This is the Forward’s coverage of the Israel Defense Forces, the combined military forces of Israel.
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Fast Forward Israeli General Faces Double Rape Charge
JERUSALEM — An Israeli general was indicted in the rape and sexual assault of two female subordinates four months after his promotion to a prominent post was canceled over the accusations. Brig.-Gen. Ofek Buchris, 47, was indicted Thursday by the Military Advocate General for the sexual offenses allegedly committed between 2010 and 2012. In March,…
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Fast Forward Israel Army Rabbi Calls Gays ‘Perverts’ — Says No Need To Prevent Civilian Deaths
A rabbi who heads a religious Zionist pre-military yeshiva in the West Bank has come under criticism for calling homosexuals “perverts” and claiming the Israeli army is promoting a socially liberal agenda. Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, who runs the Bnei David academy in the Eli settlement, also said last week at a conference — a video…
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News ‘Always Smiling’ and Dedicated to Israel, Soldier From New Jersey Killed in Grenade Blast
Sgt. Shlomo Rindenow, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen from New Jersey killed in a grenade explosion in the Golan Heights on Sunday, was a “wonderful, funny, sweet kid who was always smiling,” according to a family friend. David Curwin, who lives in Efrat, said that Rindenow “was very proud that he came back here to serve in…
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Fast Forward Lone Soldier From New Jersey Killed in Israel Grenade Blast
JERUSALEM — An American from New Jersey serving in the Israeli military was killed along with another IDF soldier when a grenade one of the soldiers was carrying exploded. The American-born lone soldier killed in the Sunday morning accident has been namedby the IDF as Sgt. Shlomo Rindenow, 20, a lone soldier from New Jersey who…
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Opinion Can You Spew Sexism and Homophobia and Still Be Rabbi for ‘Most Moral Army in the World’?
Another sexism scandal involving a male authority figure erupted in Israel on Monday, when it emerged that the army’s choice of new spiritual leader had previously implied that it was permissible for IDF soldiers to rape non-Jewish women during wartime. Rabbi Col. Eyal Karim is on his second round of scrutiny for this suggestion, which…
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Fast Forward Trump Pledged Support to Friends of the IDF — Someone Else Paid
WASHINGTON — Someone else paid Donald Trump’s pledged contribution to the Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, according to the Washington Post. The Post reported Thursday that Trump promised the group a donation in 2007. FIDF spokesman Ryan Greiss told the newspaper that someone else made good on the pledge. Greiss would not identify the…
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Israel News Israel Demands Names of Soldiers Who Blew Whistle on Gaza ‘War Crimes’ to Breaking the Silence
Israel is trying to force a leading anti-occupation NGO to reveal the identities of the soldiers who testified to it about alleged military misconduct during the 2014 Gaza war — a move that the group says will effectively put it out of business. Government lawyers told a May 22 hearing that they need to question…
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The Schmooze She Knows How To Look Gorgeous — Using Israeli Army Face Paint for Makeup
(JTA) — You may think camouflage face paint is about blending in. But done right, it can be the key to that standout military look you crave. Just ask American Israel Defense Forces soldier Hannah Laskow Defore. In a sendup of online makeup tutorials, the 19 year-old Los Angeles native, last week posted a Facebook…
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Fast Forward Why some Satmar Hasidic leaders endorsed Zohran Mamdani as mayor, stunning many Jewish voters
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News How Mamdani became New York’s next mayor, with Jews divided between fierce opposition and fiery support
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Opinion I’m an Israeli who lives in New York. Here’s why I’m voting for Mamdani
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Culture Mamdani quoted Eugene Debs in his victory speech — there’s a long Jewish history there
In Case You Missed It
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Opinion Why a concert hall should be the last place for a protest — particularly an antisemitic one like this
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Looking Forward What Hailey Bieber smoothies and instant matzo ball soup reveal about American Jewish taste
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Culture Mamdani’s first statement on antisemitism as mayor-elect got some weird pushback
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Film & TV On the trail of a priceless dove, a group of Palestinians and Israelis find that peace is for the birds
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