Veterans’ Bill Passes Despite Challenges From Left
The Cabinet Legislation Committee approved a bill proposed by Likud Beiteinu MK Yariv Levin to provide benefits to veteran IDF soldiers, national service volunteers, and families of fallen soldiers. A similar law was revoked in the 1970s after it was seen as discriminatory towards Arab citizens. The new law states that benefits offered “will not […]
IDF Amputee Still Determined to Serve
IDF Captain Ziv Shilon was honored at a recent Friends of the Israel Defense Force dinner in New York. Two months later, he returned to the US at the invitation of two FIDF supporters. Shilon lost his left hand and the use of his right hand in Gaza in October of 2012. Now Morris Silverman […]
Israel Leads World in Drone Exports
Israel has become the world’s largest exporter of unmanned aerial vehicles, according to a leading industry consultant firm, reaching $4.62 billion in sales in the past eight years. This includes the sale of products, services and licenses which allow other countries to produce their own drones. These sales make up nearly 10% of the country’s […]
Knesset Votes For Anti-Slander Bill
The Knesset voted in favour of a bill put forth by MKs Yoni Chetboun (Bayit Yehudi), Yariv Levin (Likud Beytenu), and Nachman Shai (Labor) to prohibit the slander of IDF soldiers. This was the initial reading. The bill is a response to the libelous documentary Jenin, Jenin, and is named after it. In the film, […]
Premilitary Academies Produce Twice As Many Officers
Israel’s premilitary “Mechina” program graduates integrate and advance more successfully in the army than does the general population, according to figures released in honour of “Mechina Day.” The percentage of graduates that enlist in combat units is nearly twice that of the general population: 79.5% instead of 44% of other recruits. Twice as many graduates […]
IDF Holds First Krav Maga Competition for Elite Units
The IDF recently hosted its first Krav Maga competition between representatives of elite units. Sixteen units competed, each sending three competitors — one for each weight class. The Maglan unit took top honours, with Paratrooper Brigade’s Duvdevan unit and Lotar counterterrorism instruction unit close behind. Reservists from the IDF’s Combat Fitness Division served as guest […]
Humanizing the IDF Experience for US Tourists
Private counter-terrorism training centre Caliber3 offers tourists an opportunity to experience a few hours in the life of an IDF commando. Steve Gar, an instructor at Caliber3, takes his visitors through a gruelling 2-hour training session, then begins to tell them stories about himself and other soldiers. His goal: to humanize Israeli soldiers in their […]
Women Empowering Women: IDF Wives Hold Workshops for Other IDF Wives
Military life creates challenges in the lives of combat officers’ families, and the IDF’s Manpower Directorate has adopted the suggestion of two officials’ wives to offer workshops to support them. Revital Gantz, wife of IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz, and Ruth Golan, wife of GOC Northern Command Maj. Gen. Yair Golan, proposed […]
Drumming Up Support for Lone Soldiers
Idan Ianovici, new director of the Lone Soldier Center in memory of Michael Levin, spent 15 days touring the US, fundraising for the organisation. The center provides a home base for soldiers serving in the IDF who do not have homes to return to — either because they are immigrants who came without their families […]