Ethnicity, Religion and Politics in Applying Israel's Conscription Law

One of the neglected areas in research of civil‐military relations is the perpetual struggle over allocation of manpower resources between the military and other societal sectors. This paper explores the various considerations and the different treatment accorded to various groups and individuals under the universal compulsory conscription law in Israel. The paper evaluates the outcome of applying different rules to the same age groups in relation to three variables: 1) demands of national security, 2) management of intensive national and ideological conflicts within the country, and 3) accommodation of religious‐related norms and social norms in a diversified society. Data presented here show that considerations of national security and of equality before the law are not the only or even the most important considerations taken into account in forming national conscription policy.