Tag Archive for IDF soldier

#ApartheidFail: IDF sees sharp increase in Muslim voluntary enlistment

Despite last May’s ‘Operation Guardian of the Walls’ and the protests that occurred in many Israeli cities, the IDF reported that the trend of increased numbers of Muslims volunteering for the IDF will likely continue.

By TAL LEV RAM/MAARIV

 

Even in the wake of Operation Guardian of the Walls and the violent rioting in mixed cities and other towns, the IDF presented encouraging statistics that show a sharp rise in the number of Muslims drafting to the IDF. Some 606 Muslim Arabs drafted to the IDF in 2020, compared to 489 in 2019 and 436 in 2018. More than half of those who have drafted went to combat roles. Continue Reading »

2 Palestinian terrorists shot during failed stabbing attack of IDF soldiers

Two Palestinians rushed patrolling IDF soldiers with weapons in hand, trying to stab them using what the IDF described as “sharp agricultural instruments.”
– IDF reports both terrorists evacuated to a hospital in Ramallah with gunshot wounds, while none of the attacked soldiers were injured.

By Lilach Shoval

 

Two Palestinian terrorists were shot Monday while trying to carry out a stabbing attack against a group of soldiers operating near a central Samaria settlement, the military said.

According to available details, a group of eight Palestinians approached soldiers who were on patrol near Amichai, a settlement northeast of Ramallah. Two Palestinians then stormed the troops and tried to stab using what the IDF described as “sharp agricultural instruments.” Continue Reading »

Body of missing IDF soldier found – Gag Order in place

Following hours of the intensive nationwide search for soldier, Eliezer Ashkenazi (ז״ל), the IDF announced they’ve launched an investigation on his disappearance and subsequent death, adding a gag order has been placed on details surrounding his death.

By Raanan Ben Zur, Yoav Zitun

 

The body of an Israeli soldier who was missing for over 24 hours was found on Monday morning in central Israel, the army said.

“The soldier has been found without any sign of life in the center of the country,” said the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit in a statement, adding that his family has been informed.

“IDF’s Military Police Corps opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.” Continue Reading »

Weekend Magazine: The private life of an elite Muslim IDF soldier

#ApartheidFail: “You know what a good feeling it is for me, to see that I make people feel safe when I walk around with my weapon in the train or bus station?” he says. “No one asks if I’m Arab or Jewish. They Just see a Golani soldier.”

By Etti Abramov

 

Clad in his IDF uniform, Private A. looks no different to his brothers in arms in the elite Golani Brigade. It’s been five months since he enlisted, and like everybody else, he’s busy with the rough training, chatting with his girlfriend before lights out and dealing with his anxious parents back home. Continue Reading »

Israel releases 2 Syrian prisoners as ‘gesture’ for return of IDF soldier KIA

Israel releases two incarcerated Syrians as a “goodwill gesture” for the return of fallen American-Israeli IDF soldier Zachary Baumel, killed in the 1982 Lebanon War.

By i24NEWS

 

Israel on Sunday morning released two Syrian prisoners in what an Israeli official called a “goodwill gesture” for the body of the fallen American-Israeli soldier Zachary Baumel, which was returned to the Jewish homeland at the start of the month, 37 years after its first war with Lebanon in 1982.

The Israeli Defense Forces said Sunday that the two prisoners were transferred from Israel to the Red Cross in Syria via the Quinetra border crossing in the Golan Heights. Continue Reading »

Born to Gaza parents, IDF Sargent to be honored on Independence Day

Born to Muslim parents who moved to Israel from Gaza 30 years ago, Sergeant ‘A’ doesn’t try to hide his roots from his friends, saying, “It’s always accompanied by follow-up questions, but I’m Jewish & Israeli, and proud of myself, and my parents who chose to come to Israel.”

By Korin Elbaz Alush

 

He was born to Muslim parents who relocated from the Gaza Strip to Israel some 30 years ago, and in two week’s time – on Independence Day – he is going to be a recipient of a special citation of excellence from the head of his division. Continue Reading »

Female Muslim IDF soldier shows her mettle to serve in active infantry unit

Cpl. ‘N.’ has been threatened by her fellow villagers and even by male Arab soldiers, but she still dreams of a military career, starting in the Lions of the Jordan Valley infantry battalion, and for Arabs & Jews defending Israel together.

By  Bat-Chen Epstein Elias

 

When Cpl. N., who serves in the mixed-gender IDF infantry battalion Lions of the Jordan Valley, heads out on arrest operations in nearby Palestinian villages, she usually talks to the locals in Arabic.

N. is a 19-year-old pepper pot. She’s opinionated and knows what she wants to achieve. She is an observant Muslim who prays five times a day and during the Ramadan fast mostly takes night shifts. Continue Reading »

After 37 years, body of IDF MIA Zachary Baumel returned to Israel

The remains of U.S. born Zachary Baumel, who was deemed MIA since the June 1982 Battle of Sultan Yacoub in Lebanon, was repatriated to Israel this week and returned to his family once his identity was confirmed by a DNA test.

By Yoav Zitun, Daniel Salami

 

The body of an Israeli soldier who disappeared in battle during the First Lebanon War has been returned to his family after 37 years, the IDF said Wednesday. The remains of Brooklyn-born First Sergeant  Zachary Baumel were repatriated to Israel several days ago via a third country. According to IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus, the body was returned to Israel on an El Al plane. Continue Reading »

#ApartheidFail: Arab Muslim Explains Why He Joined the IDF

WATCH: Yahya Mahamid learned first hand that Israel was not an apartheid state that oppresses its Arab population and felt he needed to protect and defend his country & home by joining the IDF.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Yahya Mahamid didn’t come to hate Israel because it’s a racist, apartheid nation, as the Jewish state’s detractors will try to make you believe.

Screen Shot of Jerusalem Post newspaper featuring Yahya Mahamid.

No, Mahamid, as he explains it, was raised to hate Israel.

But, as he grew up, this young man from the lower Galilee town of Umm el Fahm discovered that he’d been lied to, that Israel’s Jewish majority wants to live in peace and coexist with its own Arab population and the Arab states around. Continue Reading »

Arab-Israeli Christian Soldier: IDF is Most Moral Army in the World

After learning of Harvard University’s decision to host members of the radical anti-IDF organization, “Breaking the Silence,” Yoseph Haddad felt compelled to speak up as an ex-‘minority soldier’ in the IDF.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Israel is facing increased efforts to besmirch both its governmental policies and the conduct of its military, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

Christian Arab, Yoseph Haddad, Defends Israel – Photo: Ynet [unattributed]

But that has also resulted in a growing number of minority citizens and soldiers coming forward and exposing the half-truths and outright deceptions employed by the Jewish state’s detractors.

Among them is Yoseph Haddad, a 33-year-old Arab Israeli Christian from Nazareth who served proudly in the IDF during the Second Intifada and the Second Lebanon War. Continue Reading »

Qatar becomes third Arab country to ban “Wonder Woman” over Israeli actress

 

 

Qatar joins Lebanon and Tunisia to ban the int’l blockbuster film starring Gal Gadot, because she’s an Israeli veteran of the IDF.

By JTA

 

Qatar has become the third Arab-majority country to ban the screening of the movie “Wonder Woman” because lead actress Gal Gadot is Israeli.

Gal Gadot appearing at IDF induction center – Photo: Shaul Golan/Yedioth Ahronoth

The film had been scheduled to premiere in Qatar Thursday and was being promoted by local theater chains VOX Cinemas Qatar and Novo Cinemas. But in the days before its scheduled release, the film was removed from cinema websites, Doha News reported. Continue Reading »

Palestinian cinema bans ‘Wonder Woman’ because Gal Gadot is Israeli

 

Palestinians are upset with past Facebook comment when Gadot said she was sending her “love and prayers to my fellow Israeli citizens. Especially to all the boys and girls who are risking their lives protecting my country against the horrific acts conducted by Hamas, who are hiding like cowards behind women and children.”

By i24NEWS

 

A movie theater in the Palestinian city of Ramallah has reportedly banned screenings of the new “Wonder Woman” film because it’s leading actress, Gal Gadot, is Israeli.

Gal Gadot – Selfie:Facebook

According to the local al-Hadath newspaper, Palestine Towers Cinema has made the decision not to screen the Hollywood blockbuster due to “political reasons related to the Israeli occupation and the Israeli actress starring in the film.” Continue Reading »

Tunisia, like Lebanon, bans ‘Wonder Woman’ over Gal Gadot’s IDF service

 

After Lebanon banned Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot, a Tunisian court decides to stop screening the ‘block-buster’ movie, also because of the Israeli born actress’s IDF background.

By Roi Kais

 

A court in Tunisia decided Wednesday to temporarily ban the screening of the film Wonder Woman starring Gal Gadot, after the film was banned from screening in Lebanon because of the Israeli actress.

Gal Gadot appearing at IDF induction center ‘Bakum’ – Photo: Shaul Golan/Yedioth Ahronoth

The Tunisian court’s decision was made after the Tunisian People’s Party filed a petition against the screening of the film, due to Gal Gadot’s service in the IDF, claiming that she was “a partner to the latest Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip.” Continue Reading »

Jordan considers following Lebanon banning ‘Wonder Woman’ over Israeli star

 

Jordan’s Communications Commission is considering banning “Wonder Woman” because the leading actress Gal Gadot, served in the Israel Defense Forces, ignoring the Hashemite Kingdom signed a peace agreement with Israel in 1994, allowing them to gain vital intelligence from the IDF on a wide range of military matters.

By JTA

 

Jordan is considering banning the film “Wonder Woman” because star Gal Gadot served in the Israel Defense Forces.

Jordan’s Communications Commission is currently reviewing the film to determine whether it meets the country’s standards and laws, the Israeli news website Ynet reported.

The review comes in the wake of Lebanon’s decision to ban the film as part of its total boycott of all things Israeli. Continue Reading »

IDF Major tells of her return to Ethiopian birthplace for spiritual Passover Seder

 

In an emotional letter, Maj. Yaros Shigot shares her unique experience as an IDF soldier who, for the first time, returned to her birthplace in Ethiopia where she read the Haggadah with the Jewish community on Passover night.

By Maj. Yaros Shigot

 

This is the story of a most exciting and unique Passover Seder for Ethiopian-born Maj. Yaros (Yerushalem) Shigot, who returned to Ethiopia this week for the first time since immigrating to Israel.The following moving letter, which was written to Yedioth Ahronoth by Shigot, who serves in the IDF’s Education Corps, contains the recordings of her journey, in which she shares her family history of their arduous journey to Israel, and explains why she shed tears while reading the Haggadah with the Jewish community in Addis Ababa. Continue Reading »