Ashkenazi. Proud soldier
Photo: Gil Yohanan
IDF chief: Draft dodgers have no shame
Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi says phenomenon of evading army service is eroding Israeli society and military, and must be eradicated; calls to 'bring back shame to draft dodging'
Draft dodging is eroding Israeli society and the army, and it must be eradicated, IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi declared
Tuesday night during a speech at an army awards ceremony in Herzliya.
"These days the media is fortunately dealing with the issue of draft dodging. This phenomenon has always existed, but now the draft dodgers seem to have lost their shame. The mission we are all tasked with is to return shame to the cheeks of those who shirk the draft, and return pride to soldiers in service," Ashkenazi said.
Ashkenazi expressed distress over the fact that draft dodgers seem to have lost their shame regarding the decision to evade army service.
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"Our parents, like us, were proud to share in the security load generation after generation. We will need the IDF for years to come, until there is peace," he said.
Defense Minister Ehud Barak also addressed the issue of draft dodging Monday, criticizing what he called the “legitimization of draft-dodging in all sectors of society, from university professors who do not allow students (who are called up for army reserve duty) to take their exams on alternate dates, to public opinion leaders who endorse and advertise cultural heroes who shirk the draft”.
“Those who enlist in the IDF and the fighters of the army’s reserve units are the ones who are worthy of being society’s true heroes,” the defense minister said.
