The Israel Defense Forces has launched a five-day amnesty initiative, dubbed “Start Over,” that allows draft dodgers and deserters to enlist without the threat of imprisonment. The military’s Personnel Directorate says roughly 14,600 Israelis are currently listed as having evaded compulsory service. The program is part of a broader effort to address what the IDF describes as a growing manpower crisis linked to the protracted Gaza conflict and other regional pressures. Army Radio and other Israeli media report that thousands of soldiers are unaccounted for, while enlistment among the ultra-Orthodox community remains minimal. Facing the shortfall, the IDF is also considering appeals to Jewish communities abroad, particularly in the United States, to encourage foreign recruitment. Military planners estimate that more than 10,000 eligible Jewish youths living overseas could help fill the ranks if domestic numbers do not improve.