Israel: To Fight or Not To Fight

(multimedia) In Israel, compulsory military service has been the backbone of the beleaguered Jewish State since its founding in 1948.  All Israeli’s upon reaching the age of 18 must serve a two or three year term in the Tzva Hahagana LeYisra’el — Israel Defense Force.  However there is a fierce debate on-going regarding just who will fill these ranks.  Currently Ultra-Orthodox Jewish men are allowed exemption from military service on grounds that they will instead be pursuing religious study.

However earlier this month Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu began the process of reform that would do away with such exemptions.   Netanyahu remarked,  “Everyone must bear the burden. We will provide positive incentives to those who serve and negative incentives to draft dodgers.”    These actions were celebrated by reformers within Israel who argue that the defense of Israel is the duty of all its citizens.

 

Yahoo News has the full article

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