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Last update - 23:42 09/03/2008
New program to allow mentally challenged to enlist in the IDF
By Haaretz Staff and Channel 10
Tags: Akim, mentally challenged 
Haaretz.com/Channel 10 daily feature for March 9, 2008.

A new project is set to give Israel's mentally challenged an opportunity to undergo one of the society's most important rites of passage.

AKIM, the National Association for the Habilitation of the Mentally Handicapped, is cooperating with the Israel Defense Forces to enlist 200 mentally challenged citizens between the ages of 21 and 30 into the army.
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In the past, mentally challenged citizens would get an automatic exemption from the army at the age of 18. But this project is intended to close some of the gaps that prevent its participants from meaningful integration into Israeli society.

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      1.   Some Thoughts On The IDF and Handicapped Jews 00:40  |  Norman F Birnberg 10/03/08
      2.   Why Israel Is Special 01:04  |  guy 10/03/08
      3.   Little Sweetheart 05:03  |  Ron Day 10/03/08
      4.   A New Soldier 05:31  |  Connie 10/03/08
      5.   Mentally ill in Armies 09:57  |  Roland 10/03/08
      6.   Let`s be real 10:09  |  Real 10/03/08
      7.   What a priority to set 10:39  |  Angel 10/03/08
      8.   Kol Hakavod 10:59  |  Adele 10/03/08
      9.   IDF is a "People`s Army", so all "People`s" should be included 11:48  |  Efox 10/03/08
      10.   murder in jerusalem Yeshiva by Hams 11:54  |  mamo 10/03/08
      11.   #9 Efox same to be said of those w/o mental disabilities. 12:28  |  petra 10/03/08
      12.   They will find their place in the IDF as well as in the society 12:30  |  AliciaYasmeen 10/03/08
      13.   http://www.israelforum.com/blog_article.php?aid=1245666 13:18  |  bali 10/03/08
      14.   I thought They Were Alreadly Serving in the IDF Today 13:40  |  Mr. Know-it-all 10/03/08
      15.   Mentally challenged in Israeli army 14:57  |  Anne-Marie 10/03/08
      16.   DISGUSTING! WHO IS MENTALLY HANDICAPPED?? 15:04  |  DAVID 10/03/08
      17.   IDF-female soldiers mostly serve in offices handling paper-work 15:28  |  AliciaYasmeen 10/03/08
      18.   With all Respect 15:57  |  Mary 10/03/08
      19.   Just like the Iraqi suicide bombers? 16:12  |  David S. 10/03/08
      20.   #9 will that include the ultra orthadox? 16:13  |  SJ 10/03/08
      21.   If this program took place in an Arab or Muslim country 16:50  |  Diane Mason 10/03/08
      22.   Interesting How Mentally Handicapped Can Serve But Not the Ultras 17:25  |  MIKE 10/03/08
      23.   There Are Many Ways to Serve That Do Not Include Combat 17:32  |  MIKE 10/03/08
      24.   Polack Roland,your entire country is mentally chalenged look 17:45  |  Absolute Sweden 10/03/08
      25.   More unintentional comedy 19:15  |  Colin Wright 10/03/08
      26.   Handicapped army 19:30  |  Adriel 10/03/08
      27.   Mentally handicapped serve in the IDF 19:49  |  Yonatan 10/03/08
      28.   Yoh,Colin,don`t you keep your retarded daughter chained to 20:01  |  Absolute Sweden 10/03/08
      29.   #1 Norman F Birnberg is mentally challenged 20:36  |  L A 10/03/08
      30.   Right of passage to aid integration into adult society 20:59  |  ZISD 10/03/08
      31.   Are they that mentally-challenged that they want to serve in the 21:28  |  Zalman Z 10/03/08
      32.   TO THOSE WHO PUT DOWN THE HAREDIM, WHO DO YOU THINK SOME OF THE 21:56  |  CALHOUN 10/03/08
      33.   #27 YONATAN:WERE YOU BORN ANTI SEMETIC OR WERE YOUR FRIENDS LIKE 22:04  |  NACHALOZ 10/03/08
      34.   re #28 `Yoh Colin...` 22:10  |  Colin Wright 10/03/08
      35.   To those who deny rights to mentally handicapped 22:13  |  dovber 10/03/08
      36.   now there`s a new meaning to "special forces" 22:20  |  sam 10/03/08
      37.   respect to israel 22:36  |  sam 10/03/08
      38.   mentally challenged 23:06  |  lou natik 10/03/08
      39.   Deplorable! 23:35  |  Maureen Ann 10/03/08
      40.   hollywood pap.The IDF needs to put the fear of God into the Islam 23:35  |  Walter 10/03/08
      41.   NICE BUT NOT SO NICE 23:48  |  HANDICAP 10/03/08
      42.   Sincerely Stupid Tripe.This belongs on DAYTIME TV SOAPS and is 23:48  |  Roger 10/03/08
      43.   I respect handicaped people but... 00:00  |  Joey 11/03/08
      44.   This is pap.LOLs in Tel Aviv may buy it,but it`s bullfeathers 00:07  |  Randy 11/03/08
      45.   re: petra 08:44  |  Efox 11/03/08
      46.   re: MIKE 08:57  |  Efox 11/03/08
      47.   #35 agreed and I second that motion!!! 13:39  |  petra 12/03/08
      48.   # 45 Efox 14:13  |  petra 19/03/08
      49.   # 33 Jonthans fine. He is neither anti semitic or deserving of 14:17  |  petra 19/03/08
      50.   Mentally challenged in service? 03:40  |  Jean K. 15/06/08
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