An untapped IDF resource?

Is the IDF overlooking a potential military resource? I think so!

What am I talking about?

Nothing less than the little old grey haired ladies who adroitly manoeuvre their two wheeled folding metal shopping carts through the streets, market alleyways and bus aisles of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

One might initially presume that they are all veteran tank commanders from the Yom Kippur War. However their age would indicate otherwise. Variously as survivors of Russian Communism, The Great Depression, The Second World war, The Holocaust and several of Israel’s founding Wars their sense of survival has been ‘finely honed’ to say the least.

They possess an instinctive sense in the handling of their carts which goes all the way from a defensive ‘leading mode’ in a clearance like operation to ‘trailing and territorial occupation’. They are also adept at pre positioning for future use.

Being short of stature, and with heads lowered to avert eye contact, they use their lower centre of gravity to their advantage in physical contact. Though my Hebrew is limited I do not think I have ever heard them utter a word of excuse or apology.

Polite North American tourists are mere child’s play to them. Moroccan merchants in the Mehane Yehuda Market, try as they may, are soon disposed of. Recent Russian olim, expectant mothers with strollers and Ultra Orthodox students present their only serious challengers.

My advice? They should immediately be drafted into the reserves or at the very least recruited as instructors for a mandatory course in advanced armoured corps tactics.

Were they alive today Generals Montgomery and Rommel would, I believe, quickly put their innate skill sets to use.