According to an official at the embassy of Israel in Ottawa, all Israeli citizens are required to serve in regular navy, army, or air force units for three years (13 May 1994). The official stated that after being discharged from the regular forces, all Israelis must serve in the reserves (ibid.). He said that reservists serving in combat units are kept on the rolls until age 40, while those serving in non-combat units must serve until age 50 (ibid.). The official stated that reservists usually receive 40 days written notice and can be called up for as many as 40 days per year (ibid.).

The official stated that, technically, reserve units are assigned the same duties as regular units and that reserve units could be assigned policing duties in the Occupied Territories (ibid.). However, the official stated that in practice, younger troops from regular units are usually assigned policing duties (ibid.). A National Public Radio (NPR) report corroborates this information (31 Jan. 1994), but media reports also acknowledge that reserve units have in fact been assigned policing duties in the Gaza Strip and West Bank in recent months (NPR 31 Jan. 1994; AP 11 Dec. 1993; Los Angeles Times 9 Dec. 1993). Israeli reservists also serve as guards at facilities for Palestinian detainees (UPI 12 Jan. 1994).

The official at the embassy of Israel added that one of the goals of the recent Israeli-Palestinian peace accord is to allow the military to relinquish its policing duties in the Occupied Territories (13 May 1994). An April 1994 Associated Press report states that Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip, for example, have stopped patrolling Palestinian towns and are now being redeployed to positions near Israeli settlements (6 Apr. 1994).

For additional information on the duties and structure of Israel's military reserves, please refer to the attached documents.

Associated Press (AP). 6 April 1994. PM Cycle. Arieh O'Sullivan and Khan Yunis. "Troops Divided over Withdrawal as Army Prepares to Leave Gaza." (NEXIS)

. 11 December 1993. AM Cycle. Dan Perry. "Israeli Army Morale Drops as Withdrawal Approaches." (NEXIS)

Embassy of the State of Israel, Ottawa. 13 May 1994. Telephone interview with official.

Los Angeles Times. 9 December 1993. Home Edition. Michael Parks. "Thousands More Israeli Troops Go to Territories." (NEXIS)

National Public Radio (NPR). 31 January 1994. Robert Siegel. "Israeli Soldiers Look Forward to Withdrawal From Gaza." (NEXIS)

United Press International (UPI). 12 January 1994. BC Cycle. "Israeli Soldier Dies During Prison Fracas." (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse. 7 January 1994. "Police Arrest 10 Settlers." (NEXIS)

. 21 December 1993. "Israeli Army to Review Incidents When Palestinians Injured." (NEXIS)

Associated Press (AP). 6 April 1994. PM Cycle. Arieh O'Sullivan and Khan Yunis. "Troops Divided over Withdrawal as Army Prepares to Leave Gaza." (NEXIS)

. 11 December 1993. AM Cycle. Dan Perry. "Israeli Army Morale Drops as Withdrawal Approaches." (NEXIS)

. 23 November 1993. Zina Hemady. "PLO, Israel Start Third Week of Talks in Cairo." (NEXIS)

Keegan, John. 1979. World Armies. New York: Facts on File, pp. 367-69.

Los Angeles Times. 27 February 1994. Home Edition. Kim Murphy and Michael Parks. "Massacre May Break Impasse on Peace Talks." (NEXIS)

. 9 December 1993. Home Edition. Michael Parks. "Thousands More Israeli Troops Go to Territories." (NEXIS)

National Public Radio. 31 January 1994. Robert Siegel. "Israeli Soldiers Look Forward to Withdrawal from Gaza." (NEXIS)

Sunday Times [London]. 3 April 1994. Colin Smith. "Legacy of a 'Caring' Jew Who Killed." (NEXIS)

United Press International (UPI). 12 January 1994. BC Cycle. "Israeli Soldier Dies During Prison Fracas." (NEXIS)