IDF to withdraw new recruits from Zikim
Army says decision unrelated to Qassam threat
The army is preparing to remove all new recruits from the Zikim base near Gaza within several short months, Ynet has learned.
IDF officials denied decision is unrelated to the threat of Qassam rockets from the Gaza Strip, even though the Zikim base has already been struck in the past. Other troops will be stationed at the base, the army said.
The final decision on the matter was made several days ago in a meeting chaired by IDF Deputy Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Dan Harel. The proposal to stop training recruits at Zikim is part of a wider program seeking to minimize the number of younger soldiers in the 'archetypal' recruit bases.
The new policy would see soldiers being assigned directly to their designated units immediately after being drafted, and those units would also be responsible for their basic training.
However commanders at Zikim were extremely disappointed and said they found the decision to be in bad taste.
