600 Israeli officers submit resignation requests amid pay raise suspension

According to Israel Hayom, despite agreements reached since June 2023 between the Israeli Ministries of Finance and War, the matter has largely been suspended in the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Security Committee due to objections from MK Amit Halevi. It is also expected that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will hold a special meeting today to address this worsening issue.

The newspaper continued: During the Gaza war, the military command tried to avoid dealing with this issue because permanent forces were serving around the clock. However, after the Supreme Court set the end of December as the halt date for the pay raise plan—provoking widespread anger among soldiers, many of whom threatened to reconsider their service—the army was forced to initiate efforts to quickly pass legislation on this matter. These developments are part of a deepening crisis in the Israeli military and represent one of the most severe internal crises the army has faced in recent years, intensified further by the war.

According to Israel Hayom, despite the military’s efforts to retain personnel through special programs, financial incentives, housing, and family support, the appeal of civilian life both inside and outside the occupied territories has made preventing human capital loss increasingly difficult. Israeli military officials also stress that any changes in service conditions at this time will accelerate resignations.

The newspaper noted that thousands of Israeli soldiers consider financial stability a key factor, especially as mid-level salaries remain lower than in the civilian sector. The pay raise from the Chief of Staff has long been used as a mechanism to increase pensions for permanent military personnel, averaging about 2,500 shekels per month, or roughly 20 million shekels annually.

Israel Hayom added that in recent days, multiple proposals have been suggested, including temporary one- or two-year laws. The army opposed this approach because it does not provide real assurance to those affected. Additionally, in security and financial institutions, despite prior promises, requests were made to cancel or modify the “temporary pension” plan for personnel approaching retirement.

Finally, the newspaper warned that any withdrawal or reduction in these promised benefits would likely trigger a larger wave of resignations, including senior officers, sergeants, and senior lieutenants, highlighting the army’s serious opposition to any changes in these commitments.