According to a report appearing in the daily Yisrael HaYom newspaper, there is a steady decline in the number of eligible draft age youths serving in the IDF. 44% of the females did not serve in 2008, with 34% declaring they are shomer Shabbos and therefore unable to serve. Officials predict the number among females will increase to 45.7% by 2012. For a first time, the IDF has hired a private detective agency to follow females who they feel may not actually be shomer mitzvos but just make the declaration to avoid military service. The army has allocated NIS 100,000 annually to permit the private detectives to follow females and determine if they are indeed keeping Shabbos as they claim. Army officials admit however that they cannot possible follow every female candidate.

The army is equally concerned or perhaps more so with the increase among eligible males who do not serve, reaching 25.8% in 2008 as compared to 18.2% in 1991. This number is expected to reach 26.7% in 2012. Military officials report that the increase in draft-dodging, accompanied by a decrease in aliyah, is making the manpower shortage a growing issue.

The army has decided to attempt to attract increased numbers in the chareidi community, and in the coming induction, two companies will operate in the Netzach Yehuda Nachal Chareidi instead of one company as is the case today.

The army is also increasing the commitment of women who enter officers’ training. Currently, they must sign on for an additional 9 months but this is being increased to 12 months.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)