'I can't put my life on hold' - Israel's war-weary reservists look for an end to fighting

Noam Glukhovsky, a 33-year-old medic and reservist in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), stands in a park in Tel Aviv, wearing a beige T-shirt. He has been serving on the front lines for much of the past year due to the ongoing conflict in Israel. The war has not only taken a toll on the enemy but has also deeply affected the lives of many Israelis, including Noam. He has spent an astonishing 250 days in military service this year, far exceeding the few weeks he would typically serve. This extended commitment has disrupted his plans to pursue a medical career, pushing his studies back by a year. As he tries to catch up on his education, he is also anxiously waiting to see if he will be called back to duty. Noam expressed his frustration, stating, 'I can’t put my life on hold anymore. ' He feels that without a clear end to the conflict, he cannot continue to serve. The recent ceasefire with Lebanon has provided some relief, but the ongoing fighting in Gaza remains a concern. Many people in Israel share Noam's feelings of war weariness. The IDF has reported a decline in the number of reservists responding to calls for duty. After the tragic attacks by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in the loss of around 1,200 lives, over 300,000 reservists stepped up to serve. However, that number has now dropped to about 85%. In Noam's unit, the turnout is even lower, with only around 60% of those called up actually reporting for duty. This decline in participation highlights the growing fatigue among reservists. Brigadier General Ariel Heimann, a reservist himself and a former chief reserve officer, has acknowledged that the IDF's reliance on reservists will become increasingly challenging as the war continues. He emphasized that Israel is a small country and cannot maintain a large, professional army without the support of reservists. The IDF currently has approximately 170,000 active-duty personnel, including conscripts, and 465,000 reservists. Brig Gen Heimann compared the IDF to a spring that can only stretch so far before it breaks. While the IDF is managing for now, the strain is evident. In response to the ongoing conflict, the government is considering extending mandatory military service for male conscripts from 32 to 36 months. This proposal has sparked resentment among those who feel that the burden of service is not being shared equally. One group that has been exempt from military service for decades is the Haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, Jews. They believe that their young men should focus on religious studies rather than military service. This issue has created divisions within Israel's coalition government. Recently, the attorney general intervened, leading to call-up papers being sent to 7,000 Haredi men, which has resulted in protests. Brig Gen Heimann, along with former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, argues that there is a 'moral duty to serve. ' The impact of the war extends beyond the military; it also affects the economy and families. Shelly Lotan, who runs a food tech start-up, is struggling to keep her business afloat. She has had to relocate her company to avoid the threat of Hezbollah's rockets. With two of her seven employees called up for military service, Shelly is feeling the pressure. On the day we spoke, she received distressing news that one of her staff members would have to extend their military service. 'I just can’t express how critical it is to have another employee missing for another month,' she said. Shelly is also juggling family responsibilities, as her husband is a reservist and often away from home. While the ceasefire in Lebanon may ease some of the pressure, the ongoing conflict in Gaza leaves her feeling uncertain about the future. 'I think the war should have ended by now,' she expressed. The economic toll of the war is staggering, with the Bank of Israel estimating that the cost could reach $70 billion by the end of next year. This figure was calculated before the ground invasion of Lebanon, indicating that the financial impact may be even greater. Small businesses like Shelly's are among the hardest hit, and many are left wondering how they will survive in these challenging times. The war has taken a significant toll on the people of Israel, and there is a growing desire for peace and stability.