The head of the Israel Defense Force personnel branch has criticized the late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and former Prime Minister Shimon Peres for contributing to the lack of motivation in the army.
In an appearance Wednesday before the Knesset Education Committee, Maj. Gen. Gideon Sheffer said, among other things, that the previous government had given exemptions from service too easily.
Sheffer also criticized Rabin for having close ties with singer Aviv Gefen, who has been criticized in Israel for not serving in the Israel Defense Force and for calling on others to do the same.
Deputy Education Minister Moshe Peled told the committee that his ministry was dealing with the issue of declining morale.
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