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Stan187 · 05-01-2008, 13:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gun Grape

But the government hasn't sold the population that its a reason to go to war.

Israeli 'draft dodgers' protest occupation - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.ynetnews.com/Ext/Comp/Art...462271,00.html

The focus is on female deserters but look at these numbers

Thats not a good sign and going back further,The Combat troops letter of 2002.The Pilots and the commandos letters of 2003, and the Mateh Chomat Magen letter in 2005 added to the desertions and the 25% draft dodging rate
shows that there iare major core problems with both the IDF and the government.

Things that no amount of time at the Ground Force Training Center will fix.

The 25% figure is way overblown. At least 10-15% of those are ultra-orthodox who legally wiggle out of serving. Of the other 10-15%, many are women who get shortened army assigments anyway. I, along with many, don't agree with the fact that they can get off the hook by going to religious schools, but that is the letter of the law. They are thus not dodging the draft illegaly. I'd say that a majority of the ultra-orthodox do not serve. It has nothing to do with the public being sold on the war or not being sold on the war. The numbers you put up, ~1000 per year, are not a big hit on recruitment, especially considering that overall majority of Israelis are obliged to serve.

Suprising Statistics

More people are requesting combat positions, especially in Golani, which is THE reg-force infantry brigade assigned to northern command, and which took some real hits during the 2006 Israel-Lebanon War. It seems that the population is more sold on the cause against Hizballah than you think, Sir, otherwise they would volunteer for central or southern command brigades.