Yaakov Katz , THE JERUSALEM POST Jul. 29, 2009
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Amid growing efforts to curb the rising numbers of draft dodgers, the IDF
noted on Wednesday a slight increase in motivation among youth to serve in
combat units.

On Sunday, the IDF started the August draft that will continue throughout
next week and send new recruits to almost all IDF field units. The
draft-dodging numbers remained the same with close to 25 percent of youth
born in 1990 not enlisting, some dodging the draft, others due to religious
and medical exemptions.

A total of 71.5% of the youths requested to serve in a combat unit ahead of
the August draft, compared with 67.6% who asked for combat units in the
draft last summer. Sources in the IDF Manpower Division said that the
increase was a result of Operation Cast Lead in the Gaza Strip earlier this
year.

"The youth saw the combat units - infantry, armored, engineering and
artillery - in action during the Gaza operation," one source said. "This
contributes to the draw to these units."

The biggest surprise of the draft was the Artillery Corps which succeeded in
doubling requests to serve in its units. In 2008, there were 0.6 recruits
competing for each spot. In this week's draft, there was one recruit for
every spot. The Armored Corps also noted a sharp increase with 0.9 recruits
competing for each spot in comparison to 0.4 in 2008.

In the infantry brigades, Golani was in first place with 4.8 recruits
competing for every available spot. Givati overtook Nahal for the first time
in history with four recruits competing for every spot in comparison to 2.5
in Nahal. The Kfir Brigade lagged far behind with 1.7 recruits.

Givati's high showing was the result, sources in the brigade said, of the
unprecedented exposure it received during Operation Cast Lead. Then, under
the command of Col. Ilan Malka, the Givati Brigade took over two 15-story
buildings in search of Hamas operatives in the Tel el-Hawa neighborhood in
Gaza City.

The operation was the deepest push the IDF made into Gaza City and put
soldiers just 500 meters away from the home of senior Hamas leader Mahmoud
Zahar. During the raid, troops from the Givati Reconnaissance Battalion
killed over 40 Palestinian gunmen.