Reservists Urge Incoming Government to Prioritize Conscription Over Coalition Deals

Reservists urged incoming coalition leaders to put military recruitment ahead of coalition arrangements in interviews published on November 11. They described lengthy deployments, pressure on civilian employment and family members serving together, and called for more people to share service responsibilities. Reserve Sgt. 1st Class N., a combat soldier in the 6th Brigade who previously served in Nahal, described six consecutive months of reserve rotations. He said he was fitting university studies between deployments and feared that prolonged absences could cost him his civilian job. Reserve Sgt. 1st Class A., a Jerusalem resident serving in a classified Military Intelligence unit, said he had completed more than 500 reserve days. Discussing Torah study and guarding the border, he said: “We need both, each at the appropriate time.” Dr. Pnina Pogoda, 50, a mother of five from Gush Etzion in Judea and Samaria, said she had completed national service at 18 and later enlisted as a physician during the war. She appealed for a recruitment solution and described the extended service of colleagues. Sharon Brik-Deshen, 57, a Jerusalem mother of four daughters, said she volunteered for reserve service two years ago and serves in Home Front Command public information. She said her 58-year-old husband had served hundreds of days in the 226th Brigade, mainly in Lebanon, and that three of their daughters also serve. Brik-Deshen directed her appeal to Gadi Eisenkot, who holds the government-formation mandate.