Miluiim in Israel: Reservists face new restrictions and reduction in compensation

In Israel, the revision of the miluim service rules — the reservist system on which the army relies during prolonged conflict — continues. New decisions made at the army and Ministry of Finance level are already causing tension among those who spend months between the front and civilian life.

This is not about a complete cessation of reservist conscription, but about adjusting the conditions. Formally, the state declares: the system is preserved, the army is ready, obligations are fulfilled. But in practice, the burden is redistributed at the expense of the servicemen themselves.

What exactly is changing

The key change is the limitation of the total duration of miluim service during the year. It is planned to reduce the maximum allowable term, which should ease the pressure on the budget and economy.

Simultaneously, accompanying benefits are being revised. Primarily, the so-called “adaptation days” after long service. If previously a reservist who served for an extended period received extended time to return to work and family, now the threshold is raised, and the number of such days is reduced.

For many, this seems like a formality on paper, but in reality, these days allowed recovery after months of tension.

Reaction of the reservists themselves

Dissatisfaction is growing among those serving in miluim. People emphasize: it’s not just about money, but about the balance between service, family, and work. In recent months, many reservists have already reached the limit of physical and psychological endurance.

There is particular irritation with the feeling that changes are being introduced without full dialogue with those directly affected. The argument “the state needs it” sounds weaker when service becomes almost continuous.

Why this is a sensitive moment

Miluim is not a contract army or temporary mobilization. It is a system based on trust: the state calls — the citizen comes. Any changes in conditions are perceived as a signal of how the state evaluates the contribution of these people.

Experts warn: even a slight decrease in reservists’ motivation can have long-term consequences for combat readiness. Especially in conditions where the conflict does not appear short-term.

Broader context

Decisions on miluim are made against the backdrop of overall pressure on the economy, labor market, and social systems. The state is trying to maintain a balance between military necessity and the capabilities of the home front. But it is the reservists who find themselves at the intersection of these interests.

While the official position sounds restrained and technocratic, in society the question is formulated differently: how much longer can we rely on people who have already done more than was initially required of them.

This is why the topic of miluim is ceasing to be purely military and is becoming political and social — about trust, obligations, and the cost of a prolonged war, as increasingly written by NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency, capturing not only decisions from above but also reactions from below.