Israeli command fears regular troops resignation when crucially needed

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
5 Mar 2024 13:26
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Regular Israeli troops are growing increasingly dissatisfied with their relentless deployment on the frontlines and complain to Israel Hayom.

Israeli occupation soldiers are seen near the "Separation Fence" between the Gaza Strip and 48' occupied Palestinian territories during the ongoing Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, on March 4, 2024. (AP)

The Israeli military's regular forces are discontent with the current state of affairs, their work conditions, compensation, and media coverage in recent months, as the Israeli military command fears further resignations at a crucial time, Israeli newspaper Israel Hayom reported on Tuesday.

Israel Hayom interviewed a number of occupation soldiers and officers who expressed disdain regarding the conditions of their service, as the Israeli military commits genocide in the Gaza Strip and war crimes in Lebanon. These revelations come just after the occupation General Staff demanded a large increase in recruitment numbers, requesting that the Ministry of Finance make funds available for the hiring of 7,500 non-commissioned and commissioned officers, as well as 7,000 combatants and soldiers serving in various roles.

Current regular troops say that they can see "no light at the end of the tunnel," saying that they are taking on an unrecognized "heavy burden", to the contrary of reservists who were recently called up to the occupation's ranks.

Senior officers in the Israeli military are extremely concerned about the heated debate among the young troops, as well as among older regular troops and their families, who express their desire to resign as soon as possible, according to the Israeli newspaper.

Israeli regular troops get the short end of the stick

According to the report, they claim that, unlike reserve soldiers who receive significant support from the Israeli settler community, the burden placed on them is extremely heavy. They perceive it as self-evident, while there is no light at the end of the tunnel, meaning there is no expiration date for returning to a specific routine.

One of the regular soldiers who serve in a combat support unit, positioned in sites behind the frontlines, said, "Despite serving in combat support only, I don't return home, while I used to occasionally come home before the war."

"[My family] does not receive support from the state, the army, our society, and [the economic situation is not helping]. My wife [views on] media [outlets] the great embrace of reserve soldiers, but no one supports regular service members and their families," the unnamed soldier told Israel Hayom.

"Permanent service members and their families are being ripped apart. We pay a fortune for babysitters, and not [all soldiers] have families that can help," another officer told Israel Hayom.

The wife of a combat officer talked to the newspaper about the "lack of appreciation and societal consideration for the sacrifices of [regular troops] and their families in the war."

Israeli troops believe that their service is being sidelined and neglected as a bare requirement of their employment. The newspaper also noted that some units reported an increase in divorce cases among service members.

Intelligence agency on the brink of collapse

According to the report, the Israeli military command is particularly concerned about the impact of the war on Gaza on the Intelligence Directorate, where many serving in various ranks and positions feel a great sense of responsibility for the failure of the Israeli security system on October 7, when Resistance fighters infiltrated several areas alongside the "separation fence" and took over multiple sites and settlements.

Senior officials fear a collective resignation in the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate "Aman", leading to a severe shortage of human resources in the service, which has been "fighting for qualified individuals in recent years," according to Israel Hayom.

A senior officer in the military, responsible for a crucial operational framework, told the newspaper that he felt "increasing frustration" among quite a few of his subordinates in recent days, who are struggling to complete their tasks.

"They see reserve soldiers being enlisted to perform the same required work with better conditions," the officer said, adding that "the society's appreciation and respect for them" are notable in comparison to that given to regular troops.