Opinion.
Telling it like it is.
Military Conscription
What is at stake?
The whole country is in danger.
If the Arabs and their allies get a chance they will kill us all. They are liable to torture and rape all of us and our children.
We have already seen a little of what they are prepared to do.
What is the alternative?
Should every able-bodies male and female be conscripted into the IDF? or all the males and only part of the females?
What are the alternatives?
What is the present situation?
Does the Secular Israeli Powers-that-be have an agenda of their own behind all this?
There is no clear-cut answer BUT the impression is that the weight of consideration might be on the side of the Hareidim.
Thanks to the IDF Israel has up until now won all its wars. The IDF at present is suffering from a manpower shortage. The IDF relies heavily on its reserve forces. These are soldiers who have served a full-time period in the past and now have civilian occupations along with families of their own. They are expected to return to IDF units when called upon. In principle they will be paid for the time served according to what they earn in civilian life. In practice it may not always work out that way. Many of the reservists are not answering the summons sent them to turn up. They are not expected to. Usually the number called up is in excess of the numbers needed. It also happens that more soldiers turn up than are expected.
Also Religious Jews who learn full-time are in principle exempt from service. Regular Israelis on the whole accept this situation but some do not. Also among those registered as learning are many who are not really doing so. Nevertheless, these who do learn - learn well, and are genuinely motivated.
Apart from that, there are many National-Relgious Jews who both serve and in some cases also learn. These are usually the best front-line soldiers the IDF has. They comprise ca. 40% of the front-line troops and 50% of the younger officers in the IDF. This however is an imperfect solution. Their religious observance often suffers. Elements within the IDF also in some cases work to diminish their religiousity. The IDF consciously or subcosciosly also works to produce some type of average Israeli who is neither too religious nor too secular.
So too, we have female soldiers. Some of these are quite good. There are specialized tasks at which the women are better, or just as good. This is not always the case. Nevertheless, elements in israeli Society are constantly pushing to increase the involvement of females in the military. Despite claims to the contrary ideological considerations appear to be the prime motivation behind the increased feminization in military ranks. At present, women who wish not to serve for relgious or other reasons do not have to. About one/third of all eligible females use this exemption clause.
Jewish Religious sources speak of these matters. The opinion is held that for every full-time soldier there should be one Talmudic scholar exempt from service. In Biblical Times the Tribe of Levi was entirely exempt whereas all other Israelite Males of sound body and mind between the ages of 20 to 60 had to answer the call when needed. Females should not serve in the military.
The ideal solution is as stated for every soldier there be one Talmudic Scholar who is exempt. Nowadays the actual number is much much less than that. Those who are exempt should include those who do not learn but belong to the community of Torah Learners. There is fiction over this matter. No women whatosever should serve in the Armed Services. Everyone who serves should be of frontline preparedness but exceptions are allowed. These steps might (or might not) reduce the numbers actually conscripted. The overall effectiveness of those actually serving would however increase many times over in the longrun.
In principle the IDF respects basic Jewish relgious needs of all of its soldiers especially concerning Kashrut of food etc., with exceptions. This should be tightened up and improved upon. The payment of reservists in action and related matters should also be enforced in a stricter and more equitable fashion. On the whole the IDF is quite good but there is much that could be improved upon.