The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Atidim Directorate has announced the expansion of its programs to include a broader range of communities, with a particular focus on the haredi (ultra-Orthodox) population. As part of this initiative, a new engineering track has been launched in collaboration with Ariel University’s Practical Engineering College.
Under the Pa’amei Atidim program, dozens of students from haredi and other minority communities are now able to pursue a diploma in practical engineering prior to their military enlistment. Following completion of the program, these recruits are expected to serve in leading technological units within the IDF Military Intelligence Directorate and concurrently work toward full academic engineering degrees during their service.
The Atidim Directorate operates through combined civilian and defense efforts, aiming to identify, screen, guide, and support potential recruits from Israel’s periphery and special populations. The goal is to facilitate their integration into academic and technological roles within the military.
At the program’s recent opening ceremony, which was attended by Dr. Yocheved Pinhasi-Adi, CEO of the Practical Engineering College, Lt.-Col. Peleg, head of the Atidim Directorate, and the directorate’s haredi section chief, officials underscored the significance of the initiative. Lt.-Col. Peleg emphasized that the new track opens opportunities previously unavailable to the haredi community by combining higher education with military service. He described the initiative as a momentous step for participants embarking on technological careers within the IDF.
Peleg highlighted the military’s need for talented personnel from diverse backgrounds to enhance its technological capabilities. “Military Intelligence and the technological units need talented people from every part of Israeli society,” he said, noting that the program allows participants to balance professional studies with service that respects their lifestyle.
He further explained that cultivating a diverse pool of recruits strengthens the IDF’s operational effectiveness. “Intelligence and technological work depend on people who think differently, come from different backgrounds, and bring diverse perspectives with them,” Peleg added. “When suitable frameworks are created and opportunities are opened, everyone benefits: you, the IDF, and the entire country.”
The expanded Atidim initiatives reflect ongoing efforts to bridge gaps between underrepresented communities and the IDF’s academic and technological fields, aiming to foster greater inclusion and strengthen Israel’s defense capabilities.