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Source: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4629634,00.html
Arab Israelis Volunteering for Israel's National Service
(Media Line-Ynet News) Linda Gradstein - While most Jewish citizens of Israel are conscripted into the Israel Defense Forces (women for two years, men for three), Arab citizens of Israel are exempt. While the Arab leadership has discouraged national service for civilian tasks, because the program is run by Israel's Defense Ministry, more and more young Arabs are joining the ranks, seeing it as a way to get ahead in Israeli society. The number of Arabs volunteering for national service in local Arab communities, schools and hospitals has jumped 30% in the past year to more than 4,000. When they finish, they receive the same benefits as anyone who has served in the army.