 |
 |
 |
|
|
A soldier in Nablus (file)
|
|
|
|
|
|
| By Israel Insider staff August 20, 2007 |
|
| |
 Bookmark to del.icio.us |
| |
In an attempt to combat the increasing number of draft dodgers, the prime minister's advisor for social affairs, Vered Swid, has proposed publishing a blacklist of artists who evaded the army.
Swid emphasized the importance of informing local councils of who not to hire for official events, the Jerusalem Post reported, especially as Israel's 60th anniversary approaches.
"I believe most cities will ultimately join this initiative," Swid said. The mayors of more than seven major cities have expressed support for Swid's proposal.
Swid told the paper that she is calling on mayors across Israel "to take affirmative action on behalf of artists who have served their country."
Proposing another measure to discourage draft evasion, the PMO's social affairs' advisor recommended prohibiting universities and colleges from accepting applicants who dodged the draft in order to start their studies earlier.
"I think that in the future we will have to look into the question of [having] colleges and institutions of higher education not accept students who instead of going to the army prefer to start their studies earlier," she said.
The Israeli Defense Forces recently released a report stating that roughly 25 percent of males eligible for the army do not enlist, a frightening statistic for a country constantly under threat of war.
Swid's initiative is among several such ideas that officials have proposed to increase enlistment numbers, like innovating ways to encourage the Ultra-Orthodox to serve, and revamping existing programs to offer new immigrants more rewarding positions.
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
Click on the blue headline to read a Talkback comment and respond to it. Click on the  icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.
|
|
| |
|
|
