Officer: IDF on brink of abyss over draft dodging

[azurnoir]

Head of the IDF Personnel Directorate, Major-General Avi Zamir, visited an Ashdod high school Wednesday and met with its teachers as part of a military initiative meant to try and reintroduce military values to youths.

Zamir, who focused on the rising numbers of draft dodgers, warned that the coming decade may see up to 40% of Jewish teenager evade military service.

"Even now the notion of 'the people's army' is fraying and of these trends continue we'll be on the brink of an abyss," he said.


According to IDF data for 2008, 72% of teenage Jewish boys and 54% of girls enlist in the military, placing draft dodging rates at 37%.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3834123,00.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Maybe these teens don't want to kill another group of teens whom they don't hate.

And won't because their government told them to.

Maybe Israel should contract with Blackwater/Xi.

[Scurrilous]

2. IDF calls for Bar Refaeli boycott

Military says supermodel, products she advertises should be shunned in bid to fight draft dodging

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3834596,00.html

<snip>

"The Israel Defense Forces has decided to step up its campaign against Bar Refaeli. Slamming the supermodel as a draft dodger, a senior IDF official has urged Israeli consumers to boycott Refaeli and all the products advertised by her.

Head of the IDF's Personnel Directorate Major General Avi Zamir visited the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya and spoke to students about "the struggle for each and every recruit in mandatory and reserve service – a national social mission."

At the end of the lecture one student asked the Major General why the IDF is not making an effort to enlist supermodel Bar Refaeli, the most successful Israeli model in the world today, who got married and received an exemption from military service.

Zamir seemed to be prepared for the question. Since his appointment as head of Personnel Directorate a year and a half ago, he has stepped up the all-out war against draft dodging. "The State of Israel is a law-abiding state," he said.

Zamir explained that "Refaeli presented a valid marriage certificate, which could not be disputed. At the end of the day she needs to look at herself in the mirror. We are a society with a military, and Bar Refaeli should not be in Fox (clothing brand) advertisements – if she advertises them, you shouldn't buy their products – and that will be the answer."