I'm an Israeli soldier. AMA

babe it's been too long

Not sure how to respond erm

Mustafa x Anonymous?

Do Israel have any future plans to build on the temple mount? (Bit of a conspiracy question but why not? )

What if you just don't want to, and don't really have a reason?

Do you think Israel will still need conscription in the future as its relations with its neighbours continue to improve (Turkey/Saudi/etc)?

Most Jews agree that they should not enter the Temple Mount as it is too sacred, so any construction there would be largely opposed by Jews and Muslims. The rumours that flared up a while ago were baseless and only served to upset Palestinians so they'd attack Israelis.

If you just really didn't want to, that would count as pacifism or reluctance to serve? People are typically assessed on a case-by-case basis and will either be exempt or put in a very plain role that suits them. I am pretty sure poor motivation will count as a medical reason too

I think as our major neighbours (Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi) become closer with the West there will be less demand for ground troops produced by conscription as a conventional war becomes less likely. Despite this, increasing attacks by Palestinians maintain the need for a large army/police to ensure security. I think it will stay around for many more years as it is a valuable part of our society

@AlexanderHam I will do yours in the morning! It is 3am here and I am on duty soon!

I think as our major neighbours (Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi) become closer with the West there will be less demand for ground troops produced by conscription as a conventional war becomes less likely.

Of course they don't. That's a bigoted conspiracy theory pushed by Islamic fanatics who know that such claims are likely to stir up hatred against Israel by people who are already inclined to believe the worst no matter what.

After the '67 war Israel could have simply bulldozed the mosque and taken it back. It didn't; in fact, it put the Temple Mount under the control of the Islamic waqf, and ever since Israeli police have kept Jews and others out much of the year, at the behest of the Islamic clerics who control the area.

If Israel wanted to build on the Temple Mount, it would hardly have done all that, would it?

Posted in relationships because so not a direct link to my main account (even though many can probably guess who this is)

I think first heard about it from a white guy (I think it was crash course).

I remember Hitchens saying something along those lines (bu not exactly blaming Israel).

Posted in relationships because so not a direct link to my main account (even though many can probably guess who this is)

You heard it from a white guy? I'm not sure I understand. A crash course in what?

I wouldn't be surprised if Hitch mentioned that fanatical ultra-orthodox Jews in Israel have some crazy plans to build a third temple. Just as the Westboro Baptist Church in the US has some crazy plans.

It's all by-the-by given it has been the consistent policy of the Israeli government, both Labour and Likud, to leave the Temple Mount area (excepting the Western Wall) under the control of the Islamic waqf to the point of allowing them to exclude non-Muslims. Israel has been more than fair on this point, they should be given credit not made the subject of conspiracy theories which only serve to stir up the Muslims (who really don't need very much to set them off)

Most Jews agree that they should not enter the Temple Mount as it is too sacred, so any construction there would be largely opposed by Jews and Muslims. The rumours that flared up a while ago were baseless and only served to upset Palestinians so they'

If you received an order that you knew would harm civilians what would you do ?

you are disgusting come back to the UK and give Israel back to the Palestinians as you are living in an apartheid nation I don't understand how you can even justify living in such a place you are a vile human being

Posted in relationships because so not a direct link to my main account (even though many can probably guess who this is)

While I am no fan of Israeli policies, this is no longer an option.
Bilateral talks must be held, and ample pressure put on Israel by countries like the US and the UK to stop land settlements, occupation of Golan Heights, Shebaa farms etc.
Settle and occupy foreign territory and the west gives you money,
Wave a Palestine flag at a match in solidarity and you got fined for being provocative.
I think we know where political priorities there, the problem isn't fully with Israel but with it's supporting allies that turn a blind eye.

you are disgusting come back to the UK and give Israel back to the Palestinians as you are living in an apartheid nation I don't understand how you can even justify living in such a place you are a vile human being

Maybe you can clarify precisely what you mean by "an order to harm civilians".

If you mean an order by an Israeli officer to target civilians, with no military objective in mind but merely an attack on civilians, then of course he wouldn't because such an order is illegal under the IDF rules and military laws. All IDF personnel are entitled to disobey such an illegal order.

If you mean a mission in which there is a risk civilians will be harmed, then that is the unfortunate nature of war. The UK and US engaged in strategic bombing missions (against Dresden, for example) which had the express objective of killing civilians so that workers would be killed and could not go to work in war production.

Israel has never carried out an operation like that. It behooves Westerners not to be so blinkered and historically ignorant when they judge Israel for carrying out operations that are not designed to harm civilians but have that unfortunate side effect when their own countries have deliberately targeted civilians on a mass-scale in wartime

I believe in a single state solution Palestine and that's it all the jews should stay where they are but it won't be israel anymore