ByMIRIAM SELA-EITAMJULY 16, 2026 23:54Updated: JULY 17, 2026 00:24The Knesset plenum passed late Thursday night the bill to extend mandatory military service to 32 months.Forty-three MKs voted in favor, with 12 against and one abstention.According to the approved temporary framework of the bill, rather than shortening IDF service to 30 months for those who enlisted in July 2024 and are set to be discharged in January 2027, the ruling will apply to those enlisted in June 2029 and are due to be discharged in January 2032.The explanatory notes to the proposal state that "the extension of regular service within the framework of the temporary order is urgently required, in order to meet the IDF's goals and to respond to security needs."The passage of the bill comes amid the coalition's legislative blitz before the Knesset recesses ahead of the upcoming elections. A series of legislation has recently been advanced by the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) parties and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition, which critics argue encourages draft evasion, even amid the IDF’s severe manpower crisis.This is a developing story.Keshet Neev contributed to this report.Follow us on Google