The Israeli Army and the Myth

This is an informative article based on facts and aiming to clarify to future new immigrants and future soldiers the facts about military service in Israel. Here you will find information that differs from the information belonging to popular myth. The military law, the national security law and all the other rules are the only true information sources, and popular myths are just myths and nothing else.

The Obligation to Enlist for Army Service (for Israelis Only)

1. Military service is not optional; it is mandatory for both men and women and for all Israeli citizens, except for those who have been dismissed or that are exempt from the service by law and according to the military rules.
    
2. The obligation to serve in the army is valid for every Israeli citizen living or not in Israel. In case of doubt, it is recommended to clarify your questions through this e-mail address: infohul@idf.gov.il
    
3. Military service for men lasts 36 months and for women, 24 months.
    
4. A large number of the new immigrants are exempt from serving the army according to the table below.
    
5. For now, people that are only children cannot serve as fighters without their parents’ authorization, but this matter is under discussion and there are many unsolved problems¹.
    
6. Religion: this subject will be treated separately later on.
    
7. The army doesn’t call new immigrants in the first 12 months of their stay in Israel.
    
8. New immigrants who don’t speak Hebrew have to take a mandatory Hebrew course. The army pays for this course and this period counts as the army service rendered.
    
9. Mandatory army service time for new immigrants who arrived in Israel after July, 2006 (the numbers are in months)².
   

   Married with one or more children	Married without children	Single	Health Profile (“profil”)3	Age at arrival to Israel
   Exempt	18	30	31-97	18-19
   Exempt	6	24	65-97	18-19
   Exempt	Reserve	24	31-64	20-21
   Exempt	6	6	65-97	20-21
   Exempt	Reserve	Reserve	31-64	22-25
   Exempt	Reserve	Reserve	31-97	26-29
   Exempt	Reserve	Reserve	31-97	30 and above

   
    
10. Army service is mandatory even for people who have a second citizenship.
     
11. The service is mandatory also for those who have done military service in other countries before immigrating. In these cases, there is a partial exemption. Each case is examined separately.
     
12. The army (Lishkat Gius) has special meetings for new immigrants 3 times a year. In these meetings, the new immigrants who are about to serve in the army learn about the main issues regarding their future military service. It is strongly recommended to take part in these meetings.
     
13. The possibilities to serve in one regiment or in any special unities are very diverse. You may opt for different unities and your choice will be very respected by the army. Different from what the popular myth says, the army is very interested in listening to what you want. However, the army has tools that enable it to know in advance the best place for you and for the army.
     
14. The final choice of where you will serve the army is a military decision and it is up to the army and not to the parliament to decide. The army is not bound to respect your choice, even if they consider it important.
     
15. Amongst the military priorities in the unity choice are factors such as special physical conditions, languages, former education, intellectual abilities, intelligence, emotional intelligence, etc.

University Studies – “Atuda”

1. The army allows those who are studying or want to study in a university or in parallel studies in Israel to finish their studies as “Atuda” soldiers. If the student drops out of the studies, he/she will be automatically called by the army.
    
2. Even while studying, the student will be called and enlisted for military service in order to finish at least the basic training and will also do “Miluiim”⁴.
    
3. This kind of service is strongly recommended especially for immigrants. In the end of the mandatory service, they will automatically continue on to career service for the period of time established in advance.

Non-Israeli Volunteers – “Machal”

1. Voluntary military service⁵ enables young non-Israeli JEWS aged between 18 and 23 years old⁶ to serve the Israeli army for 18 months⁷.
    
2. Special cases: very rare and therefore it is not even worth wasting time trying. The army cannot accept and doesn’t need volunteers outside of this established range.

Fighter and Non-Fighter Soldiers and the Different Unities

1. Different from what the popular myth says, the army needs more non-fighters than fighters. For each fighter, the army needs 8-9 soldiers in logistics. The army needs good men with high motivation and not only good muscles.
    
2. Soldiers considered as non-fighters have less privileges⁸ generally speaking, but the differences are very few.
    
3. Generally speaking, the army is the biggest “job” market in the country. There is a huge demand for good people in all fields such as logistics, medicine, engineering, linguistics, computers, communications, mechanics, rabbis and even drivers and cooks.
    
4. The so-called “special units” are all over the army. Some of them are secret and some are famous and well known. All of them are of high level.

Religious Soldiers in the Army

1. Contrary to the popular myth, any orthodox Jew may (should) serve in the army without giving up their beliefs. Even the “Kashrut” matters are highly respected and the orthodox soldier is entitled to receive “Glatt Kosher” meals.
    
2. The “Shabbat” and the holydays are respected in the army.

To Wrap Up

Being a soldier in the Israeli army is not a favour that the new immigrant is doing for Israel or the Jewish people. Serving in the army is a moral and mainly realistic obligation in order for the “Jewish people united” to have autonomy and safety.

Useful telephone numbers for additional information:

From any telephone: *3529

General: 972 3 7388888

Machal: 972 3 7386666

E-mail: infohul@idf.gov.il
 

Sincerely,
 

Tzvi Szajnbrum, Attorney at Law

¹    Valid for Israelis and new immigrants.

²    This table is not valid for dentists and doctors.

³    The profile is established according to army health rules and is determined by scores that go from 97 down to 25. Those who get 24 and under cannot serve in the army. There are cases in which even disabled people serve in the army, but as volunteers.

⁴    Usually during school vacations.

⁵    These people will receive from the Ministry of Internal Affairs a visa as temporary residents and will have rights similar to the rights of new immigrants.

⁶    Not for Israelis, even if living abroad, or even for children of Israelis with or without Israeli citizenship.

⁷    Not less and without the possibility to pursue military career later on.

⁸    Especially in the end of the service.