Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the outgoing spokesperson for the IDF, emphasized the critical importance of public trust in the military while making a pointed call for all segments of Israeli society—including Charedim—to enlist. Hagari, who is stepping down after being passed over for promotion by the new IDF chief of staff, delivered his remarks as he officially handed over his role. “Our mission over the past year and a half was rehabilitating public trust in the IDF,” Hagari said, referencing the military’s efforts to restore credibility following the October 7 attacks. He warned against politicization of the army, saying, “We must keep the army above any argument, dispute, or any other attempt that poses a true danger to trust in the military and its ability to fulfill its mission.” However, his speech took a sharp turn as he addressed Israel’s growing manpower concerns, making an implicit jab at Charedim, who largely avoid military service under existing draft exemptions. “We already need more soldiers in the IDF, not just in a few more years; the war is going on now,” he said, in a clear push for broader enlistment. While the Charedi draft issue has long been a point of contention in Israeli politics, the ongoing war has intensified calls for them to shoulder a greater share of the national defense burden. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)