Liberman's 2018 draft sets 3,996 haredi recruit target
The former defense minister's proposal, which passed first reading in July 2018, is being reconsidered as a basis for coalition talks after he signaled a willingness to compromise with ultra-Orthodox parties.
By Bianca Shevchenko ·
Avigdor Liberman's 2018 proposal for ultra-Orthodox conscription is back in the spotlight as a potential foundation for coalition talks. The former defense minister signaled on Sunday that he is open to compromising with haredi parties, a move that has opened the door to negotiations as Gadi Eisenkot prepares to receive the mandate to form a government.
Liberman's willingness to engage does not mean he is abandoning his support for universal conscription. "Willingness to compromise does not mean abandoning values and principles," he wrote in a statement on Sunday. He noted that his 2018 bill, developed by a committee of Defense Ministry and IDF representatives, needs adjustments following the October 7 attacks and the subsequent rise in military manpower requirements.
The original proposal passed its first reading in the Knesset in July 2018. It aimed to gradually increase enlistment while preserving service deferrals for yeshiva students. The framework set the exemption age at 24 and established annual recruitment targets. It did not dismantle the existing yeshiva system but introduced financial penalties for institutions that failed to meet their quotas.
The most consequential provision of Liberman's plan addressed chronic failures to meet targets. If actual enlistment remained below 85% of the annual target for three consecutive years, the amendment would expire after an additional 12 months. This mechanism meant the special exemption arrangement could not continue indefinitely if recruitment goals were repeatedly missed.
This approach differs sharply from the draft legislation promoted by Boaz Bismuth in 2025. Bismuth's proposal raised the exemption age to 26 and introduced personal sanctions against individual students. These restrictions included limitations on overseas travel, delays in obtaining a driver's license before age 23, and impacts on government benefits.
The two proposals also set different numerical targets. Liberman's framework established a target of 3,996 recruits in 2018, rising to 6,208 by 2025. One version of Bismuth's framework set a target of 8,160 recruits over 18 months, averaging about 5,440 per year. However, Bismuth's plan allowed up to 10% of the target to be met by individuals performing civilian service in security fields, a counting method not present in Liberman's bill.
The Bank of Israel and other professional bodies have warned that the recruitment targets under discussion may not guarantee a sufficient increase in soldiers to meet the IDF's current needs. Since 2018, the haredi population has grown, and the military's requirements have increased. Liberman has not yet presented an updated version of his bill or specified which provisions he considers nonnegotiable.
The political context has shifted since the original bill was introduced. In 2018, haredi parties opposed Liberman's legislation, viewing its budgetary sanctions and expiration mechanism as threats to the yeshiva world. Now, with personal sanctions also on the table, Liberman's earlier framework may offer a more comfortable starting point for negotiations, though some ultra-Orthodox factions continue to oppose recruitment targets and sanctions.
