Ops & Blogs | The Times of Israel » Gideon Israel

A Soldier’s Impact on the Secretary of State

Gideon Israel — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 12:47:55 +0000

Alexander Haig was known as a great friend of Israel. As Secretary of State, during Ronald Reagan’s first two years in office, he was the only one who defended Israel’s strike on Iraq’s nuclear reactor. He went even further – saying not only should the US refrain from criticizing Israel, it should thank Israel for [...]

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A Gift From North Korea

Gideon Israel — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 16:18:27 +0000

The most recent crisis between the US and North Korea could not have come at a more opportune time for Israel and the rest of the world. It’s so timely, that one would be sure that providence had a hand in it. The crisis is causing the US to weigh its response to serious threats [...]

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Thank You Israel

Gideon Israel — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 19:59:31 +0000

Last year, Prime Minister Netanyahu, during his speech at the UN General Assembly, presented a diagram illustrating the different stages in building a nuclear weapon. On this illustration he drew a red line signifying the point where Iran must not be allowed to cross. As this point gets closer, pressure will be applied against Israel [...]

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Hasbara At Its Worst

Gideon Israel — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 08:34:04 +0000

A few days ago a friend pointed out a new image video that the IDF posted on Youtube; one whose message was meant to precede the seemingly impending next round of Palestinian violence. While the video seems to accomplish hasbara purposes, mainly that the IDF is a moral and restrained army – or that it [...]

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The IDF’s Achilles’ heel

Gideon Israel — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 10:36:08 +0000

The new Knesset has been sworn in and the uncertainty that reigns in the North continues. The strategic challenges that will face the new Israeli government spanning from Iran to Syria to Gaza – and possibly Egypt – are slowly extinguishing any hope of a peaceful term. In the Book of Judges our prophets spoke of a [...]

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Naftali Bennett Was Right

Gideon Israel — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 10:21:20 +0000

Since the period of the disengagement from Gaza (2005), where more than 20 Jewish communities were uprooted, the issue of a soldier disobeying an order has become a hot topic in public discourse; especially when there is a possibility that a Jewish town might be uprooted or destroyed in the near future. This topic, when [...]

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Modern-Day Idolatry

Gideon Israel — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 08:06:48 +0000

During the recent Operation Pillar of Defense followers of Israeli model Bar Refaeli were angered that she did not tweet or post something on her facebook account concerning the Operation or in support of our soldiers. She continued on with her life as if nothing significant was happening in Israel. This incensed her followers. They [...]

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Bibi! It’s Game-time!

Gideon Israel — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 23:13:40 +0000

The story of a politician not sticking to his principles, or veering from what he believes to be right, is nothing new. The politician enters politics with ideals, principles or policies that he wants to advance, and then the difficulties begin. One realizes that in order to advance his policy and receive the support of [...]

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Ever Wonder

Gideon Israel — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 07:05:49 +0000

Ever wonder why Israel is located in a region which seems so strange and alien to it. Ever wonder if things would be different if Israel were transplanted to a more peaceful, less volatile, less alien region. Maybe if Israel was located in North America or Australia, or even in the Far East, it might [...]

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Welcome to the circus

Gideon Israel — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 09:39:59 +0000

The recent U.S. presidential election was a very tight contest until the very end when the results were counted. In the days and weeks leading up to the voting, one could feel the enthusiasm in the air. The elections had the same excitement as a tight pennant race and the suspense of a football game [...]

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Ehud Barak and preventive medicine

Gideon Israel — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 07:37:38 +0000

Ehud Barak has left political life for a second time. Whether this is indeed a final decision or merely a ploy to retain an important to role in Israeli politics – only time will tell. After his resignation, many praises were heaped on Barak for his contribution to Israeli security while in the government and [...]

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The Tragedy of the Likud

Gideon Israel — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 09:45:38 +0000

The Likud list for the upcoming Knesset has been decided. It’s a right leaning list, similar to the Likud of the early ‘90s, where most of the top twenty members are against a Palestinian state. Prime Minister Netanyahu is undoubtedly disappointed, as he would prefer a balanced list; which would enable the party to draw [...]

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Know thy Neighbor

Gideon Israel — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 14:02:09 +0000

Two days ago, Hamas gunmen killed six of its own brethren suspected of collaborating with Israel. According to Hamas, these people were followed and their behavior gave Hamas gunmen some type of sign or implication that they were indeed collaborating with Israel. We will never know if it’s true or not. There was no trial, [...]

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One-Stage Thinking

Gideon Israel — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 14:09:04 +0000

Thomas Sowell, one of America’s most prolific writers on culture, economics and politics wrote about an idea called one-stage thinking. He recalls that as an undergraduate student studying economics, his professor, Arthur Smith, asked him his opinion on a certain policy issue. He answered with enthusiasm explaining the benefits of the policy he advocated. His [...]

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Israel’s new security doctrine abuses missile defense

Gideon Israel — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 18:39:47 +0000

On Monday the defense ministry proudly announced that the IDF had successfully completed testing an improved version of Iron Dome which will be able to intercept medium range missiles carried by Hezbollah and Syria that can reach the center of the country. At first glance, this is a reason for celebration; but on the second [...]

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