The Israeli government has given its support to a draft bill extending the retirement age for reservists despite backlash from the Israeli public, Al Jazeera reports.

The bill, which has been backed by the defence ministry, calls for the extension of a temporary measure to raise the age for reservists.

The measure was initially expected to end at the end of June.

The Ministerial Committee for Legislation approves sending the legislation for a three-month extension to the Knesset, where it must pass three readings to become law.

But the decision has been negatively received. The decision to extend the service for reservists comes as the government has yet to draft the ultra-Orthodox Jews.