IDF To Disband Two Charedi Units Due To ‘Lack Of Enlistment’

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — The IDF is preparing to disband the Givati Brigade’s charedi Tomer Company after it did not meet enlistment goals due to a continued decline of inductees in the charedi community.

According to a report by Galei Tzahal, Ground Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai recently ordered the company closed due to the lack of enlistment from charedi circles. The last induction saw just 25 chareidi soldiers enlist for the Tomer company. Additionally many of those defined by the army as ‘chareidim’ for enlistment purposes were actually former chareidim who now led a secular lifestyle and did not require a specifically chareidi unit.

The Givati Brigade supports the disbandment of the company and is examining its future. Today, the company consists of only two squads, which are made up of Religious Zionist soldiers and not charedim.

The IDF is also looking into closing the Paratroopers Brigade’s charedi Hetz Company because it did not meet its enlistment goals.

The IDF Spokesperson commented that “in recent months, there were several discussions regarding the integration of charedi soldiers in the Ground Forces. During the discussions, many matters were discussed, among them, the way to utilize the enlistees and the variety of jobs and units, but no decisions have been made yet.”

Besides the Tomer and Hetz units, there is also another charedi battalion, the Netzah Yehuda battalion which is part of the Kfir brigade and numbers some 1000 soldiers on a regular basis who come from chareidi and chareidi-nationalist backgrounds.