RUTHFULLY YOURS

http://www.frontpagemag.com/2015/joseph-puder/a-conversation-with-an-idf-soldier/

A Conversation with an IDF Soldier

The Goldstone Report, and a generally biased press aside, Israel has, by all standards, the most humane army the world has ever known.  What other army makes calls, sends e-mails and text messages, and drops flyers to warn civilians to evacuate when launching a counter-attack?

Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of British forces in Afghanistan said the following about the Israel Defense Forces (I.D.F.:” Although not quite a lone voice, mine was certainly a very lonely voice among the many dozens of speeches endorsing the Goldstone Report and repudiating Israel that were made over the two days of the UN Human Rights Council hearing after Operation Cast Lead. This is what I said to the Council: “During its operation in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.”

This reporter caught up with Lieutenant Elad in Philadelphia.  Elad, a handsome 27-year old, has recently completed his military service, and is on a tour of Northeastern United States sponsored by Stand With Us, an Israel Education and Advocacy organization operating worldwide.

Elad articulated the attitudes and opinions regarding Israel he has found on campuses: “I got to hear a wide variety of opinions, thoughts, and perspectives about Israel.  The pro -Israel students, are fighting the difficult war against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement on campus. Young men and women who could have four calm years of college or university, partying and having fun,  decided instead to dedicate their time and effort to defend the state of Israel.  Standing up for the Jewish nation, defending values such as minority rights, LGTB groups, women rights, and more, is not a simple task for these enthusiasts.  I also encountered strong anti-Israel voices.  Student groups calling themselves  ”pro- Palestinian” when in fact, all they care about is bashing the state of Israel. These groups are full of hate and anger, instead of seeking dialogue and peace.  These students were not interested in a productive dialogue; instead, they were interested in shouting out their message.  I came here with a mission to educate about Israel and to have a dialogue, which in my mind is the only way that our region will realize peace.  It was dismaying to discover that some of the worst anti-Israel activists that we faced were Jewish and Israeli.”

Joseph Puder (JP): As an officer in the COGAT (Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories) unit what did you learn about the Palestinian in your daily dealings? What was the nature of your job?

Elad (E): COGAT is a very interesting yet unheard of unit. This military unit runs under the basic assumption that Israel’s humanitarian effort will lead and assist national security. COGAT is an integral part of the I.D.F., in charge of coordinating between the Israeli and Palestinian sides in matters of security, civil issues, humanitarian issues, health, commerce, education and more. We would sit together, Israelis and Palestinians, working together to figure out solutions for the problems at hand.

One of my positions was in the complex city of Hebron- a microcosm of the whole conflict.  Hebron is a city holy to both Jews and Muslims.  Situated in the middle of the city is the Cave of the Patriarchs, which according to both Muslim and Jewish scriptures contain the tombs of Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Sarah, and Leah.  COGAT, sits in the middle of this delicate situation, assuring freedom of religion for all religions, and full equality between the “opposing” sides.

My other position was in the Gaza branch of the unit. We were directly in charge of the coordination of goods (building material, medicine, food and educational equipment) donated by the world and the state of Israel, entering the Hamas controlled Gaza strip. It was very sad to realize that Hamas, a terror group, is confiscating the goods, and reselling it to their own people on the black market. Hamas would also take the good grade building materials and use it for building terror tunnels, while letting the people of Gaza use the poor grade building materials for housing, schools and hospitals.

JP: With your experience on U.S. campuses, how would you react to the BDS campaigns, and what counter-measures would you propose against the BDS movement?

E: In the past few years, we have witnessed the BDS movement slowly but fiercely bite into the once peaceful academic facilities – from small colleges, to major Ivy League universities. These well-funded, well-organized groups have a very clear goals and targets. They arrive on campus, spread their nets of lies, and poison the minds of the “uneducated” majority of students who know little if anything about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

There are a lot of possibilities and ways to approach this problem.  When addressing an issue, I like to start from the beginning – education. Educating about Israel is the first step into the hearts and minds of the uneducated.  Moving on, I believe that a much more organized front should be established.  While I was on the tour, I encountered many organizations, both Jewish and Israeli who put great efforts and time in defending the state of Israel.  In my opinion, the problem could be summarized as “too many cooks in the kitchen…”  Synergy is something that must be created when facing this demonic problem called the BDS.  Organizations must partner, in a much better way than today and work together in common cause.

As I said before, it is sad to see Jews or Israelis speaking against the only home of the Jewish people. I think that the communities should get more involved, more educated.  I’ll end on a brighter note, I hope that one day, this tour (Israeli Soldiers Stories) will be canceled, because academic facilities will be cleansed  of hatred and demonizing agents, and that people will know the truth about Israel.  But, I’m also a realistic person so I will keep doing what I know best. I will keep defending the state of Israel in any way that I can – in uniform or with words.

JP: Tell our readers about the Israel you grew up in, and your vision of the world around you (The Middle East)?

E:  In 1986, my dad would visit the West Bank city of Qalqilia freely to buy oranges for juice for his pregnant wife, my mom. The relations with the Arab neighbors were good and beneficial for both sides. Commerce, trade and prosperity ruled the land.  In 1987, everything changed when the Palestinian uprising called the “Intifada” broke out, and terror began. The once friendly territories were now hostile. The booming Israeli hi-tech 90’s brought us to sunny California.  We would see the horrific terror attacks that followed the Oslo accords; shredding Israeli buses, blown up cafes and streets.  I remember the feelings of hope and a peaceful future disappearing and being replaced by fear.

When we returned to Israel, my family and I quickly adjusted to life in Israel.  We moved from the peaceful community in the Silicon Valley, to having to think twice before going to a shopping mall, or looking around your seat for suspicious objects when we sat in cafes and restaurants.  Fortunately, since Israel built the security fence, these horrific attacks decreased by almost 100%, allowing us, the people of Israel to live a normal life.

The Arab spring, civil wars, and radical Islam taking over the region is a frightening prospect. The mayhem in the Middle East, is, unfortunately reinforcing my pessimistic view that peace is not behind the corner.