The Israeli army is monitoring the Facebook profiles of female citizens in order to identify those who have falsely espoused religious beliefs in order to avoid conscription.
Brid.-Gen Amir Rogovsky of The Israeli Defense Forces said that the IDF currently has six offices tasked with investigating the religious claims of women who would otherwise be eligible for military service. Enlistment is mandatory for all Israeli citizens over 18. Current policy allows Israeli women to be exempt from the draft provided they sign a declaration that they are devoutly religious, adhere to Kosher standards, and do not travel on Shabbat.
But 1,000 women have been caught in violation of the law according Rogovsky, who cited examples of Facebook activity that lead to the charges against the women. One woman had uploaded a photo in which she was holding a menu from a non-kosher restaurant. Another woman had a photo wearing clothing which was deemed to be immodest. Yet another woman was caught because she had logged onto Facebook on the sabbath. The IDF has employed even more aggressive tactics, entrapping women by creating Facebook events that take place on Friday nights, inviting women, and then charging those that respond “attending”. Once caught the women were brought back to service.
The IDF has seen a sharp increase in draft evasion in recent years. Rogovsky estimates that thousands of women who sign religious declarations exempting them from service are not practicing Jews.
What are your thoughts? Is the government using its resources to ensure citizens abide by the law, or is this an over-the-line infringement on religious freedom?
It's Israel, they have different laws regarding freedom of religion there. Personally, I don't see the problem with this. The women are breaking the law and law enforcement is clever enough to catch them. Simple.
I kinda wish the US had a mandatory service for 18 year olds. I think we'd have a vastly improved country.
Comment by @christopherjoel — November 23, 2010 @ 2:53 pm
Fantastic, well done!!
Its the law that all over the age of 18 must serve their country. If you want to enjoy the benefits of this society you have to contribute to it.
Comment by Yaron — November 23, 2010 @ 3:43 pm
I'm from Israel, who did not understand, anyone who reached age 18 must join the army. And there are girls that define themselves as religious girls (keep the commandments of the religion) but they actually do just the opposite – they pass the laws.
The state did not persecute just like those not fulfilling the religion – there is freedom of religion in our country! It's just about military conscription.
Comment by Lishay — November 23, 2010 @ 4:19 pm
Precisely Lishay! One must not be religious in israel. Here some pretend to be in order to avoid military conscription while bypassing the laws.
Regarding military conscription, rather than criticizing Israel you giuys should know why this is mandatory. Israel is struggling against terrorism. Arabic States surrounding Israel aim at its destruction. Israel is threatened and therefore is at war. In Europe, before WWII, military conscription was mandatory for the same reason, countries were at war and directly threatened by nazi Germany.
Where is the problem? The point is that I think this is very clever from the IDF.
Regarding freedom in israel, know that this is the only country in the Middle East that protects frredom of expression, freedom of religion, freedom for the rights of gays and lesbians, did you know it is the only country in the middle east to allow women to vote?! Believe me, Israel is an example of democracy even with its imperfection. Kol Akavod LeIsrael
Comment by Fab — November 24, 2010 @ 3:42 am
Great…. Just what the region needs, more angry people at checkpoints.
Comment by Brian D — November 24, 2010 @ 9:06 am
The real problem is the law – that there's some degree of religious observance that allows one to be exempt from serving, which was the result of an early national compromise between secular political leaders and their theocratic counterparts. The government is well within its rights to go after draft dodgers this way, but if women like those mentioned above really wanted to turn this into a movement so that all who are physically able serve equally, it could at least lead to some national soul searching.
Comment by David Berkowitz — November 24, 2010 @ 9:49 am
Clever! How could this possibly be "over-the-line infringement on religious freedom"? This has nothing to do with religious freedom, and the women are free to practice whatever religion they want. They are breaking the law by pretending to be a religion they aren't for the sake of dodging the draft, and Israel has every right to find them, as long as the methods are within reason. And, since these women obviously chose to not hide this information from the public in their privacy settings, its clear evidence the information they provided to the draft offices was false.
Comment by Yaniv — November 24, 2010 @ 11:20 am
I agree with those who are saying that the problem is the law, although I would argue that it's not a religious freedom issue, it's a personal liberties issue. If a government can force you to work for it in any way, including as a solider, then they essentially own you. A free man or woman cannot be forced into servitude.
Comment by Travis — November 25, 2010 @ 1:39 am
Travis, its not servitude exactly they're not slaves as someone correctly said above Israel is surrounding completely by Arab countries, therefore Israel needs to have a proper defense. People who disagree with idf don't really make sense because until women got the same rights as men they were all complaining that they didnt have the same rights and now that women do, they don't want it? if u want equal rights and it is mandatory for the men to attend then women (with equal rights of course) should also need to attend and those that lie are just taking advantage. religious women go to learn when they're not in the army, they got to learn more about their religion and that should be a priority too.
Comment by pez — March 16, 2011 @ 10:24 pm
also another thing, i definitely think that canada and usa should enforce this rule too. it would ensure that we wouldn't all be lazy butts that sit on the couch drooling over shows. plus it would help us gain maturity way faster, and discipline which like 90% of teens need very badly.
Comment by pez — March 16, 2011 @ 10:35 pm
a chi và contro lo stato d' essere d'Israele viene "Giustamente" considerato un ignorante della realtà del saper vivere non "Dimentichiamo" che Israele è sempre stato anche dopo una angosciosa pausa di 2000 anni circa è ritornato al suo diritto d'ESSERE un sincero saluto da un "Goi" che insiste nell'Amare Israele she ye col sman Israele Shalom.
Comment by alberto a...... — October 1, 2011 @ 1:16 pm