Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., January 17, 2008 Shvat 10, 5768 | | Israel Time: 11:14 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Israel Defense Forces stand in formation by Jerusalem's Western Wall during a memorial ceremony. (Tomer Appelbaum/BauBau) Last update - 11:25 17/07/2007 IDF: Number of youths exempt from army at several-year high By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent and Haaretz Service A quarter of draft-aged Israelis do not enlist in the Israel Defense Forces, according to data released by the army Monday. Of the 26 percent of 18-year-olds freed from mandatory military service, about 11 percent claimed religious exemption based on the concept of Jewish study as a vocation. The August 2007 "entering class" is the smallest of the past several years, at least in part due to the rise of over 1 percent in the number of religious Jews who opt out of military service. Advertisement The number of volunteers for combat units dropped by 1.5 percent from the August 2006 draft. Col. Amir Rogovski, commander of Meytav, the Draft Management and Recruitment Unit, said on Monday that last summer's war in Lebanon may have affected combat unit numbers, noting that in last November's draft the figures were unusually high. Among combat units excluding the voluntary paratroopers brigade, Golani was the most popular choice among enlisters, followed by Nahal and Givati, Israel radio reported. The armor and artillery corps. were the least popular among those recruited to combat positions. Bookmark to del.icio.us   And the winner is Haaretz's Gideon Levy wins prize for cultural dialogue. The Amona syndrome Gov't fears it will pay the public price of removing outposts.   1.   Number of youths exempt from IDF service 10:29  |  Marlene 17/07/07   2.   NOT ONLY THE HAREDI DON`T SERVE...... 10:39  |  Miriam 17/07/07   3.   Number of youths exempt from yeshiva learning 11:20  |  Jew 17/07/07   4.   Is that all? there are far more non-inductees 11:25  |  Bruno 17/07/07   5.   Response for Miriam of Netivot #2 11:31  |  Esther 17/07/07   6.   Education and Morgages 11:42  |  Ethan 17/07/07   7.   to Jew 11:46  |  the pope 17/07/07   8.   Response: Miriam 11:51  |  Phil Collins 17/07/07   9.   Shirkers 12:09  |  Moshavnik 17/07/07   10.   To Marlene, #1 12:32  |  Barry 17/07/07   11.   When volunteers came from abroad 12:42  |  Hastaroth 17/07/07   12.   To the one who calls himself "pope" 13:12  |  Jew 17/07/07   13.   wrong facts 13:28  |  Shraga 17/07/07   14.   Co. Amir Rogovski, the truth is in the details 13:39  |  Nora 17/07/07   15.   Haredim Must Serve 13:57  |  Sol 17/07/07   16.   to Jew 15:26  |  the pope 17/07/07   17.   Has any one noticed... 16:21  |  Shraga 17/07/07   18.   to Shraga 07:51  |  the pope 18/07/07   19.   not all shirkers 15:49  |  Yair 18/07/07   20.   Info please 18:19  |  JW 18/07/07   21.   army exemption 10:40  |  eliezer 17/01/08

Today Online 13 Qassams strike Negev on third day of Gaza barrage Responses: 75 Israel Harel: No point in talks if Arabs won't accept Jewish Israel Responses: 5 Na'ama Sheffi: New talkback law does not hinder public dialogue Responses: 3 Amy Winehouse mulls album of 'cool' Hanukkah hits Responses: 24 Rosner's Domain Jewish leaders: "falsehood and innuendo used in mischaracterization of Obama" (WTR) Rosner's Mailbox: And what if Obama's a Muslim? With focus on Obama-Clinton race, veep chatter begins Olmert to American Jews: I want your voice on Jerusalem The case for bombing Iran (WTR) More Headlines 10:54 13 Qassams strike Negev on third day of Gaza barrage 10:24 China urges flexibility from Iran and the West over nuclear row 10:52 Five students from Jewish high school attacked by group in Berlin 09:26 Study: Most Sderot kids exhibit post-traumatic stress symptoms 09:58 Archaeologist hid 'Jesus tomb' for fear of anti-Semitism, widow says 02:36 Hamas: End Gaza raids or Shalit will become another Ron Arad 10:20 Homeless man found frozen to death in Rishon Letzion 09:44 Students to block roads in protest of continuing lecturers strike 06:17 Ben-Eliezer: Yisrael Beiteinu exit lets us advance peace process 11:08 FM heads to Moscow for talks on Iran, Middle East peace talks Previous Editions Select Day 16 jan 15 jan 14 jan 13 jan 11 jan 10 jan 09 jan 08 jan 07 jan 06 jan 04 jan 03 jan

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