It should target ALL sectors currently not serving: In addition to those with health problems, have ALL ARAB-ISRAELIS (not just Bedouins, many of whom already serve in the military) AND ALL HAREDIM sign up. By all means, have them volunteer in their own communities - in fact, this might make them more efficient and would make it easier to introduce such legislation, at the first phase - but have them serve in some way. And perhaps, for logistical efficiency, find some way to consolidate the seven different programs so that they're coordinated.

Don't get me wrong - I have the highest respect for volunteers. Helping others is the highest form of mitzva, especially when the form of giving is in one's own time & effort. For young people to learn the satisfaction obtained from helping others gives great meaning to life & counters the ego-centric & selfish tendencies of modern life. But this kind of a program is NOT what is needed. It is the creation of well-meaning but unrealistic people. We do not live in Scandanavia; our neighbors are not Finland, Sweden, & Denmark. We live in possibly the toughest, most hostile region on the planet. If we are not prepared to fight, we will not survive. Period. And all public policy should reflect this unfortunate state of affairs. This new National Service program does not do that. It does the opposite. Instead of instilling the idea that military service in defence of our country is the highest value, it offers an alternative. And this alternative, while "sounding nice" is easier, involves no risk to life & limb, & requires no great sacrifice. In other words, it offers a "free ride" & a moral justification for avoiding military service. The result will be a less capable military establishment, a less patriotic citizenry, & a nation unwilling to defend itself. In addition, we can also imagine how poorly this will work in practice. Our gov't is not well known for administering projects very well. It will be money down the drain. The money should be used to increase salaries in the military, to increase benefits to veterans, to pay for further education for those leaving service. Every advantage should be given to those who endanger their lives for our security. We should not be creating a system that offers an incentive to avoid military service. This is a mistake.

I pretty much agree with you, given the realities of where you are. Also, why isn't this whole thing run by one agency/organization instead of several? Wouldn't that save money and cut out a lot of red tape?

Everything sounds pretty reasonable except point 9. If 40 hours a week is considered a minimum amount of service (point 5), then even if one serves for 50 hours a week and he or she is an ambitious person, then why restrict his or her work/study time to 12 hours per week and only with permission that is given in a "few special instances"? Help me out here. Am I missing something?

We appear to be tired, fed up and really don't care anymore as a nation. The appointed leaders are not being protested, the appointed leaders don't care about Israeli's (especially Jewish Israeli's) and the opposition could give a damn about anything. They won't break the gov't. So the few who still care are powerless against the matrix of lies, corruption and sense of helplessness. This along with the world wide problems put's us in a pickle to say the least. Shabbat Shalom

to the IDF that fought in 48, 67 and 73. The IDF will eventually have to switch to a professional army and quit is reliance on conscripts and reservists for for mundane 'jobnik' jobs. Meanwhile conscripts and reservists should become part of a genuine citizen army, train for four-six months and then return home with their weapons, only to be called up in times of national emergency.

Serve the country that defends you or spend five years in prison. And that includes females that get pregnant to avoid army service.Or even get married to avoid it.

Avoidance and cowardice are simply.........................avoidance and cowardice.

The Isreali concept (warped thinking as it is) of not wanting to be a frier is rendering Israel a nation of moochers who are always on the take. That along with a cancerous population sucking on you teat and robbing you along the way has made life in Israle intolerable at best. In effect Israel is slogging along on borrowed time. Israel needs to get it together or I am afraid it will end up on the trash bin of Jewish history. A very sad end to what could have been.

I agree with you entirely.

They're worse that any other group in the country, yes, ANY other group...Theyre too busy arranging their own cremation and BRAGGING about it. You may puke now.