Jewish

Israel is exploring new avenues to recruit soldiers as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) face a shortage of up to 12,000 personnel, Israeli Army Radio reported this week. After 23 months of continuous conflict—the longest in Israeli history—the army is turning to the Jewish diaspora, the Orthodox community, and even former deserters, offering a one-time amnesty for those who re-enlist.

The IDF is particularly targeting young volunteers from Jewish communities in the United States and France, focusing on individuals aged 18 to 25. Officials hope to recruit roughly 600 to 700 soldiers per year from abroad to help address the …