An Israeli report showed that the decline in birth rates in Israel led to a reduction in the number of males who could serve in combat units, forcing the army to expand recruitment of women.
According to the report, which was prepared by commentator Amnon Lord, published by the newspaper "Israel Hume" on Saturday, the decline in birth rates since the nineties of the last century pushed the army to increase its efforts also to persuade elements of the religious movement, "Heredi" and non-Jews to volunteer in the army.
Despite the rabbis' objections to women enlisting in the army, especially in the combat units, there has been a significant increase in the number of religious girls who volunteer for military service.
The compulsory service of women choosing to serve in combat units was 32 months, such as men, while women serving in non-combat units served for 24 months.
"The shortage of male recruits has increased the importance of volunteering for women and Haredim," Lourd quoted a senior source in the army's manpower division as saying, adding that the army would increase the motivation of non-Jews to serve in the army.
He said the army's plan was to double the number of women, Haredim and non-Jews in the army within five years.
An investigation by Israel Hume recently revealed that the occupation army had to recruit more women to serve in its combat units, in response to a decline in motivation among young people to serve in these units.
According to an investigation by military commentator Yoav Limor, the recruitment cycle for the months of July-August 2017 showed that Israeli youth no longer wish to be involved in combat units, indicating that new recruits prefer to serve in units with a lower level of risk, Such as: "Air Defense Units, Home Front Command, Border Guard."
The investigation also revealed a decline in motivation to serve in elite brigades, which comprise the infantry force - Golani, Givati and Nahal. He stressed that everywhere in the air defense systems, nine recruits are competing. They want to serve in the field of anti-missile missile systems, such as: "Gates, David's slingshot, iron dome, border guards and the Home Front Command."
The investigation also indicated that the motivation to volunteer in the armored corps is worse, stressing that the new recruits do not seem willing to volunteer in service in this weapon, forcing the army to force them to serve there.
According to the investigation, women constitute 35 per cent of the volunteers in the Border Guard, while 50 per cent of the total number of soldiers in the air defense systems are women.
The investigation pointed out that the Army Staff had developed a strategic plan to promote motivation among young people to volunteer in combat units and brigades, especially elite brigades in infantry, noting that it was decided that the Ministry of Education should play a role in providing programs that explain to youth the importance of engaging in combat units.
According to the new plan, it was decided to send brigade commanders and battalions to schools to lecture to students to urge them to choose combat units.
The plan takes into account the possibility of the use of senior writers and commentators as well as people who have significant follow-up on social networking sites to engage them in the campaign to promote motivation to serve in combat units.
The investigation revealed that the army leadership is considering the possibility of granting financial and moral inducements to new recruits to persuade them to join combat units.
