Tag Archive for IDF volunteers

| August 2, 2018
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158 volunteers from 18 countries arrive in Israel to volunteer for the IDF

Majority of the new IDF recruits, new immigrants and foreign volunteers, come from North America, followed by 43 volunteers from France, 16 from the UK.

By ANNA AHRONHEIM

 

IDF volunteers from 18 different countries arrived in Israel over this summer, the Defense Ministry’s Social Defense Branch announced Wednesday.

The 158 new recruits comprised of 120 male volunteers and 38 females, the majority from North America with 69 volunteers (45%) followed France with 43 volunteers (30%).

Gathering of the 158 volunteers from 18 different countries arrive in Israel to volunteer for the IDF. – Photo courtesy: Israel’s Defense Ministry

According to the Defense Ministry, the number of volunteers from Australia has “quadrupled” since last year with eight volunteers, and the number from Britain doubled with 16 volunteers this year. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| December 9, 2016
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Video Report: Israeli-Arab enlistment grows in the IDF

 

Although Israeli-Arabs are not drafted to serve in the IDF like Israeli Jews or Druze, more and more continue to volunteer despite objections from Arab and Palestinian leaders.

By ILTV

 

 

View original Arutz Sheva publication at:
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/221485 Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| August 19, 2016
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IDF welcomes a Native American Jewish soldier

 

Having recently found out that he’s of Native American descent, Benjamin Barmeyer is excited about joining the IDF, saying, “I fell in love with Israel 4 years ago when I first visited.”

By Noam Dvir

 

Benjamin Barmeyer of Texas, 22, of Native American descent, is among the diverse pool of young people from abroad who have chosen to join the Israel Defense Forces and enrich the military with their variety.

During a pre-IDF course, Benjamin Barmeyer – Photo courtesy

Barmeyer, who came to Israel with the Garin Tzabar program, found out about his heritage only recently. He was adopted as a baby by Larry and Don Barmeyer, who raised him as Jewish and held a bar mitzvah ceremony for him. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| June 24, 2016
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Photo Essay: Having Completed IDF Course, Muslims swear allegiance to Israel

 

Consisting largely of Muslim Bedouins, along with Christians and Muslim Arabs, who all volunteered for IDF service, the March 2016 induction of Desert Reconnaissance Battalion soldiers were sworn in on Thursday, having completed their rigorous basic training.

By Yoav Zitun

 

The swearing-in ceremony for the March 2016 cycle of Desert Reconnaissance Battalion soldiers was held on Thursday at the Memorial Monument to the Bedouin Warriors with the majority of the sworn-in soldiers being Muslim. Before their commanders and families, the soldiers, mostly Bedouins with some Muslim and Christian Arabs who volunteered to join the IDF, swore allegiance to the State of Israel and its defense. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , , ,
| June 15, 2016
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Christian IDF Soldier Attacked by Religious Peers While in Uniform

 

Even as more and more young Christians join the IDF each year, some do so at some risk from friends, or those who oppose the Jewish State.

By Israel Today Staff

 

A growing number of young Arabic-speaking Christians are volunteering to serve in the Israeli army. Some even want their service to be mandatory, as it is for Jews. But there are some elements in Arab Christian society that remain hostile to this phenomenon.

Some of the Christian IDF soldiers (Left) and Border Guard Police (Right) who attended the Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum.

That was the experience of a young Arabic-speaking Christian who spoke to Israel’s Mako news portal. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| February 28, 2016
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Undeterred, Deaf Woman Becomes Officer in IDF’s Combat Intel Corps

 

Last Thursday, a persevering Shira Kochavi became a 2nd lieutenant in the IDF Combat Intelligence Collection Corps, having refused the IDF’s edict that she shouldn’t serve.

By Danny Brenner

 

Second Lieutenant ‎Shira Kochavi, 22, was born deaf. In the first few months of her life, her parents noticed she did not respond to noises and voices, and examinations demonstrated that Kochavi was deaf in both ears. At the age of nine months, Kochavi underwent an operation that improved her hearing slightly, and she grew up with impaired hearing and a slight stutter. From the time she started school until it was time for her to enlist in the army, she used a hearing aid. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: ,
| December 24, 2015
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Christian, Arabic-Speaking IDF Soldiers, Celebrate Christmas

 

view videoChristian enlistment in the IDF continues to grow, as young Israeli Christians say they willingly & happily serve in Israel’s army to defend the Jewish State.
• WATCH: PM Netanyahu wishes a merry Christmas to Israel’s Christian citizens & to Christians throughout the world.

By Israel Today Staff

 

Amid increasing discrimination – and even violence – against Christian minorities across the Middle East, a small program in Israel is dramatically increasing the number of Arabic-speaking Israeli Christians who join the Israeli military, with the aim of integrating this minority population into mainstream Israeli society.

Christian Arabic-Speaking IDF Soldiers Celebrate Christmas

The Israeli Christians Recruitment Forum, led by Father Gabriel Naddaf of Nazareth, is multiplying the number of Christians enlisting in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) from just 40 in 2012 to more than 100 in 2014. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| September 22, 2015
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Both Doctors & Best Friends Leave Brazil To Protect Israel’s Borders

 

6 months ago, both Rio de Janeiro-born doctors Daniel Nigri & Benny London passed the Israeli medical board exams and then volunteered for the IDF
• Nigri, “I came to Israel during the 2nd Lebanon War & … had to come back here to contribute to its security.”

By Danny Brenner

 

Childhood friends Drs. Benny London and Daniel Nigri, both 27, left their native Rio de Janeiro to put their medical qualifications to good use in the Israel Defense Forces as lone soldiers currently stationed on the northern border.

London is the doctor assigned to the Shahaf combat intelligence battalion, while Nigri is the doctor of the Nahal Brigade’s 50th Battalion. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| June 30, 2015
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From the United States to IDF’s military prison

Young idealistic American came to Israel to join the IDF, but his naïveté ended up embedding him in a wild conspiracy to blow up the Dome of the Rock.

By Yoav Zitun

 

He made aliyah from United States as a lone soldier, served as a fighter in the Givati Reconnaissance Battalion, was wounded in Operation Protective Edge, and was a short time away from being released and returning to his family in Los Angeles. But that was when he began his troubled path

David during his military service – Photo: Facebook

After an investigation by the criminal investigation division, the police and the Shin Bet, David (not his real name) was arrested on suspicion of aiding an American extremist who planned to blow up the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, and sentenced to half a year in military prison. Continue Reading »

Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| June 4, 2015
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IDF to establish 3rd mixed-gender infantry combat battalion

The new infantry battalion will be assigned to protect the border, with the women having to agree to serve an extra year, to make their induction time in the IDF matching that of men’s service.

By Lilach Shoval

 

This year’s August draft will also inaugurate the third mixed-gender combat battalion in the Israel Defense Forces, Israel Hayom has learned. The new battalion will be defined as a light infantry battalion assigned to protect the borders, much like the existing Caracal and Lions of Jordan battalions.

During an exercise male & female soldiers push each other along while some carry the stretcher.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| May 13, 2015
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Staff Sgt. ‘Dr. Golani’, Ph.D., receives Nefesh B’Nefesh leadership award

From Alabama, & too old to be drafted, Asaf Stein, Ph.D., battled with the IDF to volunteer for the army in a combat position, and won.

By Lilach Shoval

 

“I am a Zionist,” Staff Sgt. Asaf Stein said after receiving the 2015 Bonei Zion Award from Nefesh B’Nefesh at a special ceremony in the Knesset building on Tuesday.

Staff Sgt. Asaf Stein, Ph.D., holds his IDF and National Service Young Leadership award from Nefesh B’Nefesh – Photo: Dudi Vaaknin

Stein, who served in the Golani Infantry Brigade’s reconnaissance battalion and is called “Dr. Golani” by his friends (because of his Ph.D.),

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , , ,
| March 2, 2015
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Christian Soldiers Proud to Defend Israel

 

Watching the ISIS brutality in Syria brought upon the non-Muslims, the young Israeli Christians say this is why they willingly & happily serve in the IDF to defend the Jewish State.

By Ryan Jones

 

News has been swirling that ISIS is again on the rampage against Christians in Iraq and Syria.

Father Gabriel Naddaf, spiritual leader of the Israeli Christian Recruitment Forum, joins several young Arabic-speaking Aramean Christians as they are inducted into the Israel Defense Forces.

Reports indicate that no fewer than 35 Assyrian Christian villages have been targeted in northeastern Syria in recent weeks. Most of these villages are now empty of inhabitants.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| August 27, 2014
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Israeli Arabs Doing National Service are Still Breaking Records

 

Record breaking number of Arabs & other non-Jews are joining the IDF or doing other forms of national service, as they seek integration into Israeli society.

By Yossi Aloni

 

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last week met with a number of these non-Jewish volunteers. He heard about how they are playing active roles in the police, fire stations, emergency medical services, schools, kindergartens and more. Netanyahu spoke with the volunteers about the challenges they face, and was told of the volunteers’ desire to fully integrate into Israeli society.

The director of the National Service Authority, Sar-Shalom Jerbi, informed the prime minister that the majority of the volunteers perform their service within Arab communities.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
| May 26, 2014
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From the French Army to the IDF to contribute & defend Israel

 

A year ago, Ron Abukrat had never been to Israel and did not speak Hebrew. “I understood that Israel was under attack and that it wasn’t easy to live there, but I knew that the information was not really accurate & not favorable. I decided that I had to go to Israel myself to see what was really happening there.”

By Danny Brenner

 

Ron Abukrat served as a combat soldier in the French army. His twin brother is a police officer in Paris and his older brother was a fighter pilot in the French Air Force. At only 24, Abukrat has already completed a B.A.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , ,
| April 2, 2014
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Five Beauties Volunteer to Fight for Their New Home

 

“They are very motivated & determined to assume combat roles,” says an Israeli official involved with the 5 young women who recently immigrated to Israel, live on a Lebanese-border Kibbutz and joined  the IDF & Border Police.

By Danny Brenner

 

Kibbutz Hanita, next to the Israel-Lebanon border, is used to taking pride in its avocado orchards and olive groves. But it now has a new source of pride, with five young women who made the kibbutz their home after immigrating to Israel currently serving in combat roles in the Israel Defense Forces and Border Police.

Carrie French, Rachel Bernstein, Becca Perlin, Andrea Forsline and Nina Tabrizi

Hanita became home to eight men and eight women who immigrated to Israel this year as part of the Garin Tzabar program.

Continue Reading »
Category: Israel News | Tags: , , ,
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