Israeli occupation forces are facing the worst manpower crisis in their history, and their personnel system risks collapsing due to subpar practices within the IOF's command structure and Personnel Directorate, argues retired Israeli general and military analyst Itzhak Brik.

In an opinion piece for the Israeli Maariv newspaper, Brik said thousands of officers and non-commissioned officers avoided service in recent months, either by refusing call-ups or declining to renew their contracts.

Brik listed a flurry of concerns and ill practices by the IOF, saying that the personnel system faces its "most difficult situation... since its establishment."

He warned that young Israelis are not interested in signing up for regular service, adding that the quality of regular troops has declined dramatically in recent years. Moreover, highly-skilled commanders no longer want to continue serving in the IOF. 

Earlier in November, Israeli media reports revealed that hundreds of career personnel in the occupation's military, including senior officers and experienced non-commissioned officers, have submitted requests for early retirement.

Yedioth Ahronoth said the military’s Personnel Directorate briefed the Knesset’s so-called Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee that around 600 career troops have filed for early resignation, including officers whose retirement had been postponed due to the lack of replacements. Military representatives told the committee that 85% of those who retire from career service hold the rank of lieutenant colonel or below.

Shortages in quality, quantity threaten IOF functions

Brik stressed that the worsening situation means that vital functions with the IOF will be left unattended. The retired general explained that there is "no one" to manage weapons systems and take on the daunting task of rebuilding forces. 

He accused successive chiefs of staff of taking "inappropriate decisions" related to personnel management, forcing troops to take on civilian roles "where their work is valued" and "they are provided with a supportive environment."

Read more: Israeli military admits manpower shortage, need for 10,000+ soldiers

Unprofessional Personnel Directorate

Yet, Brik identified the Personnel Directorate, which is responsible for all aspects of human resources management within the IOF, as the main culprit. 

He blasted the directorate for applying outdated methods and said that it has functioned for years with a "lack of professionalism" and ignored "critical issues".

Saying that the IOF suffer from "strategic blindness and a complete disconnect from the reserve force," Brik took aim at the Israeli military command for opposing initiatives taken by reservists to self-mobilize when they were most needed. 

He also pointed to the lack of severe lack in training of critical personnel, especially in the fields of medicine, intelligence, and communications. This means that competent officers are unavailable to update all active units with accurate intelligence and that medical responses are lacking. 

Read more: Morale collapses as 'Israel' drags soldiers into endless war: WSJ

Brik takes aim at Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa

Although he did not mention him by name, Brik criticized the head of the Personnel Directorate, Major General Dado Bar Kalifa, for his lack of experience within "the corridors of the department."

He believes that such cases have allowed veteran officers to take advantage of their superiors and manipulate their personal interests. 

This, alongside the concealment of information, means the Kalifa does not have a "true or complete" picture of human resources. 

"This situation prevents root causes from being addressed and paralyzes the ability to present the serious situation as it is to the political and security echelons," he added.

"Personal pride outweighs professional truth," Brik said of the Personnel Directorate.

State of lawlessness

Brike also pointed to a complete breakdown of command discipline inside the Israeli military. According to Brik, the IOF's internal supervision mechanisms had already been dysfunctional prior to the war on Gaza, but the crisis "only worsened during."

He argued that the erosion of accountability has produced a culture in which orders are disregarded without consequence.

Brik wrote that this deterioration has reached the point where "officers do not carry out the commander's instructions and ignore superiors, not accidentally, but out of the clear knowledge that they will not be criticized or punished."

He asserted that such "a culture of lawlessness completely disrupts the ability to carry out tasks as part of a managed systemic plan," calling it direct evidence of deepening command decay.

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