Marty Roberts: Staying Real in Israel
"The Marty Roberts Show"

Here, in Israel, we can’t just enjoy the opening of a wonderful new shopping outlet. No, it has to be accompanied by international protests and threats of boycotts and UN investigations, perhaps the shoppers are committing war crimes with their dress purchases.
But, thank G-d, it doesn’t seem to phase us Israelis…We just go right about our business of shopping in the beautiful new store, enjoying the fruits of our flourishing Israeli economy. Let the world storm on around us…Life in the Holyland goes on…

Shoppers storm Israel’s 1st H&M store


Anti-Israel groups in Europe to protest chain’s decision to open in Israel

Reprinted from JPost.com

Hundreds of enthusiastic shoppers waited outside the first local H&M store on Thursday, as the Swedish-owned fashion house opened their first store in Israel in Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Center.
Immediately after the count down, dozens of customers ran into the store, practically trampling two baby strollers in their rush to enter, Channel 2 reported. Passersby managed to save the babies while shoppers continued to flow into the store.

“This place looks like the site of a terror attack,” one shopper told the television station.

Meanwhile in Europe, anti-Israel organizations in Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, the UK, Austria, Canada and Ireland were planning to demonstrate on Thursday evening against H&M’s decision to open shops in Israel.

According to Army Radio, a young Jewish man named Jonathan Sanchek, organized the protests. “This protest is about H&M opening in Israel, while it continues the occupation and in settlement construction. The Goldstone Report was published recently, and we think that one cannot open a store in Israel until it starts obeying international law,” the radio station quoted him as saying.

A statement calling on Europeans to protest against the store’s opening in Israel was also published on the palsolidarity.org Web site. “The familiar red H&M sign will be visible in the Azrieli Mall in Tel Aviv and, a few days later, in the Malcha shopping center in Jerusalem, a city gradually cleansed of its Palestinian population to be replaced by Jewish-Israeli settlements,” the statement reads.

“H&M is thus investing in Israel at the same time as the UN Goldstone commission and international organizations that H&M is cooperating with, such as UNICEF and the UN, report about Israel’s crimes against international law and human rights,” it added.

New Show/Podcast!!!

Billions of annual aid to Israel pays off big-time for the Americans…Those who think that America should punish her closest ally, Israel, by cutting off economic aid need to think, and then think again…The economic and military benefits that the U.S. receives from her strategic relationship with Israel FAR exceed the billions invested in the Jewish State…Also…A look at “Arab” East Jerusalem…What is really going on there?…What communities are we talking about, and why do the Jewish communities in the capital, Jerusalem, need to be expanded?…What do the local Arabs REALLY think about the building boom?…All this and more on “The Marty Roberts Show”…Listen to the show below…

Listen to the Show Here…

 

 MR31710:"Whether Israel Builds in Jerusalem or Not...The U.S.-Israel Relationship is a Two-Way Street" [43:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The US has a lot of nerve…not to mention the UN and the Arab League. Basically, Israel building homes for her citizens in her capital is none of their goldang business!!
First of all, Jerusalem has been the capital of the Jewish state for more than 2000 years. It has NOT ever been the capital of any other country. Anyone can claim anyplace as the capital of their country, but first, they should have a country, and then, it would help if there was some sort of historic basis to their claim…Neither of which is the case when it comes to so-called palestinians and Jerusalem. In case you forgot, Jerusalem is city #3 in importance to Islam…They pray with their behinds facing Jerusalem. Every Jew in the world faces Jerusalem to pray, wherever they are in the world.
Secondly, if you ask the Arabs living in the neighborhood where the building is slated to take place…They are HAPPY to have the additional housing units in their neighborhood. The tradesmen and shopkeepers cannot wait to start earning money from the increased population in their area. I just heard some of them interviewed on the radio, and, although fearful to speak out in public, that is what they said.
Oh, and I condemn the decision by the US government to build new apartments in Washington D.C….Very counterproductive…(even if you Do look cute wearing that silly black yarmulke)

Biden Condemns Construction Project in Israel’s Capital


U.S. Vice President Joe Biden flatly condemned a years-old city construction project in Israel’s capital late Tuesday, saying it is “undermining the trust” needed to jump-start final status talks with the Palestinian Authority.

Reprinted from INN Hana Levi Julian

“I condemn the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem,”
Biden said in a prepared statement. “The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel.”

The term “proximity talks” is the new phrase that refers to final status negotiations between Israel and the PA, so called because the Obama administration will now be serving as an intermediary. PA Chairman and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas and his aides have refused to meet for direct talks with Prime Minister Netanyahu and other top government officials.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also slammed the government’s approval of the project, issuing a statement Wednesday that said “the settlement activity is contrary to Israel’s obligations under the Roadmap, and undermines any movement towards a viable peace process.”

According to the Interior Ministry, which also issued a statement Tuesday night, the authorization for the project, a plan by the Jerusalem District Planning Committee to build 1,600 housing units in eastern Jerusalem, was routine. Interior Minister Eli Yishai said the announcement had been a “procedural matter,” and not a deliberate attempt to insult Biden or anyone else. He added that he regretted the timing and would have delayed the announcement had he been aware it was coming up.

The project, slated for the hareidi-religious neighborhood of Ramat Shlomo, had been on the table for more than three years, did not require approval of the prime minister, and has been submitted for public comment – a 60-day process. It is still subject to final approval, and still must be reviewed by the committee. If after that process it passes muster, the project will extend the existing neighborhood by adding an access road from the west, upgrading the current entrance road, and adding apartments on the southeastern side. Each apartment will be approximately 120 square meters (1,290 square feet). The total project will comprise some 580 dunams (143 acres).

The Interior Ministry said in its statement that Netanyahu had been unaware of the plan and its timing.

Biden’s statement was issued at the close of his second day in the region on a visit that was promoted primarily as confidence-building mission meant to emphasize America’s support for Israel. “There is no space between us,” Biden told Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu during their meeting in Jerusalem on Monday.

The prime minister responded by telling journalists following their two-hour meeting that the American vice president was “a real friend to me, and a real friend to Israel and to the Jewish people.” Biden is the latest in a parade of American officials to arrive in Israel in recent weeks on a mission to keep the Netanyahu administration in line with American policy on Iran and talks with the PA.

Last November, Netanyahu responded to pressure from the White House by authorizing a freeze on construction in Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria. However, he was unwilling to extend that freeze to the neighborhoods of Jerusalem that were restored to the capital following the 1967 Six Day War — a point of contention with the PA which has refused to resume talks with Israel until those areas are included.

Israel has had a woman Prime Minister….We have a woman leading the parliamentary opposition in the Israeli Knesset, made up of many women members…Our girls serve in the Israeli Army, even in combat units…Many top executives in Israel are women…
But…We still managed to win a prize for sexism in TV advertising…for, of all things, Fairy dishwashing soap…

Fairy dish soap ad deemed most sexist


Panel of judges rules advertisement most offensive to women in 2009 is one in which comedian Gavri Banai, chef Israel Aharoni convince woman to wash dishes

Reprinted from YNet News Meirav Crystal

The television spot for Fairy dishwashing liquid was chosen by the Women`s International Zionist`s Organization as the most sexist advertisement in 2009.

The spot depicts a family sitting down to eat a meal together. At the end of the meal, the hostess’s daughter-in-law refuses to wash the dishes. However, chef Israel Aharoni and comedian Gavri Banai succeed in convincing her to do her duty and all ends well.

The ad was made by Adler, Chomsky, & Warshavsky for Proctor & Gamble, the company that manufactures Fairy. The spot was a awarded the dubious title as part of WIZO’s annual campaign against sexist advertising in honor of International Women’s Day, which takes place on March 8.

The four advertisements ranked most offensive towards women in 2009 after the Fairy spot were for Axe deodorant’s “No one says no to chocolate” in which women are shown fawning over a man because he smells like chocolate; Goldstar beer’s “I’m alone” in which men mock a female soccer player; “Stop pestering – Postinor is here” for the day-after pill which stars the blond women from The Amazing Race; and “Going the distance” for Do It Kitchens win which a woman is seen lying on a kitchen countertop.

The panel of judges was made up of experts from various fields. They chose out of 10 finalist advertisements.

WIZO awarded this annual dishonorable distinction for the first time last year to the Mei Eden commercial in which model Bar Refaeli is seen sensually crawling along the kitchen counter in an attempt to seduce a man with a glass of water.

If you don’t believe it, just ask the terrorists sitting in prison waiting for the next release of prisoners…the next “good-will” gesture on Israel’s part…the next “confidence-building measures” imposed on Israel by the US and Europe. Or, more likely, the next exchange of a zillion palestinian terrorist prisoners for one innocent Israeli captive, dead (G-d forbid) or alive.
They are seriously talking about releasing this guy, even though he has publicly announced that he fully intends to return to murdering and maiming innocent Israelis. So far, Netanyahu and the Israeli government is standing strong against the insanity of releasing these murderers, but we’ll see…It ain’t over till it’s over…

Abdullah Barghouti: I will keep fighting occupation


Hamas ‘engineer’, who was sentenced to 67 life terms for several deadly terror attacks, says PM Netanyahu sabotaged execution of prisoner swap securing Gilad Shalit’s release. ‘He is far more concerned with Kadima’

Reprinted from YNet News Sharon Roffe-Ofir

Abdullah Iyad Barghouti, who has been mentioned as one of the Hamas officials currently jailed in Israel that the organization demands in return for the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, does not believe he will be freed in the near future, and blames Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for sabotaging the deal.

“There is no way the deal will be executed soon, Netanyahu does not want to execute the deal, he is busy with many other things,” Barghouti said Sunday afternoon at a hearing on the conditions of his imprisonment at the Nazareth District Court. The hearing addressed whether or not Barghouti should remain in confinement.

After he told the court that there is “no way” he believes in the Israeli court system, he responded to questions by reporters – in fluent Hebrew. He stated that if he were to be released, he would continue to “fight the occupation.” When asked if he was referring only to the occupation in Gaza or in other places, such as Nazareth, he said: “The occupation in all of Palestine”.

Barghouti answering questioning in court on Sunday (Photo: Hagai Aharon)

Of the prisoner exchange deal he said, “I was the third name in the deal, Marwan Barghouti and Ahmad Saadat were before me. Hagai Hadas signed, the German mediator signed, and Hamas signed. When it reached Netanyahu, he zigzagged and caved. He is more concerned with other things. For example, he is far more concerned with Kadima.”

In response to a question on the captive soldier’s condition, he said, “As far as I know he is 100% okay, he is normal, he eats, he drinks, he sleeps. We do not hurt our prisoners.”

Barghouti, a relative of jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti but a member of the rival Hamas organization, is considered the movement’s “engineer”. He was convicted of involvement in terror attacks that claimed many victims, including the suicide attacks in Café Moment and Sbarro in Jerusalem, the Sheffield Club in Rishon Lezion, and the bus 4 line in Tel Aviv.

In total, Barghouti was responsible for the murder of 66 Israelis and the injury of some 500. In 2004 Barghouti was sentenced to 67 life sentences.

In the past two years Barghouti’s name has come up repeatedly as one of the “four officials” that Israel refuses to release and that make up the main obstacle standing before the completion of a prisoner swap. The list also includes Marwan Barghouti, Ahmad Saadat and Hamas member Ibrahim Hamed, who is considered head of the organization’s military wing in the West Bank.

According to other reports, the list of prisoners Israel refuses to release includes other members of Hamas’ military wing such as Abbas a-Sayed, Jamal Abu al-Hija, Hassan Salameh and a number of female terrorist.

Can you just imagine when the world gets ahold of this one? UN resolutions, sanctions, outrage, international condemnation…
Bets, anyone on whether or not the double standard rears its ugly head?

Israel: Plans for 3rd Nuclear Reactor


Israel will announce plans this week to build a new nuclear reactor to diversify its energy sector, officials said Monday. Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau has discussed the possibility of cooperating on building a nuclear plant with France and Jordan, the ministry said. The project would be overseen by France and use French technology. Israel already has two reactors, the Dimona reactor in the Negev desert, which is widely assumed to have produced nuclear weapons, and a research reactor at Nahal Soreq near Tel Aviv.

Reprinted from NY Times Reuters

Dr. Lerner at IMRA said it best. He pointed out that the only Jews that US Vice President Joe Biden’s wife will meet while in Israel are dead!! No problem finding live Arabs to meet though…
An unfortunate oversight??..I don’t think so…
Peace now, baby…..

Only Jews wife of VP Biden to meet are dead?


Who is Dr. Jill Biden visiting on her official trip to Israel and the PA?

Reprinted from IMRA Dr. Aaron Lerner

Dr. Biden’s visit:
Israel: – teachers and children at the integrated Peace Pre-school program
at the Jerusalem International YMCA
Israel: – grave sites of Yitzhak Rabin and Theodor Herzl
Israel – Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust museum
Israel (eastern Jerusalem) – Augusta Victoria Hospital (Jerusalem Arabs)
PA – Al Kamandjati Music Center (Palestinians)
Israel – Bedouin Women Crafts Center in Lakiya (Israeli Arabs)

So who is she meeting in Israel? Dead Jews and live Arabs?]

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the Vice President
For Immediate Release:
March 7, 2010

VICE PRESIDENT BIDEN AND DR. JILL BIDEN TRAVEL
TO THE MIDDLE EAST

…
Tuesday, March 9th – Jerusalem

Dr. Biden:

In the morning, Dr. Jill Biden will visit teachers and children at the
integrated Peace Pre-school program at the Jerusalem International YMCA.
This visit will be POOLED PRESS.

In the afternoon, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will visit the national
grave sites of Yitzhak Rabin and Theodor Herzl and lay a wreath. Afterwards,
they will visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust museum and memorial. Both of
these events will be POOLED PRESS.

In the evening, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will have dinner with the
Prime Minister and Mrs. Netanyahu. There will be a pool spray at the top of
this dinner.

Wednesday March 10th – Ramallah, Palestinian Territories and Bethlehem,
Palestinian Territories

…
Dr. Biden:

In the morning, Dr. Biden will travel to Augusta Victoria Hospital, where
she will visit with doctors, nurses and patients and take a tour of the
hospital’s facilities. Dr. Biden will learn about the hospital’s breast
cancer outreach program and will visit the radiotherapy unit. She will also
visit with children and parents in the pediatric cancer care and kidney care
units. This visit will be POOLED PRESS.

In the afternoon, Dr. Biden will visit the Al Kamandjati Music Center in
Ramallah where she will meet with teachers and students, and listen to a
student music performance. Al Kamandjati provides music lessons, workshops
and music programs including concerts for Palestinian children, particularly
those living in refugee camps and in marginalized villages in the West Bank,
Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon.

Thursday, March 11th – Tel Aviv, Israel and Amman, Jordan

…
Dr. Biden:

In the morning, Dr. Biden will visit Masada, and in the afternoon she will
visit a Bedouin Women Crafts Center in Lakiya. Both of these visits are
POOLED PRESS

In the afternoon, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will depart en route to
Amman, Jordan.

In the evening, the Vice President will meet with King Abdullah. There will
be a pool spray at the top of this meeting. Afterwards, the Vice President
and King Abdullah will have dinner together.

Friday, March 12th – Amman, Jordan

The Vice President and Dr. Biden will visit and tour Petra in the afternoon.
This visit will be POOLED PRESS.

Dr. Biden: Details on Dr. Biden’s schedule in Jordan will be released later
in the week.

In the evening, the Vice President and Dr. Biden will depart Jordan en route
Washington, DC.

This gorgeous young Israeli lady had to get permission from her commanding officer to attend the beauty pageant…which she won…She is an Israeli soldier on active duty in the army!!!
I bet MY army is prettier than YOUR army (and we fight pretty well, too)…

Miss Israel 2010 crowned


Shavit Wiesel, 20, wins beauty pageant in Haifa ceremony marking competition’s 60th anniversary

Reprinted from YNet News Roni Amar

Shavit Wiesel, 20, of Kibbutz Be’eri in southern Israel was crowned Miss Israel 2010 on Monday. The Miss Junior Israel title was awarded to Bat-El Jubi; Adi Sassi was named Miss Teen Israel; and the Miss Congeniality title was given to Shel Arazi. Another runner-up was Gal Erez.

Wiesel is an Israel Defense Forces soldier serving in the Teleprocessing Branch and has had a steady boyfriend for the past five years. After her army discharge she intends on volunteering and has expressed a interest in working with children with special needs.

During the ceremony, which was held in Haifa and hosted by model and presenter Hila Nachshon, singer Harel Skaat – Israel’s representative to the Eurovision song contest – and 1973 Eurovision winner Anne-Marie David performed a duet in French.

Other performance included that of singers Maya Bouskila and Moshe Peretz.

Among the judges were LaIsha women’s magazine editor Miriam Nofech-Moses, model and actress Agam Rodberg, singer Amir Faye Guttman and model and presenter Ilanit Levy.

Monday’s event marked the contest’s 60th anniversary and allowed the audience to vote and influence the judges’ choices for the first time.

If you are in or near NYC and you support the IDF (Israeli Army), you need to head for this site THIS EVENING!!!

Counter protestesting protestors at Friends of the IDF dinner – 9 March NYC


TO CONCERNED JEWS – BE THERE WITH US – TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 5-7 PM – NYC
Posted Thursday, March 04 @ 15:39:13 EST
URGENT COUNTER-PROTEST , TUESDAY, MARCH 9, 5-7 P.M.

TO ALL THOSE WHO CARE ABOUT ISRAEL – IT IS URGENT THAT YOU ATTEND THE
COUNTER-PROTEST RALLY

Across from the WALDORF ASTORIA – PARK AVE.,bet. 49th & 50th , NYC

Reprinted from IMRA

UPDATE:
The NYPD has switched the locations for Tuesday night WE ARE GOING TO BE on
PARK at W. 50th – 51st, and the Haters will be at W. 48th – 49th.

On Tuesday, March 9, The Friends of the IDF is having their annual dinner at
the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in NYC. We have learned that there will be an Arab
demonstration outside the hotel, defaming the IDF and Gabi Ashkenazi, the
Chief of the IDF General Staff.

We will be handing out information, holding signs, Israeli and American
flags, and alerting the public as to the true nature of Fatah, Hamas and the
PA. The Hamas terrorist acts against Christians and Fatah, the use of women
and children as human shields, the firing of rockets from mosques, homes,
and schools in order to deter IDF retaliation, the misinformation and hatred
being fed to Arab children in their classrooms and through PA media, will
all be detailed.

We’ll be highlighting the IDF and Israeli assistance to the Arabs in the
fields of medical care, education, and providing a standard of living for
Arab Israelis that is the highest in the Middle East. In addition, in
opposition to the recent “apartheid” claims against Israel, the Israeli
Arabs enjoy full democratic rights in the Knesset , in their religious
observances, and in the media.

A number of grass roots activist groups have come together to
counter-protest on that evening. They include Americans For a Safe
Israel/AFSI, Get Out The Facts, Human Rights Coalition Against Radical
Islam, National Council of Young Israel, Shalom International, Stand With
Us, World Committee for the Land of Israel, Zionist Organization of
America/ZOA . Individuals such as Assemblyman Dov Hikind, Lori Lowenthal
Marcus, and Andy Upton are also working with us. Others continue to join.
PLEASE BE THERE WITH US – MARCH 9, 5-7 P.M.

When I talk about our sons AND our daughters fighting for the Land of Israel, I really mean it!!
Check out this ultra-hi-tech defense operation…being run by female soldiers in the Israeli Army…

The newly named Combat Intelligence Collection Corps is comprised of 60% female soldiers, who serve as scouts or fighters and watch every move made in the field

Reprinted from Israel Defense Forces Website

A decade ago in April 2000, the body known as Field Intelligence was born. Slowly but surely it took its first baby steps in building itself up with the formation of the Field Intelligence School, the establishment of the comprehensive information gathering battalions, the growth of the body to almost a third its original size, and the development of weapons that are to this day thought of as the best in the world. Half a year ago, in September 2009, the Corps decided that it had outgrown its nest, and went off on its own, separating from the Intelligence Corps.

And thus the Field Intelligence Corps was born anew. Within half a year it has received a new name, the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps, a new unit identification tag, a new pin and soon, a new beret whose color is shrouded and mystery and a point of curiosity all throughout the IDF. Aside for all that, the changes are minimal. The Corps will have the same officers, the same soldiers, 60% of which are female.

Lt. Col. Barak Cohen, the Nitzan Battalion Commander, says that the work done here proves itself. As an example he discussed the work of the scout soldiers in ports, during which the soldiers collected information on a suspect from Nablus over the course of two weeks. Day after day, for many hours at a time, these female soldiers followed him and learned his routine; when he leaves, who he spends his time with, and where. They understood how he dressed and which foods he preferred. They also identified all his acquaintances and created profiles for each of them as well. All of this scouting work was done in the open field, across from the crowded city, and therefore the girls had to camouflage themselves with the utmost success and do their job with speed and efficiency. After two weeks of gathering intelligence which led the scouts to an understanding of the suspect’s detailed behavior, the information was passed on to the unit of soldiers who were able to arrest the suspect within 20 seconds. The operation was deemed a success, as it was done with a minimum of struggle or damage, and all this is thanks to the scouting soldiers.

At the Push of a Button

The Military Operations Room in the Kissufim Base is of the most advanced in the Corps, and constitutes the integration of intelligence gathering and attack. It contains systems for both investigation and detection. And, of course, it also has many resourceful female scouts with nerves of steel, who succeed 24 hours a day in operating the Military Operations Room, and who watch the field all day long on their screens. Practically none of these girls have ever actually been in the field, but they spend all of their time “inside”. They remember it by heart, and know every bush, tree and stone, as they know how to identify even the smallest possible nuances that change in the field.

These female scouts recently simulated a cooperative joint operation with the “See-Shoot” system, which enables the scouts in the Military Operations Room to carry out gunfire from far away. “Identify the suspects!” shouted one scout to another, and quickly the girls began to thwart an incident and pass on information about two suspects to the forces in the field. They homed in on the suspects and followed them from afar the entire way. The forces began to arrive in the field, but they didn’t arrive quickly enough. “Permission to fire” the Military Operations Room Officer told a commander, who seated herself behind the See-Shoot System. The scout who identified the suspects directed the commander to the specific point, and the suspects were shot. Although this was all just a military exercise, it simulates many activities which have been carried out successfully without injuring any IDF soldiers. The identification and direct hits succeed all because of these alert female scouting soldiers, who sit behind the screens and guide the forces in the field.

The Girls Whose Eyes Don’t Shut

Lt. Col. Eran Gabai, Commander of the Nesher Battalion, placed a challenge before his soldiers. “Before you… are binoculars and the open field. Try to find the scouting stations of the fighters who are spread out in the field.” All of the soldiers squint their eyes, search and begin to sweat a little. “I have identified!” someone yells. Everyone goes over to one small modest hill under a tree. After three knocks, an entire staff of female fighters exits a place that only seconds before looked entirely sterile. At the end of an exhaustive 8 months of training during which the girls learn to be scouting or disguised fighters, they are divided up into teams that quickly become like families.

“We eat together, drink together, laugh, sleep and speak together, and most importantly, we work together,” says Cpl. Shir Eidelman, who one minute earlier seemed to be part of a hill. She is dressed in special disguise uniform, her face is painted the colors of the sand and even her weapon is colored that way as she describes her satisfaction with her job. “Not many people are familiar with our Company and I try to speak about it with everyone. And still, everyone understands the responsibility we have.” She says that often combat soldiers will be doubtful, but end up giving her respect and recognizing the significance of what she does. “Over the past few years it has become slightly more in the norm for there to be female combat soldiers, and they see that we have high motivation to defend our country and our soldiers.”

Nobody Knows the Field Better than These Girls

While other combat brigades move every few months to new territories, the female fighters in the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps, including the scouts, always remain in the same place. This instills in them vast knowledge, expertise and recognition of the depths of the field. “Because we are professionally trained in one region, there is no one who knows it better than we do.” Shir continues, “Therefore, we direct the soldiers and help them to know the field. We precede the strike.” And the need to spend days at a time together in a concealed place created a special bond. “Because we are together all of the time, we are each others’ best friends and know everything about each other. Strong friendship like this, built on spending many days together in a small place, cannot be made outside of the army.”

Brig. Gen. Eli Pollack, the head Combat Intelligence Collection Officer, explains the renewed branding. “We decided to place the responsibility of Intelligence back in the hands of the Corps, and to busy ourselves with proper collection. We established our own Corps because collection is a professional thing which demands training and instruction, and today we are advancing the training of the fighters and the female scouts. The task of this structure is extremely important, and it gathers information in all shapes and sizes all year long.” When asked about documentation about the joint operations, he says “The Corps has placed an emphasis on bringing evidence and proof, and constitutes one of the information centers. The threats have not finished, and it is on us to be prepared and organized for anything. We watch from the fence to inside the enemies’ territory and we respond to every incident which occurs in the operational zone.”

The Israeli Army is like no other fighting force. And it’s great to see such high motivation of our children, in spite of international pressure to constantly belittle and degrade the IDF. Our sons and daughters are fighting to defend the Homeland of the Jewish people, not only a civic responsibility, but a religious one as well. It is a great “mitzvah”, a fulfillment of a biblical Torah commandment to defend the holy soil of the Land of Israel and its inhabitants.
BTW, proud to say that my son will be one of those “March 2010 recruits”…to a combat unit!!

76% of Recruits Request Combat Positions


2010 shows the highest percentage of recruits joining IDF combat units in the history of the IDF

Reprinted from Israel Defense Forces Website

The current IDF draft is characterized once more by an increase in the desire to join combat units. According to data publicized on Wednesday (Mar. 3) by the Head of the Human Resources Directorate, Maj. Gen. Avi Zamir, at a conference in honor of soldiers injured during Operation Cast Lead, 76% of the March recruits expressed the desire to be deployed in combat units, as opposed to 73% in March 2009. This is the highest percentage of all times of soldiers expressing this desire.

The great demand also presents a few challenges to the Human Resources Directorate. There is, for example, a shortage of soldiers who will serve in combat supporting positions such as cooks, technicians, mechanics, drivers and others.

“We are very satisfied with the data of the upcoming draft, which represents a peak of all times,” said Maj. Gen. Zamir at the ceremony. “This is an excellent youth, with the desire to contribute in the most significant places.”

The March draft will begin on Sunday (Mar. 7) with the new Golani Brigade recruits.

Those pesky Israeli security checkpoints again. Just think of all of those poor inconvenienced palestinians who had to wait on line to get through the checkpoint.
And all they found was 3 measly old pipe bombs…Why, I bet that guy couldn’t have killed more than 30 or 40 innocent Jews with those explosives…

Palestinian carrying 3 pipe bombs arrested near Nablus


A Kfir Brigade force uncovered three pipe bombs while searching a Palestinian man at a checkpoint east of Nablus. The devices were turned over to sappers and the Palestinian was taken into questioning with security forces.

Reprinted from YNet News Habab Greenberg

Army intelligence…often given as THE prime example of an oxymoron…I see why…
Not the brightest of lights serving in Israel’s finest…Sometimes this “Yiddishe Kopf” (Jewish head) stuff is taken a bit too far…

IDF calls off West Bank raid due to Facebook leak

The Israel Defense Forces called off a raid in Palestinian territory after a soldier posted details, including the time and place, on the social networking website Facebook, Army Radio reported on Wednesday.

Reprinted from HaAretz

The soldier – since relieved of combat duty – described in a status update how his unit planned a “clean-up” arrest raid in a West Bank area, Army Radio said.

“On Wednesday we clean up Qatanah, and on Thursday, god willing, we come home,” the soldier wrote on his Facebook page, refering to a West Bank village near Ramallah.

The soldier also disclosed the name of the combat unit, the place of the operation and the time it will take place. Facebook friends then reported him to military authorities.

The Israeli military spokesman’s office had no immediate comment.

Israel says raids in the West Bank are aimed at detaining militants suspected of planning attacks on Israelis. Palestinian officials say the incursions undermine efforts by the Western-backed Palestinian Authority to enforce law and order in the territory.

From Dubai, of all places…
Kind of ironic..Dubai/UAE STILL does not recognize the State of Israel even exists…But I SURE seem to be hearing an awful lot of Dubai stuff in the news these days…
BTW…Just one more blow to those claiming apartheid exists in Israel…Sure doesn’t look like it from this, does it?…

Israeli cricket wins Dubai prize

Israel Cricket Association cited for cross-border program bringing together Jews, Bedouins

Reprinted from YNet News Anat Shalev

The Dubai-based International Cricket Council has awarded the Israel Cricket Association with a prize for a cross-border initiative bringing together Jews and Bedouins in the southern Negev desert.

The winning project was initiated by Stanley Perlman, the Israel Cricket Association’s chairman.

The Association’s director, Naor Gudker, who is also an international umpire, told Ynet that cricket is among the top three sports in Asia and in many Arab states, including Pakistan and Dubai.

“A very high percentage of the managers, players, and coaches in global cricket are Muslims,” he said. “We do not feel that we are met with revulsion in Muslim states, such as Malaysia, where we played in 1997.”

Gudker expressed his excitement over the latest award, which joins a similar prize won by the Israeli association in 2001.

“It’s a huge achievement. It’s a project we promoted that was warmly received across the world,” he said. “This award in general and the project in particular are a good example of how cricket can bridge, bring compromise, and teach us to accept others.”

The next move is to make cricket accessible to Arab Israelis in Israel’s north, he said.

Gudker used the opportunity to criticize authorities for failing to offer cricket the support it deserves.

“Cricket is rather developed in Israel – there are 21 teams, school leagues, and youth leagues…in Beersheba, 2,000 kids are involved in projects related to the sports. Yet nonetheless, the State is unwilling to build a central cricket stadium and upgrade the sports to an international level,” he said.

Great for Israel’s economy…VERY bad for MY waistline!!
I guess it will be even easier to grab some of that yummy Ben and Jerry’s ice cream now…Just when I was achieving reasonable success fighting off the urge for that delish designer frozen yogurt stuff…

Ben & Jerry’s to open new factory in Beer Tuvia

Ice-cream giant to invest NIS 8 million in new production facility that will employ dozens of workers, comply with international exporting standards. Sixteen retail stores, kiosks throughout country also slated to open in near future

Reprinted from YNet News Navit Zomer

Ben & Jerry’s ice-cream company will open a new factory in the Beer Tuvia area in southern Israel, near Kiryat Malachi, in a facility that up until recently served as a soup factory and logistic center for food manufacturer Vita Pri Hagalil.

Some NIS 8 million (appoximately $2 million) will be invested in the new facility, which will employ dozens of workers, and comply with standards set by the global Ben & Jerry’s corporation as well as the European markets and US food authorities.

The company’s previous factory in Yavne was shut down after it did not hold up to the exporting standards set by the ice-cream giant.

The new plant will produce Ben & Jerry’s ice-creams as well as baked frozen items that are marketed in Israel under the brand name “Rosie’s” and include pancakes, blintzes, bagels and more. In addition, the company will open a new retail store in the central city of Modiin.

According to Ben & Jerry’s General-Manger Avi Zinger, another retail store is slated to open next month at the new Cinema City in Rishon Lezion, in addition to the one already operating in Glilot.

The company is currently holding negotiations for opening another store in Jerusalem as well. Ben & Jerry’s annual turnover in Israel is estimated at some NIS 30 million (appox. $8 million).

Along with the expansion of production facilities, Ben & Jerry’s is also planning on expanding to 16 ice-cream parlors and selling kiosks. According to Zinger, “Ice-cream parlors have regained momentum in recent years, and we have also returned to full activity.

“Ben & Jerry’s opened its first store in Israel in 1988 and operated 16 branches at its peak. In 2001 it began to close down its stores dew to losses suffered with the break of the intifada and the era of increased terror attacks,” Zinger said.