Israel: Soldiers not motivated to serve in combat

Fewer Israeli soldiers wish to participate in active combat roles, preferring positions closer to home or in cyber defence according to Ynet News.

A study released yesterday shows that motivation has reached the lowest point in a decade, as numbers have consistently fallen from 80 per cent of new recruits seeking to work on the ground in 2010, to 67 per cent this year.

The last time such low motivation was recorded was in the aftermath of the 2006 war with Lebanon.

Israeli officials have rejected the notion that the case of Elor Azaria, a soldier who was convicted of manslaughter after shooting an incapacitated Palestinian, has affected morale. They report that demand to serve in Azaria’s former brigade has increased since his conviction.

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The army has instead pointed to attitude changes, where soldiers are less keen to put themselves on the frontline and would prefer a position in technology that could bolster their future careers.

In March, a report by Haaretz also revealed that demeaning attitudes towards female soldiers from military officials and mixed gender battalions were also discouraging women from participating in combat roles.

Israeli occupying forces are looking to reverse the trend by raising soldiers’ pay, offering to fund their further education and increasing other benefits that accompany the role.