Cpl Elinor Joseph, was born 1991 into a Christian family from the Arab village of Jish, and in 2010 became the first Arab woman ever to serve in a combat role in the I.D.F.
By Gil Ronen
Deputy Defense Minister Danny Danon spoke Thursday at the Moskowitz Prize ceremony and said that the IDF’s Academies for Command and Staff will be moved from Gelilot, just north of Tel Aviv, to Har Hatzofim (Mount Scopus), in the course of this year.
“Thousands of soldiers will live here on this mountain,” he announced, “and they will live beside hundreds of Jewish families that are taking care to preserve the Jewish presence here.”
“Look at Maaleh Hazeitim,” he added. Continue Reading »
Elior Levy
Most of the Palestinians killed during Operation Pillar of Defense were civilians not involved in fighting. This according to a report released by B’Tselem on Thursday, some six months after the operation.
Boy views Gaza ruins – Photo: AP
According to the report, during the eight days of the operation, 167 Palestinians were killed, of whom 69 were “combatants” (with seven being assassinated);11 of those killed could not be identified as combatant or civilian. Continue Reading »
Yoav Zitun, Maor Buchnik
Two mortar shells fired Monday afternoon during battles between the Syrian army and rebels trying to overthrown President Bashar Assad‘s regime exploded in an open area near the border fence in the southern Golan Heights region, near Ramat Magshimim. Another mortar landed in Syrian territory.
Area in which mortars landed – Photo: Avihu Shapira
No injuries were reported in the incident, which was apparently the result of errant fire. Continue Reading »
By Yoav Zitun
An IDF plan aims to see male and female soldiers serving for the same amount of time with the length of service determined by their position, and not their gender.
Swearing-In Ceremony of IDF’s Nachal Brigade at the Kotel – Photo: IsraelandStuff/PP
IDF officers presented a plan to shorten men’s army service by four months to 32 months at the committee for the Promotion of Equal Share of the Burden on Monday. If approved, the change will become effective as of July 2015. Continue Reading »
By Aviel Schneider
Tensions along Israel’s northern border are growing as Hezbollah forces tighten their grip on southern Lebanon.
The UN is only effective when all is quiet – Israel Today
Hezbollah and allied terror groups have moved back into the border region in force in violation of the UN resolution (1701) that brought an end to the Second Lebanon War in 2006. The terrorists are exploiting the fact that the Lebanese army has had to send so many troops to the Syrian border in the east. Continue Reading »
By Elad Benari
A Syrian man who was wounded in the ongoing civil war in his country was transferred on Monday evening to the Ziv Hospital in Tzfat, after IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz authorized the move.
The man, who suffered moderate wounds to his waist, was taken to the hospital’s trauma unit for initial treatment. He is expected to undergo surgery overnight Monday.
Israeli media reported that the man’s wounds were caused by shrapnel and gunfire. Continue Reading »
By Ynet
It has been cleared for publication that Israeli F-16 fighter jets downed a drone off of Haifa’s coastline at around noon Thursday.
Downing of drone that entered Israeli airspace in October – Screenshot of IDF video clip
The unmanned aircraft apparently entered Israel’s airspace from the north and was heading south. Explosions were heard in the area.
Israel Navy vessels were searching for the wreckage. The drone was apparently sent by Hezbollah in Lebanon. Continue Reading »
Yoav Zitun
During a conference held by the Israeli Lawyer’s Guild in the southern town of Eilat, IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Yoav “Polly” Mordechai spoke about the important role media and culture have on the workings of the IDF, focusing on the influence of hasbara on the IDF’s legitimacy.
Mordechai, Efroni – Photo: Idan Milman
“Hence, in an age when war is screened live, before the camera’s lenses, spokespersons and hasbara have an increasingly critical role and influence military operations’ legitimacy. Continue Reading »
A lawyer for Palestinian-American teenager Mohammad Khalek says an Israeli military court has sentenced the boy to two weeks in prison for throwing rocks at Israeli vehicles.
A Palestinian stone thrower bearing the Hamas flag, right, uses a sling shot to throw stones with his comrade towards Israeli security forces, April 3, 2013. – Photo: AFP
Mahmoud Hassan of the Palestinian prisoner rights group Addameer said Wednesday the court also ordered 14-year-old Khalek to pay an $830 fine.Hassan
A counter-terrorism instructor holds his weapon at the IDF’s Mitkan Adam base near Modi’in. – Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post
Attila Somfalvi
The Knesset Committee for Promoting Equal Share of the Burden, headed by Science Minister Yaakov Perry (Yesh Atid), convened for the first time Sunday. Representatives of the IDF and the Civil Service Administration attended the meeting and stressed they were prepared to intake haredi enlistees.
At the end of the meeting, Perry said: “In six weeks we will have a historic law – the process is sensitive, but the IDF’s needs are our first priority.”
The committee’s meeting took place only a few hours before the beginning of Memorial Day, and while leading the meeting, Minister Perry stressed the symbolic importance of the coincidence. Continue Reading »
Israel’s Druse community is proud to take part in both Remembrance Day and Independence Day, identifying itself as an integral part of the state whose members have served in all of the wars in its history.
Druse hospitality – Photo Courtesy
According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, there are around 130,000 Druse in Israel.
Among them, 20,000 live on the Golan and are seen as distinct in terms of national loyalty as they tend to identify with Syria as opposed to Israel.
A one-minute siren sounded throughout Israel on Sunday night, marking the official opening of Memorial Day. A torch was lit at the Western Wall in Jerusalem, in the presence of President Shimon Peres and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz.
Israeli flags on military cemetery. – Photo: AFP
“We know full well that there are no words we can say this night to assuage your pain,” Peres told bereaved families in his speech. Continue Reading »
Memorial Day for Israel’s fallen soldiers will begin at 4 P.M. on Sunday with a ceremony at Yad Lebanim in Jerusalem, attended by the prime minister, the speaker of the Knesset and the Sephardi and Ashkenazi chief rabbis.
A woman placing flowers on the grave of a relative at the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery last week. – Photo: KoKo
At 8 P.M. a one-minute siren will sound throughout the country, marking the official opening of Memorial Day, followed by commemoration ceremonies. Continue Reading »
Many ‘Lone Soldiers’, who have no family in Israel, can use some help with doing their laundry, Shabbat meals, or the occasional ‘Care Package’ for upcoming holidays.
Check out lonesoldiercenter.com to see how you can help these brave, beautiful young people who volunteer to protect Israel.
Israeli New Shekel Exchange Rate