Ashkenazi refuses the best soldiers,

agrees with the IDF human resources’ demand of integrated religious-atheist platoons. Religious Jews who occupy themselves 16 hours a day with studying Judaism are not obliged to join the IDF but many do – on the condition that they serve in separate units which allow them to discharge religious duties. The demand of religious-atheist integration will force the religious Jews to avoid the army. Religious Jews are commonly considered excellent, highly motivated soldiers. The IDF’s conflict with religious soldiers flared after they refused to evict the Jews from Gaza communities.