Israel's military faces ideological shift as religious groups fill personnel shortage

A growing personnel shortage in the Israeli military is strengthening the influence of Temple and radical Jewish groups, transforming the army's ideological structure, according to reports. The occupation force's need for new recruitment sources has brought religious groups into greater prominence, with images and news reports increasingly showing their presence within the military.

Chabad-Lubavitch presence

Since 2025, the presence of Chabad-Lubavitch members within the army has increased noticeably. A special military unit has been reportedly created to facilitate their participation, structured according to strict religious rules. Approximately 90 Chabad-affiliated rabbis currently serve in the military, with more than 20 holding ranks of captain and above. The figures raise questions about whether the army is moving away from its traditional secular structure.

Hilltop Youth militarization

Units such as the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, created to integrate ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military, are again under discussion. Reports indicate these units have been deployed in the West Bank and are associated with radical settler groups. The "Hilltop Youth," an extremist settler group designated as a terrorist organization even by the US, is said to have a growing presence in these units. A new unit called "Desert Frontier" reportedly consists primarily of these settler groups.

Third Temple discourse

The Chabad movement faces criticism over messianic beliefs, including religious discourse about building the "Third Temple" on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Such rhetoric raises serious concerns about regional stability and could influence political and military decisions. Last week, Israeli soldiers who attacked a CNN crew in the West Bank were seen wearing symbols indicating affiliation with the Chabad movement.

International attention

US media figure Tucker Carlson discussed the issue on his podcast, stating that the war is being interpreted by some circles as serving religious goals and that allegations about Chabad's role in the "Iran War" should be considered.

Conflict context

The discussion comes amid ongoing US-Israeli attacks on Iran that began Feb. 28, which have killed over 1,340 people in Iran, and Israel's ground offensive in Lebanon, where over 1,300 have been killed since March 2.