They sing and perform while our soldiers die protecting the country. I respect genuine Conscientious Objectors but they too have an obligation to serve. I am sure that volunteering to help in the fire service, Magen David Adom and hospitals would only bring praise. As President Kennedy said: "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."

If draft dodging is against the law, why aren't these people in jail? Why have a law, if it's not enforced?

I think they are going overboard with this. IF he had avoided going into the army, that would be one thing. But this is something else entirely.

I agree that dodging the draft is both reprehensible and wrong. This is not the point of the article, however. Mr. LIder DID answer his nation's call and was subsequently discharged (for whatever reason). If that was correct, there's nothing more to say about that. The second issue IS however more important and severe. We had a Senator Joe McCarthy, and "Loyalty Pledges". They have absolutely no place in a democracy. Furthermore, such a pledge is meaningless when obtained under duress of any sort. It is a precedent which must be dealt with harshly. The originator of this idea should be discharged from Tzahal, because such thinking inevitably leads to fascism.

That's not draft dodging! Everyone RELAX!

"Lider's spokeswoman, Roni Arditi, said that Lider enlisted in the IDF but was released after a month due to medical reasons. " I think Friends of the IDF made a big mistake that also undermines their credibility.

or those of any of the other religious groups who are not drafted into Zahal ...

erquesting a pledge before appearing at a concert is disgracefuL If ivri is good enough to represent his country overseas no reason can prevent him from giving a concert to the friends of the IDF. More and more it seems that there is a continuous slip into obscurantism...

is military code, for found a way out of the army like a little weasel. Shame on him and all draft dodgers. They should go live in galut and let us take up the slack.

I like his music, it helped me learn Hebrew, translating the lyrics helped me build up vocabulary, however, I do not support his left Wing politics and I do in fact remember reading somewhere that after he enlisted he REQUESTED to be let go because he though the army "Wasn't for him" and that they wrote it up as a medical discharge.

Good show..... By performing for the I.D.F. his nonservice would be sanctioned. If he wanted to perform for the soldiers he should have applied to one of the "lahakot " which the army has. There are ways to serve in the I.D.F. even as an entertainer.

I personally know someone who developed diabetes a month into service. He was very disappointed about his early release. I made aliyah to serve in the IDF and went on to be an officer, so BELIEVE ME that I despise draft dodgers. But some people just get sick.

He wanted out for medical reasons. Well he must be feeling better now that he can perform. So draft him. There are alot of dirty litty jobs he can do like cleaning the latrines

Ok I agree, we hve a problem, so going along with this solution, no one can serve in the Knesset if he or she didnt serve in the army! I guess we will need some new leaders.

Polar shift and only some hills are safe worldwide.No where to hide. ISH 24 , Jer 30

Better to take an 18 year old who has a heart murmer, diabetes, whatever, put him through training and let him die of dehydration? Then everyone blames the army, the 21 year old commander, etc. Get real.

Ynet, you're a disgrace for branding him a draft dodger just to get a headline! He was enlisted and released for medical reasons. Only the doctor who examined him knows for sure, and one should be given the benefit of the doubt. So much for journalistic integrity.

My wife was hospitalized 3 times with complications in the last month of her pregnancy with our oldest child. I submited a ValTam (request for deferment) for a month until my wife recovered enough to cope. I was ordered to go to reserves just days after the birth. IDF's answer was Zabash"cha (your problem not ours). The enlistment officer said I would be released but she lied as did the senior officer on the base at a later time. Based on this and other despicable incidents during my army service, my address is now in USA. By the way I also served in Lebanon in the first war.

Unless a person has been genuinely released from serving in the IDF, there is no place for him at events sponsored by the state,, IBA or municipalities. Serving is a special right and not something to be laughed at by a priviledged few--and this includes the ultra orthodox entertainers. THey should be busy in their yeshivote not making a mockery of all of us!

What medical reason? Nothing appears to be physically or vocally wrong with him. Perhaps mentally? Aww never mind baby, I still love your voice!

Chabad soldiers serve in their thousands in the Israeli army and not just in Haredi units. I personally served with Chabad soldiers during my reserve duty years in regular non Haredi units. It angers me too that many Haredim evade the draft, but at least they themselves think, whether you agree or not, that their study of Torah is helping the Jewish people. Secular evaders don't even claim they're doing anything for anyone except their own selfish selves. Whatever don't tarnish Chabad with the evasion of other Haredi groups. Not only do they serve but they help out in many other ways. I remember one year serving during Chanuka at a remote base on the Egyptian border and a group of Chabadniks took the trouble to come out and distribute doughnuts to all the soldiers.

Kick Ass! It's time to deal with the dogers. But a more severe punishment has to be given. I'm not entirely convinced that Ivry is at home sobbing his heart out because he wasn't aloud to sing. Those 10,000 soldiers should consider themselves lucky - Ivry can't sing to save his life.

Get over yourselves, whoever lives in Israel and is making a life for themselves.. good for them.. stop being so political over things.. sit back and enjoy the music!

...then why is he REFUSING to sign that paper? Of course, only the doctor who released him knows the true reason, but it looks like the reason was more ideological than medical.

are pure bullshit - avoiding service. And note the source of the information, Chaya et al.: his own spokesperson. Obviously, the army knows his discharge was bullshit, and that's why it doesn't need his performances. Quite the right call. The chutzpah of trying to perform at an IDF function after avoiding service is ludicrous. I hope we get to a point when draft dodgers can't find jobs.

Regrettably there are some very malicious people on both sides of the religious divide. The problem is that the Religious and Ultra Orthodox, by their intolerance of others who believe in a different way of life, leave themselves open to generalizations about their loyalty to Israel. Not all Haredim are Neturei Carta and side with the enemy and, as you point, many do serve and with honor. Another problem is that the Editor of YnetNews is "reluctant" to publish talkbacks that criticize the editorial ineptitudes of the English website. The Ivri Lider thing is a good example. This young guy enlisted in the army. The following is a quote from the Jerusalem Post On Line of a statement by Roni Arditi (Ivri's agent) "Ivri Lider was drafted to the IDF and was released due to medical reasons. During the 10 years of his career, he performed dozens of times at military bases, posts and hospitals, and especially in the course of the Second Lebanon War, when he volunteered and did as much as he could to encourage the soldiers. Ivri plans to continue volunteering, as was agreed in the past with the IDF authorities." If one compares the YnetNews article to the "original" in Hebrew on Ynet, you will see that there are a number of inaccuracies and inconsistencies. The YnetNews Editorial Board seems to be totally apathetic when it comes to the correct translations into English and the nuances of English grammar and to any criticism. Ivri was deemed medically unfit and is being condemned for it. Anyone who knows the military system would be aware of its reluctance to enlist soldiers with some sort of medical problem which could result and permanent injury or even death. Basically, the military doesn’t want to face law suits in the future. Many soldiers have been hurt or taken ill in training and then discharged. Would they also earn the condemnation of these venerable YnetNews Talkbackers? Unlike another "Star is Born" artist, Ivri does not belittle our army and "spit" on our soldiers. In fact his attitude is quite the opposite. My suggestion, leave Ivri alone and seek out those who wriggle out of enlistment because of phony excuses and religious belief. Your point should be noted by those who shoot before they think! Well done.

This decision by the IDF is not very equitable. The man did serve in the Army. His release for medical reasons is not his fault, and he should not be punished for it. The fact that he volunteered to entertain the troops shows his care for the IDF without having to sign a statement.