Gone Green

Nitzan Battalion. IDF Combat Field Intelligence Corps.

משרד המשפטים

The Israel Ministry of Justice has just come out with one of the most significant public service announcement ads that has likely ever been released by any government ministry. This is exactly what we've been waiting for. All credit to the government for when they get it right, and this time they did.

Snowed in

Winter in our nation's capital. 

1/21/14

The White House. Washington D.C. 

No Mas

Maybe I should have seen this coming. I lambaste the settlers quite often, and rightfully so. They're the ones chiefly responsible for imposing their messianic visions on the rest of us, and for destroying this country from the inside after all. But sometimes, even they still manage to shock me in ways that I wouldn't believe them to be capable of, which is saying a lot.

Take for example, Orit Arfa, an American-Israeli settler who made heads roll just last month with her beyond insane remake of Miley Cyrus' anthem of sorts 'We Can't Stop', attempting to justify Jewish biblical claims to Judea and Samaria, or to the rest of us, the West Bank. Well, unfortunately, she's back at it again, and not surprisingly it's another epic train wreck. This time to coincide with the passing of Ariel Sharon, she decides to cry a river over the 2005 disengagement and removal of settlers from Gaza and small parts of the West Bank. Because, of course, continual occupation of the Palestinian territories is a great plan for the future of Israel, and using biblical reasons to justify it makes perfect sense in modern political discourse.

I wish I could say this is a joke. If there is anything positive to take from all of this though, at least it's garnered more dislikes than likes on YouTube. That's just a start hopefully.

The Olympic Spirit

"Putin says gay people welcome at upcoming Winter Olympics, but they must 'leave children in peace'"

With the one and only Steven Seagal.

LDN

This works.

The Path of Most Resistance

It's long been said that in Israel undertaking military service is the supreme path towards integrating into society. Historically there have always been some elements of truth to this. The army has certainly done its best in trying to bring new immigrants and soldiers from minority groups, such as Ethiopians, Druzim and Bedouins into a position to succeed once they finish their service. The existence of specific training bases like Michve Alon are a testament to this as well. However, as it turns out, in today's Israel, acceptance into wider Israeli society is not so much of a given anymore, if it ever even was to begin with for some.

Here is an interesting look at a new emerging perspective, courtesy of 972 Magazine and Televisia Chevratit.

It's a party

Anti-Americanism at its finest.

Just another day in Pakistan. Nadeem Paracha.

Audere est Facere

I don't know if Tim Sherwood will be the man to lead our Spurs back to glory and towards the top of the Premier League table and into the Champions League, but I have to say, so far it's been quite the pleasure to watch. Only a couple of months ago it felt like we'd never see attacking football being played again. That's how far things had regressed under AVB's guidance. At the very least, Sherwood's brought back some flair with his propensity to go on the attack, and find the back of the net. And not surprisingly, the players are responding. Adebayor is looking rejuvenated and playing a 4-4-2 seems to be paying off for now.

I, for one, don't entirely fault him for giving Bentaleb the start against Arsenal either. It's true that Capoue might have been the safer bet, especially given that he's a better proven defender, but nonetheless, I think Bentaleb potentially has a bright future. And since it's a new year, I can't not be optimistic. After all, "To Dare Is to Do".

1929

"On hearing screams in a room, I went up a sort of tunnel passage and saw an Arab in the act of cutting off a child's head with a sword. He had already hit him and was having another cut, but on seeing me he tried to aim the stroke at me, but missed; he was practically on the muzzle of my rifle. I shot him low in the groin. Behind him was a Jewish woman smothered in blood with a man I recognized as a[n Arab] police constable named Issa Sheriff from Jaffa. He was standing over the woman with a dagger in his hand. He saw me and bolted into a room close by and tried to shut me out-shouting in Arabic, "Your Honor, I am a policeman." ... I got into the room and shot him"

- British Superindendent Raymond Cafferata of the Palestine Police Force on the 1929 Hebron Massacre. Taken from Tom Segev's One Palestine, Complete.

Fundamental Elemental

While I always take these things with a grain of salt, this recent feature on the official IDF blog particularly stood out as one of the more intriguing posts I've seen lately. Especially since it reflects on the increasing diversity of the IDF and some of the stories behind a few of the many women in its ranks who often get overlooked.

1. Lt. Shelly Markheva, IDF Intelligence Commander

Shelly Marhevka is an IDF intelligence commander who keeps watch over Israel’s southern border. In the event of a terrorist infiltration, Shelly and her soldiers are those responsible for detecting and thwarting an attack. 

2. Cpl. Dylan Ostrin, Combat Engineering Corps Explosives Expert

Corporal Dylan Ostrin made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) from the US at the age of seven with her family. Today, Cpl. Ostrin is an explosives instructor in the Combat Engineering Corps. She teaches all things explosive: from how to handle the explosives themselves to utilizing them in operations, such as gaining access to buildings. She has already begun receiving job offers to work on bomb squads and similar security-related teams both in Israel and abroad.

3. Lt. Amit Danon, Gymnastics Champion & Combat Platoon Commander

Lt. Amit Danon was the Israeli national champion in rhythmic gymnastics when she enlisted in the IDF. After embarking on her path as a soldier, she decided to leave her previous life behind and became a combat officer in the mixed-gender Caracal Battalion. Lt. Danon now leads other soldiers as platoon commander.

4. Sgt. Sarit Petersen, Nahal Infantry Brigade Shooting Instructor

Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, Sgt. Petersen currently serves as a shooting instructor in the Nahal Infantry Brigade. The soldiers she commands range from brand new to advanced; the advanced soldiers are part of the reconnaissance brigade. As a shooting instructor, Sgt. Petersen is responsible for teaching a soldier about weapons and how to use them.

5. First Sgt. Monaliza Abdo, Arab-Israeli Combat Soldier

First Sgt. Monaliza Abdo is an Arab-Israeli woman who proudly served her country as a combat soldier. She wasn’t required to enlist, but her determination to protect Israel motivated her to volunteer. As a fighter on Israel’s southern border, she rose through the ranks to become a commander, teaching soldiers how to combat terrorism and other threats. Just a few weeks ago, she honorably completed three years of service – one more than the required number for Israeli women.

6. Pvt. Or Meidan, Iron Dome Missile Defense System Operator

Or Meidan moved from Uganda to Israel as a teenager. During Operation Pillar of Defense in November 2012, the area around her kibbutz was pounded by missiles from Gaza. Today, she serves as an operator in the Iron Dome missile defense system.

7. Sgt. Noa Goren, Commander Working With New Immigrants

Sgt. Noa Goren serves as a commander in the IDF unit responsible for absorbing new immigrant soldiers. “What can unify a squad that is mixed with French, Brazilians, Italians and Australians, if not learning the Hebrew language and sharing one goal?” Noa asks . “I need to consider that these new immigrants are arriving frightened, and it is my responsibility to know where to start and how to begin working with them.”

8. Lt. Col. Dr. Hadar Marom, Director of Family Medicine, IDF Medical Corps, and Doctor, IDF Delegation to the Philippines

Lt. Col. Dr. Hadar Marom wanted to be a doctor ever since she was a child. This year, she served on the IDF team that saved lives in the Philippines after a devastating typhoon hit the country. “I’m proud to be part of the delegation, and proud of the work that we’re doing,” she says. “I feel satisfied that we managed to help people in their hour of need.”

 (Via IDF Blog)

To dare is to do

In honor of today's match up against United at Old Traffod, I felt like there was no better way to kick off the new year than with a little hometown Spurs love.