Less than half of Jewish Israelis support a mandatory army draft, per new poll
Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
(JTA) — A new poll conducted in Israel found that more Israelis support professionalizing the army and abolishing the draft than opposed that idea.
The poll was the first time the Israel Democracy Institute found that more Israelis supported the idea of abolishing the draft than opposed it since the organization began studying the question in 2017.
In this year’s survey, 47% of Jewish respondents believe the draft should be abolished while 42% disagreed. In 2017, just 38% supported professionalization while 59% opposed it.
In Israel, all citizens are drafted into the army at age 18, though Arab Israelis and Druze are given exemptions, as are most haredi Orthodox citizens and many religious women.
The poll points to a future in which support for the army, already decreasing in recent years among the Israeli public, could sink low enough to actually undermine its ability to function. The poll also indicates that among younger Israelis, support for the draft is far lower than among older Israelis, which could increase public support for ending the draft in the years to come.
Among those ages 18-44, 54-57% supported abolishing the draft while just 31-32% of those ages 55 and up felt the same.
Yohanan Plesner, president of the Israel Democracy Institute, warned that shifting from a universal draft to a professional army would be disastrous for Israel’s security.
“We may find ourselves in a situation in which a small minority of idealists serve in the military alongside those who chose to sign up for lack of any better employment options,” Plesner said, noting that the idea of professionalizing the army “should be removed from the public agenda.”
He added: “It is important to understand that, without retaining some form of the ‘people’s army’ model, Israel’s security cannot be guaranteed for the long term.”
The poll, which surveyed 1,003 Israelis in Hebrew and Arabic, was conducted by the Israel Democracy Institute via phone calls and the internet between Sept. 30 and Oct. 4.
—
The post Less than half of Jewish Israelis support a mandatory army draft, per new poll appeared first on Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
