​Solutions Towards a Blueprint for Military and Civilian Service

On December 29, 2019, the Aaron Institute held a roundtable discussion titled Solutions Towards a Blueprint for Military and Civilian Service, in collaboration with the PNIMA Movement. Rabbi Shay Piron, PNIMA President, opened the discussion by introducing the movement's motivation to engage with the issue of national service, and the blueprint for an "equal for all" service pyramid which offers new avenues for service, suitable to population groups currently not recruited to military service, notably Arabs and Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) groups. Dr. Tali Larom, a senior researcher at the Aaron Institute, highlighted the economic potential of creating an alternative avenue of service for these groups, as long as it provides positive returns to individuals and to the economy by equipping recruits with useful skills for the labor market, relevant experience, and enhanced connection and affiliation to society as a whole. Realizing this potential requires high-quality initial training for each avenue of service, which will also cover general studies of human capital and soft skills. Mr. Asaf Wassercug, Deputy Budget Director at the Ministry of Finance, spoke of the economic aspects of Haredi employment and of the current draft law, and noted that lowering the age of exemption from service is predicted to cause an increase in both employment and GDP. The service strategy employed by the Authority for National-Civic Service was presented by its General Director, Mr. Reuven Pinsky, who emphasized the sectorial differentiation among the Arab, Haredi and general populations. Other commentators included Mr. Mordechai Elisha, General Director of the Labor Division in the Ministry of Labor, Social Affairs and Social Services; Mr. Nir Brill, Deputy Head of the National Economic Council; Mr. Mohammad Darawshe, Director of Planning, Equality and Shared Society at the Givat Haviva Center for Shared Society in Israel; and Mr. Eli Paley, Chairperson of The Haredi Institute for Public Affairs. Comments and pursuant discussion focused on whether and how it would be possible to devise solutions to the issue of military and civilian service, which will benefit the various population groups as well as the economy and society at large.

To view all materials (in Hebrew), click here