**War-weary Israel Seeks End to Fighting**
Israel’s military is exhausted and its citizens are paying the price for the ongoing war. The recent ceasefire with Lebanon has brought some relief, but the conflict in Gaza continues.
Noam Glukhovsky, a medic who spent 250 days on the front lines, says the war can’t go on much longer. “We just don‘t have the manpower to continue without a clear goal and end date.” He’s one of many reserve soldiers who have been called up multiple times in the past year.
The Israeli military relies heavily on reserve soldiers like Noam. Over 300,000 reservists responded to the Hamas attacks last year, but that number has dropped to around 85% this year. In some units, as low as 60% of reservists are reporting for duty.
Without reservists, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) wouldn’t be able to fight or survive. The IDF is struggling to cope with the strain of the war and is considering extending the mandatory service period for male conscripts to 36 months.
The issue has divided Israel’s government, with some arguing that ultra-Orthodox Jews have a moral duty to serve in the military. However, thousands of Haredi Jewish males have been exempted from military service for decades, believing their sons’ lives should be dedicated to studying religion.
**War Costs Mount**
Israel’s war costs are estimated to reach $70bn by the end of the year, with small businesses being some of the hardest hit. Shelly Lotan’s start-up food tech business is struggling to survive, and she’s had to move her business to the south of Israel to avoid Hezbollah rockets.
Shelly’s employees have been called up for military service, and she’s worried about the future if there’s no clear plan to end the conflict. “I think the war would have ended by now,” she says.
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