IDF Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi observed that draft dodgers have lost all shame in their actions. He believes that society and the army must once again promote honor for those

The IDF published statistics of the percentage of draft-age young men who report for military duty.

who don the IDF uniform and, concomitantly,  shame those who dishonestly avoid the draft.  The Chief of Staff made the comments during his remarks at a Tuesday evening ceremony honoring outstanding soldiers serving with IDF Radio.

The State of Israel inducts all 18-year-olds into a mandatory military service.

"There was draft-dodging in the past, as well," General Ashkenazi said. "I am asked: So, what's changed? I answer that the draft-dodgers have lost their shame. The mission for us all is to bring the blush of shame back to the cheeks of the draft-dodgers and to return pride to the soldiers who serve. ...[Draft-dodging] undermines the foundation of the military and of society, and we must eradicate the phenomenon."

Last week, the IDF published statistics of the percentage of draft-age young men who report for compulsory military duty. According to the numbers, one quarter of eligible male draftees and 40% of eligible female draftees do not join the service in practice. Most of the women do not serve in the military for religious reasons, with many performing National Service instead. 11% of draft-age citizens are from the Hareidi-religious sector, which generally promotes deferring or exempting its sons from military service in order to study full-time in yeshivas (rabbincal seminaries).

40% of those who avoid military service are from the non-religious sector, according to Knesset Member Ran Cohen of the far-left Meretz party. However, according to Kibbutz Movement organizer Yoel Maharshak, 91% of kibbutz youth (mostly completely secular, but including some religious kibbutz members) serve in the IDF and 80% serve in combat units. "It is the most important value there is," Maharshak declared.

Broken down by major cities in Israel, according to IDF statistics, the percentage of eligible young men serving in the army is as follows: Modi'in - 89%; Kfar Sava - 86%; Rishon LeTzion - 86%; Be'er Sheva - 82%; Ra'anana - 81%; Haifa - 77%; Netanya -

Defense Minister Ehud Barak also had harsh words for military draft-dodgers.

76%; Ramleh - 76%; Bat Yam - 73%; Tel Aviv - 70%; Jerusalem - 44%; and Bnei Brak - 15%. Among the Tel Aviv draftees, 36% joined combat units, as opposed to 60% of the Modi'in recruits. The most popular combat brigade is Golani, followed by Nachal, Kfir and Givati.

On Monday, Defense Minister Ehud Barak also had harsh words for military draft-dodgers, charging that "the IDF is going from a people's army to half-a-people's army." According to Barak, who was also a former IDF Chief of Staff, Israeli society will survive only if it can respect those who defend it.

"A soldier should not feel that he is going out to battle while in the eyes of part of society he is a fool.... A soldier cannot charge forward with full force if he feels that the home front is deteriorating," the Defense Minister said at a gathering in Tel Aviv.