ISRAEL – The Israeli army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir warned during a security meeting on Wednesday that the IDF could face an internal collapse if manpower shortage isn’t addressed.

This was later seconded by the former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennet on Thursday, who claimed that the army faces a personnel shortage, criticizing the Netanyahu’s government over what he called was the prioritization of politics over security.

“I am raising 10 red flags before the IDF collapses into itself,” Zamir told the security Cabinet meeting.

Military sources expressed “tremendous concern” over the shortage, particularly amid the ongoing war, noting that even in peacetime, more troops would be required across multiple fronts, including Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank.

Officials warned that without additional personnel, “there will be places with big gaps” in operational coverage.

The shortage has been partly attributed to the absence of legislation significantly expanding conscription among the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) population.

A proposed draft law aimed at increasing haredi enlistment was “set aside” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for unity during the war.

Opposition figures sharply criticized the government following Zamir’s remarks, warning of broader security risks.

Members of the Yesh Atid Party described the stalled conscription effort as “a security danger,” adding that “it is no longer possible to ignore this.”

“In the next disaster, the government won’t be able to say ‘We didn’t know,” Opposition leader Yair Lapid said.

Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman called for universal conscription.

“What are you waiting for, for heaven’s sake?” Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett asked.

Former military chief Gadi Eisenkot stated that mandatory service for all “is the need of the hour,” while other political figures warned that reliance on reservists is reaching unsustainable levels.