Subscribe to Print Edition | Sat., March 22, 2008 Adar2 16, 5768 | | Israel Time: 09:51 (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

Last update - 10:20 19/11/2007 8 percent of new IDF recruits have a criminal record By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: crime, IDF, conscripts  The Israel Defense Forces is adopting measures aimed at preventing the downward spiral in the number of dropouts and rejected conscripts. According to data from the Human Resources Directorate of the army, 18 percent of conscripts drop out during their first year in the IDF and as many as 28 percent of youth eligible for conscription are exempt each year. Most of those who gain exemptions do so for religious reasons, but there are also those who suffer psychological problems, and others who have substantial criminal records. The tightening of criteria on the basis of which the IDF allows conscripts to dropout or receive exemptions went into effect earlier this year, according to a senior IDF source. Advertisement Another problem the IDF has been addressing stems from the fact that as many as 8 percent of each year's conscripts have a criminal record. A decade ago the numbers were approximately 2 percent. As many as 70 percent of conscripts with criminal records do finish their military service. A senior IDF officer explained to Haaretz Sunday that the minute a teenager with a criminal record is conscripted, his background is kept a secret, also from his commanding officers. "He joins the military and no one knows about his past and he comes in clean. We allow him to carry out his military service in the best way, depending on his level of motivation," the officer said. He also said that every year the IDF files hundreds of requests with the president, asking to do away with the criminal records of soldiers who completed their military service without any major disciplinary problems. "There is a proposal that we are evaluating at this time to automatically erase all criminal records who complete their full military service," the officer said. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Good Avraham Hunting An ex-security guard solves a problem that has baffled mathematicians for decades. A better place Some 2,400 African refugees have entered Israel via Egypt since January.   1.   what % of Knesset members have a police record 10:12  |  SJ 19/11/07   2.   8 Percent 11:47  |  Clickfool 19/11/07   3.   #2 Clickfool 12:22  |  Avi 19/11/07   4.   Clickfool: They are all criminals 12:45  |  Nora 19/11/07   5.   #2c.fool-criminals like Hamas or hate crimes like you? 12:59  |  Ben 19/11/07   6.   I expect that a criminal record would make them an officer 13:55  |  Natallie Durson 19/11/07   7.   Looking at the headline 14:08  |  Mark Lincoln 19/11/07   8.   100% have committed criminal acts with the IDF!!!!!!!!!!! 14:31  |  POP 19/11/07   9.   Let`s be civil 15:33  |  Empresaria 19/11/07   10.   Some May Go In With A Criminal Record 15:49  |  Eli 19/11/07   11.   POP No. 8 15:55  |  Natan 19/11/07   12.   A Criminal Society 16:28  |  Double Click 19/11/07   13.   Mark Lincoln - Coming From Texas I Would Have 16:33  |  Eli 19/11/07   14.   8 percent of new IDF recruits 16:39  |  Dav 19/11/07   15.   #2, Clickfool....well said, unfortunately... 09:43  |  Silvienne 22/03/08   16.   #3, Avi... 09:45  |  Silvienne 22/03/08

Today Online Bradley Burston: Macho U.S. Jews, pantywaist Israel Responses: 138 Jewish group seeks to purge YouTube of anti-Semitic videos Responses: 158 PM says worried Russian weapons will reach Hezbollah Responses: 89 Israel, Germany plan int'l summit to stop Iran nuke program Responses: 91 13-year-old boy wounded in terror attack near Hebron Responses: 82 Editorial: J'lem yeshiva massacre must not lead to boycott of Israeli Arabs Responses: 82 Rosner's Domain U.S. govt. to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial I've known my rabbi for more than 20 years... (WTR) Poll: Mideast summit in Moscow, a good idea? There's no need for American pressure on Israel Jewish connections in the NCAA (WTR) More Headlines 07:23 Israel, Russia finalize deal on supply of armored vehicles to PA 02:04 Haniyeh to expand gov't in bid to strengthen Hamas hold on Gaza 02:52 Tunnel collapses near Egypt-Gaza border, injuring five 00:22 IAF grounds all F-16I jets over carcinogenic material in cockpit 07:03 U.S. govt. to appeal ruling on classified material in AIPAC trial 02:45 Ch. 2 airs satellite footage after High Court rejects Ch. 10 appeal 01:25 Christian pilgrims flock to Jerusalem's Old City for Good Friday 09:16 Ex-prof with alleged terror ties refuses to testify in U.S. court 06:56 Umm al-Fahm resident shot to death outside her home 23:15 Three Qassam rockets strike Israel amid signs of cease-fire with Hamas 02:50 German Jewish leader raps pope over prayer for conversion of Jews 05:24 T.A. court extends remand of parents suspected of seriously abusing baby Previous Editions Select Day 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar 18 mar 17 mar 16 mar 14 mar 13 mar 12 mar 11 mar 10 mar 09 mar

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