January23, 2007: Divorces in Israel dropped 30 percent last Summer, during the war in Lebanon. This had not been noted before. What had been noted in past wars was an increase in the birth rate and, for older soldiers (especially reservists) more stress related illness. Wartime conditions always produce lots of stress, which is expressed in many different ways. The increased birth rate is the result of a large increase in the amount of sex, which has long been a convenient way to deal with stress. Apparently, war also helps marriage counselors as well.