Conscription in Israel
Encyclopedia
The conscription
in Israel
for all Israeli citizens over the age of 18, although Arab (but not Druze
) citizens are exempted, and other exceptions may be made on religious, physical or psychological grounds (see Profile 21
). The normal length of compulsory service is currently three years for men and two years for women.
Despite the impression that the majority of Israeli citizens are conscripted, only about 50% of potential conscripts actually serve in the military. Others do not serve for a variety of reasons, including religious study, minority community exemptions, refusing to serve
, "low motivation", and a criminal record.
The Defense Service Law (חוק שירות ביטחון) regulates these duties and the exceptions. According to the Defense Service Law, the enlistment to the Israeli Defense Forces is mandatory for all Israeli citizens whom have turned 18 (with some exemptions, such as Israeli Arabs, who are all exempt from service in the military by the Israeli defense minister by virtue of the authority granted to him in the Defense Service Law).
) and draftees diagnosed as not suitable for a military service, are exempt from military service. The highest profile is 97. For the minority populations, except for Druze
and Circassians
, the recruitment is voluntary. In addition, women are eligible for exemption from army service for reasons of religious conviction.
).
Yeshiva
students who declare that "Torah study is their artistry
" (תורתו אומנותו) can delay their conscription as long as they continue to study in the Yeshiva, although in practice many of them choose to never enlist to the military (this is a very controversial issue in the Israeli public, and through the years several attempts have been made to change the law, which until today all have failed). Special programs do exist in the military for the Yeshiva students (see Yeshivat Hesder
). This program combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework. The IDF also tends to make the military service easier for recruits at an older age and recruits with families, as well as athletes and various notable musicians.
From time to time a public debate rises among the Israeli public around the issue of draft dodging in Israel
. Usually This debate usually tends be held in the context of the Haredi public, the Arab public and celebrities, as well as other circumstances in which people are exempt from military service.
When there is a surplus of recruits, the military many times raises the threshold required from the recruits, and grants an exemption due to incompatibility to a much larger number of recruits. In addition, there is a widespread phenomenon of granting exemption from military service because of incompatibility to female candidates whom were identified have a low medical profile and/or low motivation to serve. In such cases the reason for the exemption would usually be stated as: "Excess of female recruits."
The IDF can also determine that a draftee has adjustment difficulties. A soldier with adjustment difficulties would not serve as a combat soldier.
Conscription
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of people in some sort of national service, most often military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and continues in some countries to the present day under various names...
in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
for all Israeli citizens over the age of 18, although Arab (but not Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
) citizens are exempted, and other exceptions may be made on religious, physical or psychological grounds (see Profile 21
Profile 21
Profile 21 is a code used by the military of Israel to classify Israelis who are deemed to have physical or psychological disabilities making them permanently unfit for military service...
). The normal length of compulsory service is currently three years for men and two years for women.
Despite the impression that the majority of Israeli citizens are conscripted, only about 50% of potential conscripts actually serve in the military. Others do not serve for a variety of reasons, including religious study, minority community exemptions, refusing to serve
Refusal to serve in the Israeli military
Refusal to serve in the Israeli military includes both refusal to obey specific orders and refusal to serve in the Israel Defense Forces in any capacity due to pacifist or anti-militarist views or disagreement with the policies of the Israeli government as implemented by the army, such as the...
, "low motivation", and a criminal record.
The Defense Service Law (חוק שירות ביטחון) regulates these duties and the exceptions. According to the Defense Service Law, the enlistment to the Israeli Defense Forces is mandatory for all Israeli citizens whom have turned 18 (with some exemptions, such as Israeli Arabs, who are all exempt from service in the military by the Israeli defense minister by virtue of the authority granted to him in the Defense Service Law).
Profiles
The IDF determines a medical profile for each soldier, and according to that profile, the army decides where to assign the draftees to. Draftees with low profiles (Profile 21Profile 21
Profile 21 is a code used by the military of Israel to classify Israelis who are deemed to have physical or psychological disabilities making them permanently unfit for military service...
) and draftees diagnosed as not suitable for a military service, are exempt from military service. The highest profile is 97. For the minority populations, except for Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
and Circassians
Circassians in Israel
The Circassians in Israel refers to the Adyghe community who live in Israel.The Circassians in Israel are moderate Sunni Muslims, they tend to put an emphasis on the separation between their religion and their nationality...
, the recruitment is voluntary. In addition, women are eligible for exemption from army service for reasons of religious conviction.
Avoiding service
Although the conscription is officially compulsory, in practice a significant percentage of the population does not enlist to the military for various reasons. Among other things, through the recent decades there is a growing phenomenon of draft dodging from military service, mainly due to conscience or political reasons (See Refusal to serve in the Israeli militaryRefusal to serve in the Israeli military
Refusal to serve in the Israeli military includes both refusal to obey specific orders and refusal to serve in the Israel Defense Forces in any capacity due to pacifist or anti-militarist views or disagreement with the policies of the Israeli government as implemented by the army, such as the...
).
Yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
students who declare that "Torah study is their artistry
Torato Omanuto
Torato Omanuto is a term describing one who's Torah study is his main occupation...
" (תורתו אומנותו) can delay their conscription as long as they continue to study in the Yeshiva, although in practice many of them choose to never enlist to the military (this is a very controversial issue in the Israeli public, and through the years several attempts have been made to change the law, which until today all have failed). Special programs do exist in the military for the Yeshiva students (see Yeshivat Hesder
Hesder
Hesder is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework...
). This program combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework. The IDF also tends to make the military service easier for recruits at an older age and recruits with families, as well as athletes and various notable musicians.
From time to time a public debate rises among the Israeli public around the issue of draft dodging in Israel
Exemption from military service in Israel
Conscription to the Israeli Defense Forces is done in Israeli in accordance with the Israeli Security Service Law . This law also consists of a set of rules that define in which cases a person would be exempted from security service...
. Usually This debate usually tends be held in the context of the Haredi public, the Arab public and celebrities, as well as other circumstances in which people are exempt from military service.
Military service obligation
In 1949, after the founding of the State of Israel, the Defense Service Law gave the IDF the authority to enlist any citizen. Draftees would then be required to show up for the draft in accordance with the military's decision to enlist them. Under this law, the period of service for men was 30 months and for women 18 months (although in accordance with a temporary order from January 10, 1968, six additional months were added to the mandatory service.) The draft requirement applies to any citizen or permanent resident who has reached the age of 18, and in accordance with the law, the individuals who are exempt from the draft are dismissed for various reasons, such as incapability, medical problems, military personnel needs, etc. Many of the soldiers who complete their mandatory military service are later obligated to serve in a reserve unit in accordance with the military's needs.Policy regarding various specific population groups
- The IDF does not enlist Israeli Arabs proactively, and only a very few of them choose to volunteer for military service. Many Bedouins enlist to a voluntary military service. For DruzeDruzeThe Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
and CircassianAdyghe peopleThe Adyghe or Adygs , also often known as Circassians or Cherkess, are in origin a North Caucasian ethnic groupwho were displaced in the course of the Russian conquest of the Caucasus in the 19th century, especially after the Russian–Circassian War of 1862.Adyghe people mostly speak Adyghe and most...
men the conscription is mandatory. - YeshivaYeshivaYeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
students who declare that "Torah study is their artistryTorato OmanutoTorato Omanuto is a term describing one who's Torah study is his main occupation...
" (תורתו אומנותו) can delay their conscription as long as they continue to study in the Yeshiva (In accordance with the Tal LawTal LawThe Tal committee was an Israeli public committee appointed on August 22, 1999 by then prime minister and defense minister Ehud Barak, which was headed by the retired judge Tzvi Tal and dealt with the special exemption from mandatory military service in the Israel Defense Forces given to Israeli...
), and in practice many of them choose to never enlist to the military. This is a very controversial issue within the Israeli public, and many attempts have been made through the years to change it, although so far they have all failed due to political pressures. - Female draftees who state that they maintain a religious way of life, are exempt from military service, and many of them choose to volunteer for national serviceSherut LeumiSherut Leumi is an alternative voluntary national service in Israel for those that cannot or do not wish to serve in the Israel Defense Forces...
instead. - HesderHesderHesder is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework...
students serve in the IDF in shorter periods than the normal service periods - only a year and four months. - Draftees who state that they are pacifists are required to pass a committee which examines the credibility of their statement. If the committee is persuaded that these are people who meet the criteria of pacifism, an exemption from military service is given to those individuals. There are only a few individuals each year who are granted an exemption due to pacifism, and the ones whom the Committee decides to enlist in spite of their declaration - are required to enlist.
- Immigrants who immigrate to Israel at the age of recruitment get various concessions in their military service.
- Draftees with a physical disability, which are exempt from military service, may volunteer to serve. It can be a symbolic service of four hours a day, but they might also end up serving in full-time military service.
- Leading active athletes might in many cases be granted an "Outstanding athlete" status which allows them to get a more continent and shorter service - so they can continue to develop their career in the branch of the sport and represent Israel abroad in international competitions. The "Outstanding athlete" status is given only to athletes competing in Olympic sports. In addition, the military also grants the similar "Outstanding dancer" status and a "Outstanding musician" status. This status is granted in the same way and after the individuals have been examined. These individual's military service would also get a more convenient service so that they can continue to improve their abilities and career during military service.
Draft process
The military draft process occurs in the following steps:Deferment
There are various routes which allow the draftees to postpone the date of recruitment. An automatic postponement is granted for student to graduate from high school. Additional routes which lead to the postponing of the recruitment:- Volunteering for a one year service in a youth organization.
- Postponement of conscription due to the IDF needs, usually due to a course beginning in a date which occurs later than the original drafting date given to the draftee.
- Postponement of conscription due to various personal reasons.
- One can postpone the draft in a year in order to go to Torah studies.
- One can postpone the draft as part of the HesderHesderHesder is an Israeli yeshiva program which combines advanced Talmudic studies with military service in the Israel Defense Forces, usually within a Religious Zionist framework...
agreement.
Academic programs
- Academic ReserveAtudaAtuda, or Academic Atuda , is a program of the Israeli Defense Forces which enables youngsters who are intended to join the army as soldiers, to study academic studies prior to their military service...
- a program designed to enlist and train soldiers which have an academic background in fields vital to the military's needs. - Talpiot programTalpiot programTalpiot program is an elite Israel Defense Forces training program for young people who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability in the sciences, physics and mathematics. Graduates of the Talpiot program pursue higher education while serving in the army, and then utilize their expertise to...
- an elite training program for young people who have demonstrated outstanding academic ability in the sciences, physics and mathematics. Graduates of the Talpiot program pursue higher education while serving in the army, and then utilize their expertise to further IDF research and development. - The pilot courseIsraeli Air Force flight academyThe Israeli Air Force Flight Academy trains aircrew to operate Israeli Air Force aircraft, qualifying fighter, helicopter and transport pilots as well as combat and transport navigators....
also offers a college degree.
Discrepancy and adjustment difficulties
During the drafting process sometimes draftees get exempted from the draft because of incompatibility. Sometimes the incompatibility of an individual is determined later on during ones military service, and leads to his dismissal from the army. Discrepancy stems from various reasons:- Criminal record or history of using drugs.
- Low motivation to serve.
When there is a surplus of recruits, the military many times raises the threshold required from the recruits, and grants an exemption due to incompatibility to a much larger number of recruits. In addition, there is a widespread phenomenon of granting exemption from military service because of incompatibility to female candidates whom were identified have a low medical profile and/or low motivation to serve. In such cases the reason for the exemption would usually be stated as: "Excess of female recruits."
The IDF can also determine that a draftee has adjustment difficulties. A soldier with adjustment difficulties would not serve as a combat soldier.
Volunteering
A draftee found unfit for military service may still choose to volunteer for military service and his status will be similar to all the other draftee found to be fit for service (as such these volunteers can not later on decide to quit the military after they have chosen to volunteer to the army).External links
- IDF: Nearly 28% of Israeli males avoided conscription in 2007 - published in HaaretzHaaretzHaaretz is Israel's oldest daily newspaper. It was founded in 1918 and is now published in both Hebrew and English in Berliner format. The English edition is published and sold together with the International Herald Tribune. Both Hebrew and English editions can be read on the Internet...
- Dodging Israel's draft - published on BBC NewsBBC NewsBBC News is the department of the British Broadcasting Corporation responsible for the gathering and broadcasting of news and current affairs. The department is the world's largest broadcast news organisation and generates about 120 hours of radio and television output each day, as well as online...
- Israel confronts flagging interest in military service - published in washingtonpost.com