Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of the Israel Defense Forces, the combined military forces of Israel.
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Fast Forward Israeli Army Apologizes for Book Saying Non-Jews Aren’t Equal to Jews
The Israel Defense Forces has apologized for publishing a book of religious regulations that states non-Jews do not have equal rights in Israel. The IDF issued the apology on Thursday in a letter to MK Zahava Gal-On (Meretz), and said it had halted distribution of the book, which claims that “the concept that non-Jews and…
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Opinion Lord of the Land: Israel’s New Jewish Identity Czar
Israel’s ministry of religious services, headed by economics minister Naftali Bennett of the Jewish Home party, has created a new Jewish Identity Administration in an “effort to increase national awareness of Jewish identity,” says a report in Yeshiva World News. Haaretz says its job is to “instill Jewish values” in the general public. The administration…
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Fast Forward IDF Stung by Billion Dollar Budget Cuts, But Bonus Looms on Horizon
It’s best to take with a grain of salt the complaints that will be voiced in the near future by the General Staff about the implications of the cuts included in the state budget passed this week. True, in the years ahead, the Israel Defense Forces will be required to dismiss 4,000 career soldiers (while…
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Life Happy Mother’s Day To My Israeli Mom
Dear Mom, I will never forget the day I joined the Israel Defense Forces. It was five years ago, and I remember 18-year-old me, kissing you and Dad goodbye and boarding the bus that would take me to a month-long boot camp. You hugged me close and shed a tear, and I remember thinking you…
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Fast Forward Israel To Stop Using White Phosphorous in Battle
Israel said on Friday it was phasing out white phosphorus smokescreen munitions whose use during its 2008-2009 offensive in the heavily populated Gaza Strip drew war crimes allegations. Announcing the plan, the Israeli military did not say whether it would also review its use of weaponised white phosphorus, which is designed to incinerate enemy positions….
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Opinion Yesh Atid’s Ofer Shelah on War, Grief and Promise
It’s been a while since I’ve had the weekly privilege of translating and editing Ofer Shelah. Some years back he was the Forward’s Israeli commentator as well as a military and sports correspondent for Maariv. Now he’s Yesh Atid’s Knesset faction chairman. Today, marking Soldiers’ Memorial Day in Israel, he posted these thoughts on his…
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Israel News 92Y Scraps Appearance by Roger Waters, Anti-Israel Pink Floyd Frontman
A Manhattan cultural center has canceled an event with rock star — and outspoken Israel critic — Roger Waters. Waters was due to speak about his 45-year career as a solo musician and a key member of the British rock group Pink Floyd at 92Y on April 30. But “An Evening with Roger Waters” —…
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Fast Forward 25 Illegal Jewish Settlements in Occupied West Bank Get Israel Army Protection
One quarter of all illegal West Bank outposts are regularly guarded by Israel Defense Forces soldiers. These 25 unauthorized outposts are guarded by a special force tasked with “community protection.” Soldiers from the force typically spend a full week at a time guarding and protecting the outpost where they are stationed. Every professional army officer…
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