Khaberni - In a new indicator of the worsening workforce crisis within military units, the occupation army is experiencing an unprecedented wave of service termination and early retirement requests.
The army announced that 300 officers and soldiers from the permanent service have submitted official requests to immediately terminate their military service, in a move described as unusual in terms of both number and timing.
In another development, the army's Personnel Affairs Directorate presented statistics in front of the manpower subcommittee of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee in the Knesset, revealing that around 600 regular soldiers—including senior officers and experienced non-commissioned officers—have applied for early retirement.
According to what was presented in the session, this phenomenon represents part of a wider crisis among experienced soldiers linked to deteriorating service conditions, financial pressures, and the Finance Ministry’s demands to reduce the privileges granted to military personnel.
Military officials reported that in recent months, the military establishment was forced to delay the retirement of several vital members due to their sensitive positions within their units, confirming that “there is no ready replacement to fill their place” amidst ongoing operational needs.
These developments, as presented to the committee, indicate a decline in the ability to retain professional forces within the army at a time when the institution is suffering from increased pressure on human resources, and ongoing tensions related to service conditions and the salaries of permanent soldiers.
