The World - News from Nov. 12, 1987

Since the Lebanon war ended in 1985, there has been a dramatic cutback in Israeli army reserve call-ups, and about 6,200 fewer Israelis are donning military uniforms each week, newly released government statistics disclosed. The cut in reserve duty, which affects many households and businesses in the nation of 4.2 million, is expected to boost the civilian economy. Military analysts said the cutback was possible because the nation’s borders are relatively free of tension, but they warned that the move is risky in terms of training soldiers for the future. The 1987 Statistical Abstract reported that an average of 16,400 soldiers missed work each week last year because of reserve duty.