Israeli Defense Service Law
The Israel Security Service Law, also known as the Israel Defense Service Law, regulates conscription into military service for citizens and residents of Israel. Enacted in 1986, it replacing the Security Service Act of 1949 and the Security Service Law Law of 1959, which made conscription a national routine rather than only requiring military draft during national security emergencies.
History
Following the devastation of Europe's Jewish population during the Nazi Holocaust and coupled with the rise in Zionism since the 19th century, the United Nations General Assembly recommended the establishment of a Jewish state in the Middle Eastern province of Palestine. Following the declaration of its independence on 14 May 1948, the Arab nations of Egypt, Syria, Jordan, and Iraq began to invade Palestine in an attempt to eradicate the newly formed state of Israel. On 26 May 1948, the Israeli Defense Force, or IDF, was established as Israel's official military. Formed out of the pre-1948 Jewish paramilitary organizations Haganah, Irgun and Lehi, the IDF was a conscription military divided into the army, navy, and air force branches. Immediately, the IDF drafted thousands of men into service to combat the invading Arab forces. The Security Service Act and later Security Service Law was passed in 1949 to regulate the recruitment into IDF service. The law has since gone through several revisions and alterations, most notably in 1959 and 1986.The Law
Age
The Security Service Law requires that all citizens of Israel, except those who qualify for the exemptions from service, to service in the various branches of the IDF. Section 2 defines the age appropriate for conscription, and set it at 18–29 years of age for men, and 18–26 for women, based on the Hebrew calendar. However, recruitment may begin at age 17 if the parents or guardians of the recruit allow it.Pre-service screening
Section 3 through 12 gives the Israeli Secretary of Defense the authority to call citizens to medical screenings to determine if conscription is permissible.Duration of service
Service for men is set at 36 months, however, recruits over the age of 27 are only required to serve for 24 months. Immigrants who arrive in Israel at the age of 27+ years are only required 18 months of service.Service for women is set at 24 months, yet women may volunteer for an additional 12 months under section 16a.
Any soldier tried and found guilty by a military court or deserters who are returned to service are to have their service time extended to meet the requirements of regular service duty under Article 18.
Non-military positions
The Security Service Law extends to cover conscription into the Israeli Border Police, or Magav, under Article 24.Since 1995, section 24A regulated the transfer of soldiers into the Israeli Police Service, or Shaham.
In 2005, Section 24 regulated the use of IDF troops as Israeli prison guards.
Exemptions from service
Power is given to the Israeli Defense Minister to exempt citizens from service under Section 36.Section 36A states that for regular service in the IDF, the age of the soldier shall not exceed 54 for men and 38 for women.
Section 39 exempts pregnant women and current mothers from service, also married women are exempt from regular service but not reserve service.
Article 40 provides the layout for what the military allows for religious exemption from service. However, this is the only exemption that may be enacted and revoked at any time by the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
Male Druzes are eligible for conscription into the IDF under the Israeli Security Service Law; however, a growing controversy is the exclusion of recruiting Muslim Israeli Arabs into service. This exemption originated in 1949 and was again continued after review in 1954 and has yet to be revoked.