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TEL AVIV, Israel — Throughout Israel's short, turbulent history, the nation has grown cynical about almost every sector of society but one: its military.
Though the Israeli military has been buffeted by political scandal, castigated for enforcing a 40-year occupation of the Palestinians, and humbled during its 34-day war in 2006 against Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon, most Israelis never seemed to lose faith in their citizen soldiers.
But, under the surface, something has been slowly shifting in Israel as the nation prepares to celebrate its 60th anniversary May 14.
More and more Israelis are avoiding mandatory military service — something long viewed in this country as a proud rite of passage.
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