Difference between revisions of "Conscription in Israel"
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| − | [[Conscription in Israel]] during peacetime has been in place since 1949, a year after Israel was founded. While Israel is widely known for drafting women this does not occur on the same basis as men. Only citizens of Israel may be drafted. |
+ | [[Conscription in Israel]] during peacetime has been in place since 1949, a year after Israel was founded. While Israel is widely known for drafting women this does not occur on the same basis as men. Only citizens and permanent residents of Israel may be drafted. |
Various exemptions exist which allow for a high proportion of men and women to avoid mandatory military service. This is a growing political issue in Israel. In 2013, 26 percent of all potential conscripts were exempted from military service in the Israel Defense Forces; 13.5 percent for religious reasons, 4 percent for psychological reasons, 2 percent for physical health reasons, 3 percent due to existing criminal records, and 3 percent due to residing abroad. As of 2022, the minimum required length of military service is two years and eight months (with some roles requiring an additional four months of service) for all conscripted men, and two years (with some roles requiring an additional eight months of service) for conscripted Jewish women. |
Various exemptions exist which allow for a high proportion of men and women to avoid mandatory military service. This is a growing political issue in Israel. In 2013, 26 percent of all potential conscripts were exempted from military service in the Israel Defense Forces; 13.5 percent for religious reasons, 4 percent for psychological reasons, 2 percent for physical health reasons, 3 percent due to existing criminal records, and 3 percent due to residing abroad. As of 2022, the minimum required length of military service is two years and eight months (with some roles requiring an additional four months of service) for all conscripted men, and two years (with some roles requiring an additional eight months of service) for conscripted Jewish women. |
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| + | == Categories == |
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| + | More than 20% of Israel's population is non-Jewish. In general, non-Jews are exempt from conscription in Israel. The following table provides a break down. |
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| − | Israeli citizens with an exemption from |
+ | Israeli citizens with an exemption from conscription may volunteer to serve in the IDF if they otherwise meet the entry requirements. |
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| + | === Haredi === |
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| + | Haredi women are accepted as being religious and thus exempt from military service. |
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| + | === Non-Haredi === |
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| + | Non-Haredi women are only supposed to receive an exemption if they are actually religious. In practice manuy non-religious women have obtained exemptions. The problem has become so widespread that it has been reported that the IDF is cracking down on this in the 2020s. |
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| + | === Palestinian === |
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Palestinians in the table above refer to Arab citizens of Israel, not residents of the West Bank which most nations consider to be under occupation by Israel. |
Palestinians in the table above refer to Arab citizens of Israel, not residents of the West Bank which most nations consider to be under occupation by Israel. |
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| + | A growing number of Palestinians are volunteering for service in the IDF. |
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| − | == |
+ | === Bedouin === |
| + | Bedouin have a long history of volunteering and many have risen to high rank as career soldiers. Volunteering in the IDF is a way out of poverty for many Bedouin. |
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| − | Non-Haredi women are only supposed to receive an exemption if they are actually religious. In practice Israel has merely accepted a declaration that a woman is religious in order to grant an exemption. The granting of exemptions to women has become so common there are reports the IDF is now investigating in some cases to verify whether the woman is actually being truthful in her declaration. Attending night clubs, dressing immodestly or boasting about sexual activity would all be indications that the women is not actually religious. |
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| + | === Druze === |
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| ⚫ | Men from the ''Druze'' community are required to service on the same basis as Jewish men. These provisions were added to Israeli law at the request of the leaders of these communities. Military service became mandatory for Druze men in 1956.<ref>https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/druze-in-israel-and-the-question-of-compulsory-military-service</ref><ref>https://archive.vn/dhkKL</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130417174543/http://www.circassianworld.com/Haaretz_eng.html</ref> |
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| + | === Circassian === |
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| − | More than 20% of Israel's population is non-Jewish. In general, non-Jews are exempt from conscription in Israel. There are however two exceptions. Men from the ''Druze'' and ''Circassian'' minorities are required to service on the same basis as Jewish men. These provisions were added to Israeli law at the request of the leaders of these communities. Military service became mandatory for Druze men in 1956 and Circassian men in 1958. |
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| + | Men from the ''Circassian''' community are required to service on the same basis as Jewish men. These provisions were added to Israeli law at the request of the leaders of these communities. Military service became mandatory for Circassian men in 1958.<ref>https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/druze-in-israel-and-the-question-of-compulsory-military-service</ref><ref>https://archive.vn/dhkKL</ref><ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20130417174543/http://www.circassianworld.com/Haaretz_eng.html</ref> |
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| − | Men and women who are exempt from mandatory military service may volunteer. |
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| + | === Others === |
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| − | Jewish Israeli women are exempted from mandatory military service if they are married or if they are ''religious'', meaning that they strictly observe Jewish religious law. |
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| + | == Combat == |
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Male IDF soldiers may be required to service in combat units. Female IDF soldiers may volunteer for combat duty but may not be forced in to it against their will. Women that volunteer for combat duty are placed in a relatively small number of border patrol units rather than front-line infantry units. While border patrol units are combat units they are significantly less likely to see action than infantry units and if they do it is less likely to be sustained. If it was considered politically necessary during a major conflagration these units could be withdrawn to defend Israel's cities, further reducing the likelihood of exposing women to harm. |
Male IDF soldiers may be required to service in combat units. Female IDF soldiers may volunteer for combat duty but may not be forced in to it against their will. Women that volunteer for combat duty are placed in a relatively small number of border patrol units rather than front-line infantry units. While border patrol units are combat units they are significantly less likely to see action than infantry units and if they do it is less likely to be sustained. If it was considered politically necessary during a major conflagration these units could be withdrawn to defend Israel's cities, further reducing the likelihood of exposing women to harm. |
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*[[Conscription]] |
*[[Conscription]] |
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| − | {{ |
+ | {{Conscription}} |
| + | {{Featured}} |
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| + | {{Israel}} |
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| + | {{Wikipedia}} |
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== References == |
== References == |
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| − | [[Category: Conscription]] |
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| − | [[Category: Featured Articles]] |
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| − | [[Category: Israel]] |
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| − | [[Category: Wikipedia]] |
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Latest revision as of 05:56, 1 November 2023
Conscription in Israel during peacetime has been in place since 1949, a year after Israel was founded. While Israel is widely known for drafting women this does not occur on the same basis as men. Only citizens and permanent residents of Israel may be drafted.
Various exemptions exist which allow for a high proportion of men and women to avoid mandatory military service. This is a growing political issue in Israel. In 2013, 26 percent of all potential conscripts were exempted from military service in the Israel Defense Forces; 13.5 percent for religious reasons, 4 percent for psychological reasons, 2 percent for physical health reasons, 3 percent due to existing criminal records, and 3 percent due to residing abroad. As of 2022, the minimum required length of military service is two years and eight months (with some roles requiring an additional four months of service) for all conscripted men, and two years (with some roles requiring an additional eight months of service) for conscripted Jewish women.
Categories
More than 20% of Israel's population is non-Jewish. In general, non-Jews are exempt from conscription in Israel. The following table provides a break down.
| Ethnic Group | Gender | |
|---|---|---|
| Male | Female | |
| Haredi Jewish | Exempt if in full-time religious study. | Exempt |
| Non-Haredi Jewish | Required | Exempt if religious. |
| Palestinian | Exempt | Exempt |
| Bedouin | Exempt | Exempt |
| Druze | Required | Exempt |
| Circassian | Required | Exempt |
Israeli citizens with an exemption from conscription may volunteer to serve in the IDF if they otherwise meet the entry requirements.
Haredi
Haredi men are exempt as long as they are studying Torah. In practice many men study for so long that they are eventually too old to be called for military service.
Haredi women are accepted as being religious and thus exempt from military service.
Non-Haredi
Non-Haredi women are only supposed to receive an exemption if they are actually religious. In practice manuy non-religious women have obtained exemptions. The problem has become so widespread that it has been reported that the IDF is cracking down on this in the 2020s.
Palestinian
Palestinians in the table above refer to Arab citizens of Israel, not residents of the West Bank which most nations consider to be under occupation by Israel.
A growing number of Palestinians are volunteering for service in the IDF.
Bedouin
Bedouin have a long history of volunteering and many have risen to high rank as career soldiers. Volunteering in the IDF is a way out of poverty for many Bedouin.
Druze
Men from the Druze community are required to service on the same basis as Jewish men. These provisions were added to Israeli law at the request of the leaders of these communities. Military service became mandatory for Druze men in 1956.[1][2][3]
Circassian
Men from the Circassian' community are required to service on the same basis as Jewish men. These provisions were added to Israeli law at the request of the leaders of these communities. Military service became mandatory for Circassian men in 1958.[4][5][6]
Others
Jews without Israeli citizenship may volunteer. Non-Jews are accepted for non-military volunteer work through the mahal program. This program sees them performing volunteer work at IDF bases without joining the IDF.[7]
Combat
Male IDF soldiers may be required to service in combat units. Female IDF soldiers may volunteer for combat duty but may not be forced in to it against their will. Women that volunteer for combat duty are placed in a relatively small number of border patrol units rather than front-line infantry units. While border patrol units are combat units they are significantly less likely to see action than infantry units and if they do it is less likely to be sustained. If it was considered politically necessary during a major conflagration these units could be withdrawn to defend Israel's cities, further reducing the likelihood of exposing women to harm.
See Also
This article contains information imported from the English Wikipedia. In most cases the page history will have details. If you need information on the importation and have difficulty obtaining it please contact the site administrators.
Wikipedia shows a strong woke bias. Text copied over from Wikipedia can be corrected and improved.
References
- ↑ https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/druze-in-israel-and-the-question-of-compulsory-military-service
- ↑ https://archive.vn/dhkKL
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20130417174543/http://www.circassianworld.com/Haaretz_eng.html
- ↑ https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/druze-in-israel-and-the-question-of-compulsory-military-service
- ↑ https://archive.vn/dhkKL
- ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20130417174543/http://www.circassianworld.com/Haaretz_eng.html
- ↑ https://lawoffice.org.il/en/idf-recruitment-of-foreign-citizens/