An Israel Defense Force survey has found that Israeli youths are not as motivated as in the past to serve in field and combat units.
The survey of high school students also found that even though the desire to serve in these units has dropped, overall motivation to serve in the army has remained high. The report, conducted by the army’s behavioral science division, attributed the drop to social and political trends in Israel.
The findings did not indicate a crisis regarding service in the combat units. But developments must be watched and addressed, the survey said.
In response, an IDF spokesman said the findings in the annual survey were not unusual. The spokesman said that in comparison, a slight rise in motivation was noted in 1993.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
