IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-General Gabi Ashkenazi did not seek to hide his feelings regarding the nation’s public school education system, explaining on Tuesday that one-third of soldiers taken to Yerushalayim explain for them, it is their first visit, never having done so during their years in school. He added that many soldiers believe that Massada was conquered in the June 1967 Six Day War, and there are soldiers who simply are incapable of speaking Hebrew properly.

The IDF commander made his remarks during a conference of school principals, discussing new education goals of Minister of Education Gideon Saar. “We are aware of the problems the nation’s youth bring to the military” state the commander, “including alcohol abuse”.

He spoke of youths who are the product of the school system, who do not recognize the state or our heritage. He turned to the principals, asking them to instill the values in our children that will make them loyal and good citizens, assets to the IDF. “It is your responsibility” he told them. He added the IDF is also an educational organization, inculcating soldiers with values such as teamwork, respect, discipline and responsibility.

When asked about increasingly common acts of insubordination, he repeated statements of recent days, that this is a “red line” which mustn’t be crossed, warning by doing so, the military framework is threatened, hence posing a threat to the future abilities of the IDF as exists today.

Saar told participants that he views part of his job as inculcating students with a motivation to serve in the military, telling principals a new program has been developed in cooperation with the IDF toward achieving this goal. He and Ashkenazi agreed that education is the key to motivating enlistment rather than draft eligible youths opting to seek to obtain a deferment from service.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)