IDF Head of Manpower, Major General Avi Zamir, has proposed a boycott of products advertised by supermodel Bar Refaeli for evading military service several years ago and trying to evade paying tax in Israel now.
In 2004 Refaeli married a family friend so she could dodge her two-year military service, since married women are exempt from serving in the IDF. The couple divorced soon after.
Zamir was asked by a student at Herzliya's Interdisciplinary Centre last week why the IDF had not taken action against Refaeli following the short-lived marriage. Zamir claimed there was nothing that could be done at the time, but he did have a suggestion now. "If she advertises Fox [an Israeli clothing company], then don't buy their products," he said. "That will be the answer. After all, I can't take on Bar Refaeli, but you can."
In an interview with Ynet in 2007 a couple of years ago, Refaeli was clearly unrepentant. “I really wanted to serve in the IDF, but I don’t regret not enlisting, because it paid off big time,” she said. “That’s just the way it is, celebrities have other needs. I hope my case has influenced the army.”
To date the IDF remains unimpressed.
"At the end of the day, she is the one who has to look at herself in the mirror," said Zamir.
With all due respect, I’m sure Refaeli is completely at ease with her reflected image.
The real question is, will the fact that she dodged the draft impede her chances of pursuing another career here in Israel in future? Let’s say one day she decides to return home and become a lawyer. Will the Israeli Bar bar Bar?