IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir responded to lawmakers who criticized him following the suspension of a battalion, some of whose soldiers were involved in an incident with a CNN crew. Among other things, Zamir wrote: "I would like to take this opportunity to call on you to fulfill your responsibility. In January, the decision to shorten mandatory service will come into effect, despite my demand to go in the opposite direction, which will result in a shortage of thousands of combat soldiers and combat support personnel. I have requested that the law extending mandatory service (as a temporary measure), the reserves law (which is not adapted in its current form) and a relevant conscription law adapted to the IDF's needs at the present time be advanced."