Israel: 'A Soldier's Mother,' on Iran, and Defining 'Normal'

Click on the image for a full-sized, readable photo (Courtesy: Israel Homefront Command)

A Soldier's Mother has a painfully poignant entry about what the average Israeli must face daily, and, especially in recent days over the prospect of a missile war with Iran, and other neighboring countries and entities:

"They sent us something that is designed to be attached, hung, or using the magnet conveniently located on the back, stuck to the refrigerator door. The slogan says, “To be protected exactly in time.” (Trust me, it sounds better in Hebrew).

"The rest of the hand-out features a map of Israel in various colors. To the right of the map, the question: “How much time do we have to get to a protected area?”

"Below the question, there’s a legend, divided into two parts. The top part covers the bulk of Israel from the north Isra(bordering Lebanon and Syria), the instructions say to enter immediately. The next area, just to the south and west of these areas shows that you have 30 seconds. From there, down through the rest of the country, you have anywhere from 60 seconds to 3 minutes. To comfort those who know us personally, we are in the 3 minute zone, aren’t we lucky?"

Read the rest.

Day By Day at an Israeli Army Checkpoint

Colleague Joel Leyden writes:

"A grey, blustery sand storm rolls fiercely into Kalandia. The sky turns a dark brown over this Israeli checkpoint bordering Jerusalem and Rahmallah. The dust burns your eyes as you focus on a Palestinian family approaching the cement block which serves as your desk. They wear red and white scarves over their faces, protection from the freezing, relentless winds. They reach for their identity cards, but you know that it could be a gun or a knife. You are half Mr. Nice Guy and half combat soldier. You must be able to go from a warm smile to loading your M-16 in half a second. You are an IDF volunteer who the Palestinians and Israeli soldiers refer to as a Humanitarian Officer."

More posts about the IDF here.

BREAKING: Feds Drop AIPAC Spy Case

From the JTA:

Government moves to dismiss AIPAC case

May 1, 2009

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- Prosecutors asked a judge to drop charges against two ex-AIPAC staffers accused of passing along classified information.

In a statement Friday, a spokesman for the U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia said restrictions on the government's case imposed by Judge T.S. Ellis III made conviction unlikely.

"Given the diminished likelihood the government will prevail at trial under the additional intent requirements imposed by the court and the inevitable disclosure of classified information that would occur at any trial in this matter, we have asked the court to dismiss the indictment," Peter Carr said.

The motion all but guarantees a dismissal when Ellis convenes a hearing, likely within days.

OMG - This Is So True About The Israel Army! (No Kidding - Really...)

Pals of yours truly, in one of my last IDF reserve duty maneuvers deep (and I mean no kiddin' deep) in the heart of the Negev Desert. (Photo: Dave Bender)

A wonderful item showing the reality of life in Israel and the Israeli Army, behind the headlines:

"This picture really doesn't have a lot to do with Independence day, this is just so significant a part of the military lore that every soldier (or ex-soldier) feels his/her heart warming up at the sight of this scene, as inevitable as it is unbelievable. To explain: imagine that your unit is going through an action-packed week or two of training on one of the most deity-forsaken pieces of real estate somewhere in the middle of nowhere. You breath dust, sleep in dust and eat dust, mixed with some barely bearable elements of combat rations and machine oil. Black coffee (with some dust) is the best you are able to get in the way of delicacies. The water you drink from twenty liter plastic jerrycans is warm and somehow contains more dust than water. You run, you schlep heavy hardware built mostly of sharp corners, you crawl, you shoot and sometimes (by mistake) get shot upon. You are not getting enough sleep, enough rest and you wonder when the heck it will come to an end. And then, when your unit commander declares a half an hour break and you turn your back to your tank or your APC to take a look at some non-military part of the environment, what you suddenly behold is a miracle. In the middle of nowhere, access to which is prohibited to civilians due to this nowhere being a fire zone, besides the said nowhere being totally inaccessible physically to any vehicle less robust than an APC, you see a dilapidated van, full of things you will normally pass on the street without giving them a second glance but here, in the... you know, being more attractive, seductive and debilitating then any wonder of paradise."
Read the rest.

More, maybe, all too personal accounts of IDF reserve duty, are here.

(H-T: Snoopy The Goon)

Terrorists + Israeli 'Southpark' + 'Guitar Hero' = Zany Hijinks!

NSFW (lot's 'o' cussin')


...previously on "Ahmed & Salim"

(H-T: Islam in Action)

Israel: A Million Stars (video)

On July 24, 2006 Lt. Tom Farkash, 23, was killed along with another pilot when their Apache helicopter crashed en route to a mission across the Lebanese border during clashes with Hezbollah terrorists. Tom was a second generation pilot. Ever since he was a child he'd looked forward to the day when he could join the Israeli Air Force like his father.

The same evening Tom's family received word of his death, his sister Amit, along with a friend, composed a song entitled "A Million Stars" in his honor. It is her farewell song to him.

A Million Stars

You wanted to fly, you wished to go further
With half a smile, you rose higher
A million stars in the sky
Catch and show your colors Give me just one second more to say goodbye to you

You wanted to fly, you went much too far
In all this insanity, there is no one left to care for me
A million stars in the sky Catch and show your colors I wanted just a second more to say goodbye to you

I wanted to sing
You picked up a guitar
And now an angel is playing for me
So with you I am singing
A million stars in the sky
Catch and show your colors
I wanted to sing to you, to bid you a farewell
I wanted a single second more to say goodbye to you
Give me just one second more to say goodbye to you – bye Tom

Translated by Avi Tsur

More on Israel Memorial Day here.

(H-T: Ruminations)

Crucial Reading, Viewing and Hearing About Israel

(Jewlicious)

Daniel Gordis writes:

...to all those who are wringing their hands about Israeli intransigence and inflexibility, on this eve of Israeli Independence Day, a brief word about nations, and states, and purpose. For without understanding purpose, there's no understanding Israel.

Read the rest.

Watch IDF soldiers speak out about their experiences here.

And then, go over to Judy Lash Balint, who shares her insightful, moving POV on Memorial Day in Israel.

Here are several original items I've reported over the years about life in the Israel Defense Forces, and living with terrorism in Israel:

Inside the IDF: A Soldier's Story

Hear: Surviving a Suicide Bombing

Hear: Novelist Naomi Ragen: Writing in the Shadow of Terror

Hear: The mother of slain IDF soldier Nachson Waxman speaks out

Go here for more on my reporting, and how you can help keep it going.

And tomorrow:

On Wednesday, April 29 at 10:50 p.m. Israel time (3:50 p.m. EST, 2:50 p.m. CST, 12:50 p.m. PST), communities around the world will join together to sing Israel's national anthem Hatikva in honor of the 61st birthday of the State of Israel.

Live Hatikva will be broadcast around America and on the Internet streaming live at www.jltv.tv.

Dave Bender: Journalist Seeking Stories, Clients

I am a veteran radio and television broadcaster, and a professional, independent journalist equipped and ready to work in the field, on-site and on-line.

I'm interested in continuing in multimedia journalism and reporting in the US, Israel and elsewhere abroad.

Here are a few samples of original coverage about the Israel Defense Forces, living with terrorism, and life in Israel:

Inside the IDF: A Soldier's Story

Hear: Surviving a Suicide Bombing

Hear: Novelist Naomi Ragen: Writing in the Shadow of Terror

Hear: The mother of slain IDF soldier Nachson Waxman speaks out

I have a rich and varied background in all aspects of radio and audio production, as well as reporting and producing for tv, newspapers and magazines for a host of clients, both in the United States and abroad.

Links to more audio airchecks and published content are available along the left side of this page.

Contact me for more details, my resume' and recommendations at:
davebrianbender@gmail.com
(US) 404-695-7246
MSN Messenger: dave_bender_3@hotmail.com
Skype: davebendertriplets

Israel: Jews, Arabs Brawl Over Full-Pad Football (Video)

...and that's a good thing.

While the level of play, gear and participation might not win them any agents proffering pro slots, the games the thing.

From Israel21c:

"For the past two years, the IFL - the Israel Football League - has been playing full-pad American style football. In this game, the Jerusalem Lions and the Haifa Underdogs fight a tight battle..."

Earlier gridiron, er, posts are here (hey -- I made a funny! aw geez', but I just slay me sometimes, I really do...)

(H-T: Israel21c)

The Holocaust & Israel at 61 (photo)

Image: Karen Gillerman Harel

Remember.org is hosting a 360% virtual tour of Auschwitz sites.

More than 150 Holocaust-related sites here.