In a shocking revelation that further complicates Israel's military recruitment challenges, senior IDF officials have exposed widespread abuse of mental health exemptions from mandatory service. This development adds a new dimension to the country's ongoing struggle with draft avoidance, which extends far beyond the often-criticized ultra-Orthodox community.
Colonel Alon Matzliach, commander of the IDF's recruitment unit, recently disclosed in a closed-door meeting with justice system officials that an "entire industry" has emerged dedicated to helping young Israelis evade military service through fraudulent mental health diagnoses. "There are young people who received mental health exemptions in recent years, and suddenly they're contacting us to enlist because of the war," Col. Matzliach stated. "We tell them, 'But you're schizophrenic!' and they respond, 'No, that's not mine, or it wasn't me. My mother took care of it, or we bought those opinions.'"
The scale of this problem is alarming. According to Col. Matzliach, about 10% of service exemptions are granted on mental health grounds, a figure he believes far exceeds the actual prevalence of such conditions in the population. The military faces significant challenges in combating this trend, lacking resources to thoroughly investigate each case.
This revelation comes on the heels of a 2023 state comptroller report that painted a broader picture of draft avoidance. The report showed that 31.4% of potential recruits avoided enlisting in 2021, with only 17.6% citing religious studies as their reason. Even in Tel Aviv, a bastion of secular Israeli culture, merely 68% of eligible recruits joined the army.
The gender gap in enlistment adds another layer of complexity, with about 45% of potential female soldiers not drafting in 2021. However, there are some positive trends. The number of religious women enlisting has reached a record high, with 35% of religious women in the latest cohort choosing military service over national service alternatives.
While the ultra-Orthodox remain the largest homogeneous group avoiding conscription, with most citing religious studies, they are not alone. Between 2010 and 2020, over 20,000 Haredi individuals joined the IDF, indicating slow but positive change.
Col. Matzliach has vowed to fight the fraudulent exemption "industry" relentlessly, stating his intention to work towards revoking the licenses of lawyers and psychiatrists involved in these practices through ethics committees. However, the IDF remains committed to ensuring that those who are truly unfit for service are exempted, while striving to maintain the integrity of its recruitment process.
As Israel reassesses its "small and smart" army doctrine in light of recent conflicts with Hamas and the looming threat from Hezbollah, these revelations underscore the urgent need for a comprehensive solution to its manpower shortage. The country must balance its security needs with the diverse makeup of its population, finding ways to increase participation across all sectors of Israeli society in the national defense effort
Beneath the surface of national unity, a silent erosion threatens the very foundation of Israel's defense. The revelations of widespread draft dodging – from ultra-Orthodox study halls to secular psychiatrists' offices – strike at the heart of Israel's ethos of shared sacrifice.
As the country faces existential threats on multiple fronts, it must now confront an equally daunting enemy within: the fraying of its social contract. The coming months and years will test not just Israel's military might, but the very fabric of its society.
For in the end, Israel's greatest defense has always been the unwavering commitment of its people to stand together, shoulder to shoulder, in the face of any threat. The question now looms: Will that commitment hold, or will it crumble under the weight of individual self-interest?
* The Jewish Chronicle contributed to this article.