The Israeli Army’s manpower chief disclosed today that about half of the reservists called to active duty when the Yom Kippur War broke out have been released but new call-ups will be made for those who did not serve, including possibly Israelis living abroad.
Gen. Herzl. Shafir, head of the manpower division at General Headquarters, said on a radio interview that the discharge of reservists was intended to ease personal burdens and economic dislocations resulting from wartime manpower shortages. He stressed, however, that the situation still called for a high state of mobilization. He said the service of new conscripts would be prolonged and that the call-up dates of youths of draft age would be advanced though care would be taken not to interfere with the examinations and graduations of those attending school.
It was reported today that about 1400 reserve soldiers have been released from active duty to fill key posts in industry. Some 15,000 requests for discharge have been filed with the manpower committee, it was reported.
Shafir praised Israelis living abroad who returned voluntarily to serve in the armed forces when the war broke out. He said a special survey would be made to determine whether to call back others who did not return home. He said efforts were being made to locate Israelis abroad with whom contact had been lost. Gen. Shafir also announced that a full list of Yom Kippur War dead would be published within six weeks.
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