The IDF has decided that modeling will no longer fall under the "active artist" category, which allows artists serving in the army with benefits, including a shorter basic training and permission to travel abroad for work, the military announced this week.
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The decision stemmed from the "difficulty of estimating and classifying the occupation according to IDF criteria," the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in a statement, noting that the decision would only be applied to new recruits, not models already enlisted.
The announcement drew criticism from several representatives of the modeling industry.
"My work as a model brings pride to the State of Israel, and now I read that they cannot recognize me as an 'active artist?'" model Dorit Revelis asked. "But anyone with a lot of followers will be recognized as such? Where is the logic?"
The "active artist" recognition has a long and complicated history in the IDF. The most memorable case is that of model Bar Refaeli, who infamously evaded mandatory service in 2017 by getting married a few days before her enlistment date.
Several Israeli models combined their careers and military service successfully thanks to being recognized as "active artists." These include Yael Shelbia and Barak Shamir, who not only continued their modeling work but also launched acting careers while serving.
However, the IDF has established a new "social media influencer" category through which new recruits will be able to apply for "active artist" eligibility.
The IDF defines a "social media influencer" as a young person whose number of social media followers exceeds 500,000 individuals and who participates in productions and projects outside of social media.
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