BACK TO THE IDF

The dynamics of “grandma’s army” is continuing to thrive, although I have been caught up in other matters in the last few weeks.

Last Wednesday another granddaughter joined the Israeli forces - as an army instructor. The  job of army instructors is to train soldiers on every piece of equipment used in army warfare. For example: machine guns, sniper guns, armoured vehicles, mines, every type of missile ,etc. I understand that each instructor is trained to teach a specific type of equipment, both theoretically and in the field. Adi is only 19 years old and some of the soldiers she will be teaching (from the Reserves) will be old enough to be her father. She is at present going through basic training and will then begin to learn  her particular field of instruction.

 Adi still has one brother (Memi) in the army, who is now in the process of becoming an officer. He has been serving in the same special unit for one-and-a-half years and still has quite a long way to go. After completing the officer’s course he will be one of two commanders in his original commando unit.

My triplet grandsons deferred their army service in order to strengthen their religious faith. The first of the triplets to join the IDF, Ohad,  began his service at the beginning of the week. He will eventually be joining  a special commando anti-terrorist unit in November (following in the footsteps of his cousin, Memi). Meanwhile, in order to start his army service in the August call-up, he will be taking a three to four month army medic course.  

When asked what is the difference between the Israeli army and other armies, Ohad answered that the IDF is primarily an army of the People. He added that  what makes it so unique is that humanitarian values are no less instilled in the army trainees than warfare strategies. What other army has given so much humanitarian aid to their enemies?

The PA (Palestinian Authority) is a sworn enemy of Israel, although considered “mild” compared to Hamas, etc. The head of the PA, Mahmoud Abbas, not only offers terrorists who brutally attack Israeli citizens (including women and children), monetary awards, but they are crowned as heroes and martyrs.

The Sheba Medical Center, in Tel-Aviv, has treated tens of thousands of “Palestinians” from Gaza, Judea/Samaria. In at least 400 cases - without emergency treatment from Sheba’s medical staff - people of all ages from the PA would have died. Within Sheba’s Safra Children’s Hospital, 40% of the patients in the various wards are from the Palestinian Authority! Not only the patients, but family members who accompany them are fed and provided with basic services such as accommodation, laundry, etc. Soldiers from the IDF are encouraged to come and visit the children and hand out sweets and other goodies, especially during the Festivals.

Another sworn enemy of  Israel, Syria, has taken part  in all the wars launched against Israel. 

Since 2013, the Israeli military has been providing life-saving assistance to Syrians wounded over  the course of  the war. The humanitarian operation is carried out by the IDF Bashan Division, also charged with securing the Golan border with Syria. The division has coordinated the treatment of 4,000 wounded Syrians (including soldiers) in Israeli hospitals to date, as well as aid shipments.

Another IDF operation has been providing humanitarian assistance to Syrians in the Golan Heights as part of Operation “Good Neighbour”, which was launched two years ago. The Israeli military has provided, among other things, over 1,524 tons of food, 250 tons of clothes, almost a million litres of fuel, 21 generators, and 25,000 items of medical equipment and medicine.

Since Jordan sealed its frontier with Syria last month, refugees near the Golan Heights have become completely reliant on aid from Israel. Apart from the IDF, over the past week, hundreds of aid and care packages were donated by residents of the Golan Heights. 

Every soldier you speak to will tell you that apart from serving their country, above all they are defending their homes. Which proves Ohad’s point – that the IDF is  truly an army of the People.