Israel’s military is weighing a plan to enlist young Jewish people from abroad to offset what officials describe as a severe shortage of soldiers, Al Jazeera reports citing Army Radio.

The move comes as the military struggles with a shortfall of 10,000 to 12,000 troops, driven largely by the refusal of ultra-Orthodox Jews, or Haredim, to serve.

Haredim, who account for about 13 per cent of Israel’s population of 10 million, reject compulsory service, saying they dedicate their lives to Torah study and warning that integration into secular society would erode their religious identity.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bid to advance legislation granting blanket exemptions for Haredim has drawn resistance from the coalition and opposition lawmakers alike, with critics denouncing the plan as discriminatory.

According to the Army Radio, the military intends to target major Jewish communities abroad for recruitment, particularly in the United States and France, with the aim of adding about 700 recruits each year.