Newly disclosed Israeli military data indicates that 50,632 service members hold at least one foreign citizenship in addition to Israeli nationality, according to figures published by Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth after the information was released in response to a freedom-of-information request filed by the transparency group Hatzlacha.
The breakdown reported from the data lists the United States as the largest group (12,135), followed by France (6,127) and Russia (just over 5,000), with additional totals including Germany (3,000+) and Ukraine (around 3,000); more than 1,000 were also reported for the UK, Romania, Poland, Ethiopia and Canada.
Reports say 4,440 soldiers have two additional citizenships and 162 have three. The military did not clarify whether the figures cover active-duty personnel, reservists, or both.
The disclosures have prompted renewed debate in several countries about what obligations—or potential legal exposure—may apply when their citizens serve in a foreign military during an active conflict.
