Military service in Israel

"The seven essays collected in this volume explore different aspects of the model of military service in Israel all touch on a central question at the heart of the Israeli public debate: is the model of a 'people's army' still relevant to contemporary Israel and the IDF, or should this model be modified in light of developments as to the army's needs, changes in the security threats to the nation, and Israel's current social and economic fabric? Although the collection does not provide definitive answers to the question, the editors of this memorandum prefer to retain the leading principles of the current model, as this framework allows the IDF to choose its inductees. At the same time, the editors urge a new examination of the system, in order to guarantee the army's continued unique position in the culture of the state"-- Publisher's web site.