless of gender, is legally obligated to serve in the IDF. Men are required to serve for 32 months, while women serve for 24 months.
While conscription is mandatory for most Jewish Israelis, certain groups can secure exemptions on specific grounds.
Arab citizens, including Muslims and Christians, are not conscripted but may volunteer for service. Religious Jewish women who adhere to a religious lifestyle can opt for Sherut Leumi, an alternative national service, instead of military duty.
Individuals with physical or psychological conditions that result in a medical profile below the acceptable threshold are fully exempted.
Outstanding athletes, dancers, or musicians in Olympic or recognised fields may receive shorter, more flexible service terms to pursue their careers.
Until 2024, ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students could delay conscription under the Tal Law by declaring Torah study as their profession, but this provision was repealed.
The Conscience Committee, composed of four officers and a civilian academic, evaluates cases of conscientious objection, distinguishing between genuine pacifists, who may be exempted, and political refusers, such as those opposing the occupation, who are not. This process resembles a legal hearing but does not allow legal counsel.
The exemption for ultra-Orthodox men, in place since 1949, was repealed by a 2024 Supreme Court ruling due to growing social and military pressures.
Initially, the exemption applied to about 400 yeshiva students to preserve Torah study after the Holocaust's devastation of ultra-Orthodox communities. However, with the ultra-Orthodox population now constituting 12 per cent of Israel's population and approximately 63,000 men covered by the waiver, the policy became unsustainable, especially amid the IDF's strain from ongoing conflicts.
The Supreme Court said that 'in the midst of a gruelling war, the burden of inequality is harsher than ever and demands a solution,' pushing for equal conscription to address the military's needs and social inequities.
After completing high school, Israeli teens are drafted into the IDF and assigned roles based on a medical profile determined by the military. Those with the highest medical profiles are placed in elite units, such as infantry brigades, combat intelligence, or combat engineering.
Individuals with the second-highest profiles serve in units like the armoured corps, artillery, military police, border police, or military intelligence (Aman).
Those with the lowest acceptable medical profiles are assigned to support roles, including logistics, ordnance, or the adjutant corps.
Draftees with profiles below the acceptable threshold or those deemed unsuitable for service are exempted entirely.
Refusing to serve, often due to political or conscientious reasons, leads to varied consequences. The IDF's approach to refusers is inconsistent: some face trials and repeated imprisonments before being discharged, often through a military psychiatric board declaring them 'mentally unfit.' Others are sent directly to such boards, where they must articulate their beliefs.
In March 2025, the IDF reported an 80 per cent attendance rate, down from 120 per cent after October 7, 2023, reflecting a rise in refusals. Critics argue that labeling dissent as mental unfitness stigmatizes refusers, equating opposition to service with insanity, which raises ethical concerns about how the IDF handles conscientious objection.