I have heard that all girls in Israel do military service for 2 years (1 year less than men). Can't even imagine what that is like, for girls! I honestly can't see myself at 18 managing 2 years of military service, but these ladies seem to take it in their stride! Some people claim that it's America that props up Israel's army, but that doesn't seem true to me - there are no American bases there, and it's the Israelis themselves that spend years of their life in the army and fight for their country, and pay taxes to support their defense.
I can't help but to admire the IDF even if I perhaps don't approve of everything that I read about them.