The Girls of the IDF

Rachel Papo, an Israeli born in Ohio, presents a stunning photographic project titled after her own IDF serial number -- Serial No. 3817131.

Here is her story in her own words:

The life of an eighteen-year-old girl in Israel is interrupted when she is plucked out of her environment at an age when sexual, educational, and family values are at their highest exploration point.

She is then placed in a rigorous institution, where individuality becomes a secondary matter, making room for nationalism. “I solemnly swear…to devote all of my strength and to sacrifice my life to protect the land and the liberty of Israel,” repeats the newly recruited soldier during her swearing-in ceremony.

She enters the two-year period in which she will change from a girl to a woman, a teenager to an adult, all under a militaristic, masculine environment, and in the confines of an army that is engaged in daily war and conflict.

I decided to portray female soldiers in Israel during their mandatory military service as a way for me to revisit my own experience.

I served as a photographer in the Israeli Air Force between 1988-1990. It was a period marked by continuous depression and extreme loneliness, and at the time I was too young to understand these emotions.

Through a series of images showing female soldiers in army bases and outside, individually or in groups, I attempt to reveal a facet of this experience that is generally overlooked by the global community.

Rather than portraying the soldier as heroic, confident, or proud, my images disclose a complexity of emotions. The soldier is often caught in a transient moment of self-reflection, uncertainty, a break from her daily reality, as if questioning her own identity and state of contradiction.

She is a soldier in uniform but at the same time she is a teenage girl who is trying to negotiate between these two extreme dimensions. She is in an army base surrounded by hundreds like her, but underneath the uniform there is an individual that wishes to be noticed.

I realized that although I was in a vulnerable emotional state during my service and thought of ways out of it, there was a certain level of acceptance involved.

The girls I encountered were so immersed in this lifestyle, in their new reality, and completely divorced from the outside world. How could I explain to them that what they are doing now will mean nothing in the outside world, yet will affect them for the rest of their lives? They have given up who they are for now; they have put their dreams on hold; their lives for the next two years have become a wistful compromise.

These thoughts and feelings constitute the frame of this body of work, and the core impulse for my decision to go back.

With this project I wish to seek answers to matters that were left unresolved, and to shed some light on a side of the Israeli Army that is less obvious and predictable and more vulnerable than the way it is commonly portrayed.

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Rachel Papo is an Israeli who was born in 1970 in Columbus, Ohio but was raised in Israel.

She began photographing as a teenager and attended a renowned fine-arts high-school in Haifa, Israel.

At age eighteen she served in the Israeli Air Force as a photographer.

These two intensive years of service inspired her current photographic project titled after her own number during service -- Serial No. 3817131.

She earned a BFA in Fine Arts from Ohio State University in Columbus (1991-96), and an MFA in Photography from the School of Visual Arts in New York City (2002-05).

She began photographing Israeli female soldiers in the summer of 2004 as part of her masters thesis project. She continues to photograph in both Israel and New York, pursuing fine art photography and accepting commissioned projects. Her photographs are included in several public and private collections.

She currently resides in Brooklyn, New York. Rachel is represented by Paul Kopeikin Gallery in Los Angeles, where her first solo show was recently on display.

You can visit Rachel's gallary at: http://www.serialno3817131.com/ and see more of her work at http://www.rachelpapo.com/

Israel Air Force Unveils New Aerial Drone

It's not everyday that the Air Force welcomes a new aircraft into its fleet, let alone a new aircraft that was produced and made in Israel.

The "Shoval", which was integrated yesterday (Wednesday) into the "First Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron," boasts a continuous flight capability of up to 30 hours, a significant payload capacity, and an ability to reach high altitudes.

"The Shoval unmanned aerial vehicle that we are introducing today represents a quantum leap in the field of unmanned drones," said Air Force Commander Major General Elyezer Shkedy.

"Its payload, its versatility, and its performance stand at the global technological forefront and will enable us to carry out various missions through the operational perspective."

While the Shoval was officially integrated into the IDF on Wednesday, it has already managed to make its presence felt during the Lebanon war this past summer.

"The Shoval took part in complicated operational missions, proving a capability that doesn't exist in any other system at our disposal," said the commander of the Palmahim Air Force base, Brigadier General Gabi Shahor. "Its participation in the war aided in the pinpoint targeting of rocket launchers and in other complicated, intelligence-related missions."

Despite the fact that it is an unmanned drone, it still requires a crew of soldiers, stationed in a mobile unit, to operate it from a distance.

"This is what we call a 'high-tech mobile unit,' with the best, most powerful computers in the world which enable us to fly the plane and execute missions more complicated than in the past," said Major A., the deputy squadron commander.

"Technology is an excellent thing, and advanced technological capabilities are very significant for the future," Major General Shkedy said. "Whoever doesn't understand this is not reading the map correctly.

And yet, the open secret of the "First Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron" and that of the entire air force is the human advantage. Don't be fooled by the term 'unmanned aerial vehicle'. The vehicle is manned, boy is it ever manned! There may not be anyone sitting inside the body of metal, but the head, the mind, the planning, and its operation is very human, very valuable, very manned - manned, by the best there is, people befitting the enormity of the mission and the responsibility."

View Video of First Official Takeoff:

http://www1.idf.il/SIP_STORAGE/DOVER/files/9/62169.wmv

The IDF's Young Girl Project Gives New Hope to Troubled Teens

"I intend on replacing my Gadna tags with officers' ranks in the future"
Tuesday March 6, 2007 10:21
IDF Spokesperson

"I am so proud of them," said Oli Zamir-Davidovitch while watching a group of emotional girls gather for a ceremony held to honor their achievements. "I had doubts about some of these girls, about whether they were going to make it. But they all succeeded!"

The girls Oli is referring to are a group from across Israel, all of who grew up in difficult environments, often without parents caring for them and without a true home to come back to. Due to a lack of care and direction from home, the girls deteriorated to a way of life consisting of idleness, laziness and often even crime. They never studied in school - most dropped out - thereby greatly limiting their options for the future. The girls were found to be lacking in qualifications for enlistment by the IDF recruiting offices, a rare evaluation for all enlistees - eleventh and twelfth graders - who report to the army recruiting offices for examinations.


The Young Girl Project offered the girls a way to bring themselves out of the difficult lives they were leading. As part of the project, the girls studied and specialized in a multitude of subjects in a course recognized by the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Labor.

The next stage in the program was the opportunity to experience army service despite their lack of qualifications and low scores. The girls were taken to a Gadna, a pre-military course resembling a regular soldier's Basic Training, as a trial period to test whether they are fit to serve in the military.

Each year hundreds of girls report to the Gadna course. Only a few are unsuccessful and not recommended to serve in the army. Most, however, complete the course and continue to regular service in the IDF. Some even continue to serve as officers.

Oli Zamir-Davidovitch is one of the social workers who have accompanied the girls since the beginning of the process. Last Thursday (01/03/07) she looked on with pride as the girls, "her girls" as she refers to them, celebrated the completion of their Gadna in an emotional ceremony.
"Some of these girls were underestimated and never received help for their learning disabilities," Oli said. "They were therefore unjustly discharged from education institutions, and never given an opportunity. The objective of the program is that the girls will undergo a process that will repair negative experiences in their lives; that will correct their feelings of being excluded, of rejection, of abandonment, of lack of worth."

"During this week the girls undergo a simulation of Basic Training and everything that it entails: uniforms, weapon lessons, shooting ranges," said Corporal Shiri, a commander in the Gadna pre-military course. "At the end of this week we write our opinion on the girls' behavior as soldiers and on how they coped with this week based on several criteria that we examine; this opinion determines whether the girl is fit for service in the IDF. We want to prevent the girls from being discharged from another system, to prevent them from another feeling of failure. These girls truly do want to enlist, and this is their opportunity after the IDF signed for their exemption from service."

"During my examinations at the recruiting office I didn't answer any of the questions, and so I was exempted from army service," said Alisa Tasat, a member of the Young Girl Project who completed the Gadna along with dozens of other girls. "At the time I didn't feel like studying, I didn't feel like listening to anybody, I didn't feel like doing anything. The beginning in the Gadna was extremely difficult."

Ruth Hazan, a fellow member of the program, had much difficulty with adapting to military life in the beginning. "Being part of this system came as a huge shock. It was very difficult, even just to get up early every morning after having not gone to school for the past two years."
Not without the commanders

"Every institution these girls have been a part of in the past has given up on them," said Corporal Yael, a Gadna commander. "Here they have no choice; no one is going to let them escape. In the beginning it was very hard for them to grasp this, that there are no concessions here."
And so the girls endured a week of harsh discipline filled with lessons about the military and lessons pertaining to life. They learned how to give respect and salute their senior commanders.

They were taught lessons about Israel's history and past battles and wars and they underwent weapons training. Most of all they learned how to face their difficulties and conquer them rather than give up on themselves.

"I named one of the girls, Yulia, as my deputy, which means that I gave her a certain responsibility in order to show her that I have faith in her and that the rest is up to her," said Yulia's commander, Corporal Benny. "She took the responsibility very seriously. All week she stood out in an exceptional way, whether in the girls' assignments, or in attempts to raise the other girls' spirits and try to help them. The special thing about this story is that her teacher from school told us horrible stories about her. She told us that Yulia has many problems and that she is a great disturbance in class. All of a sudden, when she was given responsibility she realized her own significance and her own capabilities."

"It made me feel great satisfaction and pride in these girls. When you express your faith in them they perform unbelievably; they just come from an extremely difficult background."
Getting by with a little help from my friends

"This project helped even just by allowing me the opportunity to meet new girls, to connect to new people instead of the people who dragged me down to the horrible situation I was in," Alisa Tasat said. "We became best friends, even more than that."

"One of the girls here also started the Gadna last year, and left on the third day. This Tuesday she wanted to leave as well, but no one let her give up. We sat with her until 2 AM and didn't let her leave. She cried and we told her 'you are staying.' In the end, she completed the course with all of us."

Despite her difficulties in the Gadna, Alisa is determined to enlist in the IDF. "The fact that I overcame these difficulties made me realize how mature I am, that I can advance in life and really succeed. I really want to enlist because I believe that service in the IDF is a unique experience, a one-time opportunity. I hope that I can also become an officer and serve more than just regular service," the hopeful future soldier said.

Alisa's fellow cadet in the Gadna, Ruth Hazan, is just as ambitious about her military service. "This is our country and it is our duty to serve in our army, the army of the people," she said. "I live in Sderot, something which has instilled in me an awareness of our army and the immediate consequences of its actions. This is part of the reason I wanted to enlist and take part in this effort."
"I would like to serve in a substantial position, but I would be happy to contribute in any role," Ruth said. "Even the smallest role is significant. For example, serving in the army's discount convenience store is important in that someone has to provide hungry and thirsty soldiers with whatever they need, or revive soldiers who just completed guard duty or an operation. Every role in the IDF is substantial, and we must not underestimate anyone."

"I have a lot of ambition and a lot of strength. I am very excited for the future. I may not have Gadna tags on my epaulets anymore but I intend on replacing them with officers' ranks in the future."

Israel unveils new surveillance drone

ONLY THE BEST: Officials said the unmanned aircraft could fly higher, faster and farther than any other drone and hinted it could gather information as far as Iran

Palmahim Air Force Base, Israel: Resembling a huge bird with fixed wings and a mushroom sticking out of its head, Israel's largest unmanned surveillance aircraft flew over a seaside air force base, its promoters claiming it can fly higher, faster and farther than any other drone.

Called the Heron, which describes its wideswept appearance, the drone has already seen combat, searching out Hezbollah arms and directing airstrikes in last summer's war in Lebanon. Its public unveiling on Wednesday appeared to have commercial as well as strategic intent.

Israeli officials said a prototype performed well during the summer war.

They also hinted that the Heron had the potential to reach as far as Iran, considered Israel's most serious strategic threat because of its nuclear program and its president's calls to wipe Israel off the map.

"Its versatility and achievements are on the forefront of the world's technology and will allow us to perform various operational missions," said Major General Eliezer Shkedi, the air force chief, at the ceremony officially bringing the Heron into service. "Today, almost 60 years after the establishment of the state, Israel, the only home of the Jewish people, is still under threat."

With its 16.6m wingspan and ability to fly for as long as 30 hours at a time, at a speed of 225kph and a height of 9,000m, the Heron is Israel's latest and most advanced weapon in the booming field of drone technology, air force officers said.

Israel has used drones since the early 1970s, and its fleet has steadily increased. Air force officials say drones have become such an integral part of Israel's air power in recent years that their flight hours now outnumber those of manned fighter planes.

"Today, as we welcome the Heron, we continue to perform nonstop operational flights in the war against terror," said Lieutenant Colonel H., moments after its rear-facing single propeller lifted the Heron into the sky, a distinctive antenna pod extending from where the cockpit would be in a manned aircraft, its narrow body filled with electronic surveillance equipment.

The Heron squadron commander, who could only be identified by his first initial because of military regulations, spoke as a blue version of the glider-like plane stood on exhibit nearby. A military band played as the plane gracefully took off to a round of applause.

"This is a real breakthrough in the world of unmanned aircraft," he said.

Sales of the new drone were not part of the equation presented at the Wednesday display, but Israel is one of the world's leading arms exporters, and public rollouts often precede sales campaigns.

Israel does not comment on its weapons deals.

Officials said the drone, produced by Israel Aircraft Industries, was the most advanced craft of its kind, far more accurate and effective than any of its predecessors.

For example, it could detect people on the ground and determine whether they were militants or civilians. Grainy, black-and-white aerial video images on display from last summer's war in Lebanon showed Hezbollah guerrillas preparing to launch rockets, with a large X marking their location. Moments later the screen went blank, indicating a direct hit.

Israel would not disclose whether the Heron could be used to carry out airstrikes, but Robin Hughes, the Middle East bureau chief for Jane's Defence Weekly, said it had the ability to carry a significant payload. Palestinians have said Israel has been using drones to fire missiles at Gaza, but the military has not confirmed it.

Hughes said that the Heron was not necessarily a dramatically new development.

Israel Air Force Receives New UAV System

The Israel Air Force receives today (March 7, 2007) the "Shoval" Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) system, made by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).

The UAVs, which carry the name "Heron" in IAI, represent a substantial leap to the air force's operational capabilities due to the UAV's unique characteristics: being the largest and heaviest of the IAF's UAV fleet with the largest payload carrying capability compared to other IAF's UAVs.



The Heron can fly at an altitude of 30,000 feet, and has an endurance of over 40 hours. It can carry a number of payloads and sensors simultaneously, and supply its operators with real-time data. The UAV uses a quiet engine and has redundant systems, providing very high mission reliability.

IAI's President & CEO, Itzhak Nissan, said that: "The acceptance of IAI's Heron UAV by the IAF is a substantial breakthrough in the IAF's UAV capabilities. These capabilities were already proven in IAF UAV operations by performing long endurance, high altitude, heavy payload and multi-task missions with great reliability. We are pleased to celebrate the Heron's acceptance with the IAF and we will continue our long-term commitment to supply unique products to the IAF and the IDF in the future."

The Heron UAV is a strategic UAV with a wingspan of 16.6 meters, a maximum takeoff weight of 1200 kg, a mission radius of hundreds of kilometers, a capability of flying under any weather conditions and possesses automatic launch, flight and recovery capabilities. The Heron UAV has been successfully marketed to many foreign customers and receives frequent praise for its design and capabilities.

During the recent conflict in Lebanon, IAI Heron UAVs were successfully operated, using various payloads. The UAVs were jointly operated by the IAF and teams from IAI and proved their contribution. Its capabilities open new horizons in the multi-task usage of UAVs.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) is a world leader in the development and manufacturing of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) systems. UAV systems made by IAI are operationally operated by dozens of customers worldwide for over three decades and have accumulated more than 330,000 flight hours.

For further information, please contact:
Doron Suslik
Deputy Corporate Vice President for Communications
Tel: 972 (3) 935-8509Fax: 972 (3) 935-8512
Email: hpaz@iai.co.il

IDF Anti-Terror Activity March 9, 2007

IDF forces arrested a total of 17 wanted Palestinians in the region of Judea and Samaria

(08:01 09/03/2007)
In Border Police activity in the village of Sawahira, northeast of Bethlehem, the force arrested a wanted Palestinian. In a subseqent search of the structure in which the wanted man was staying, the force uncovered a handgun, an ammunition clip and 40 matching bullets

(07:59 09/03/2007)
In IDF activity in the village of Silat Al-Harithiya, northwest of Jenin, the force arrested Islamic Jihad terror operative. In a subsequent search of the structure in which the man was staying, the force uncovered two explosive devices, an AK-47 assault rifle, 5 matching ammunition clips and a vest. The explosive devices detonated by sappers

(07:57 09/03/2007)
During the night, an IDF force identified two Palestinians performing suspicious activity close to the Security Fence in the central Gaza strip, apparently planting an explosive device. The force fired at them and identified hitting one of them

Eighteen Wanted Terrorists Arrested by Israel

Eighteen wanted Palestinians suspected of terrorist activity were arrested in a joint operation carried out by the IDF and GSA forces in the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 7, 2007 at the military intelligence complex in Ayn Um Al-Shareit, where many Tanzim terrorists have sought refuge.

In recent years, wanted Tanzim members hailing from nearby villages have used the headquarters belonging to the various security arms of the Palestinian Authority as shelters to avoid the Israeli security services. The buildings are also used as bases from which to launch terrorist activities. Among the key sites which the Tanzim uses as cover are the Muqata, the military intelligence headquarters in the Ayn Um Al-Shareit and Harsal neighborhoods, and the general intelligence headquarters in Ayn Um-Al Shareit.

During this period, Israel has notified the Palestinian Authority leadership of the presence of the wanted activists in the various headquarters, most recently a month and a half ago, however to no avail.

Since November 2006, Tanzim terrorists have committed 25 shooting attacks against IDF troops and workers performing maintenance functions at the security fence. As a result of the attacks, six Israeli soldiers and civilians were wounded. These and other attacks were planned - and in some cases carried out - by wanted operatives who have used the military intelligence headquarters as a safe house.

Among the Tanzim members who were arrested was Khalil Yusef Mahmed Shilo, 39, a prominent Tanzim leader. The senior operative masterminded the shooting attack in the village of Ras in October 2006 in retaliation for the death of a Tanzim operative who was killed one month prior. No injuries were reported in the attack.

Despite the many requests submitted to the Palestinian Authority security apparatus to deny the wanted men protection and hand them over to the Israeli security forces, nothing was done in the matter. The IDF will act to strike the terrorist infrastructure and will not hesitate to reach anywhere and anytime terrorists attempt to harm the citizens and the security of the State of Israel.

IDF Spokesperson - Wednesday 07/03/2007 11:02

Medical Corps Plans for 2007

The IDF will allocate over 70 million shekels in an effort to replenish stocks of medical supplies which were used during the Lebanon war, the Medical Corps decided during a conference at the Glilot base last week.

The annual conference is held in order to map out the Medical Corps work plan for the coming year, though this gathering was especially significant given that it was held in the aftermath of the second Lebanon war. The lessons of the war prompted a change in the Corps' method of operation.

The first priority for the coming year will be to refill the IDF's emergency medical supplies in the case of an outbreak of war. To that end, 70 million shekels will be spent in purchasing medical equipment that will be available to all of the IDF's field units up to July.

The next order of business, it was decided at the conference, was to place added emphasis on the training of reserve soldiers serving in medical units. Brigadier General Dr. Hezi Levi, the IDF's chief medical officer, said that this training will be based on the basic doctrine of fighting which has guided the Medical Corps. That doctrine will not change due to the Lebanon War.

"The emphasis is on improving the coordination between medical units in an emergency situation in both the northern and southern sectors," Levi said. "It's a mistake to [implement a] training program based on what happened in Lebanon."

Dr. Levi noted that this year will represent a pivotal stage for the Medical Corps, which will need to adjust to the upcoming privatization of routine medical services.

"The key is not just how much money we will save, but whether the privatization will harm the level of care given by combat doctors," Levi said. "We need to carry out the privatization in areas where we are relatively lacking compared with the civilian agencies and we need to remember that this decision will influence the relationship with the IDF and those who serve in it."

The head of the Logistics Branch, Major General Avi Mizrahi, proposed that Medical Corps officers attempt to persuade soldiers who stand out to continue their service in the professional
army. "We need to act now so that in another 10 years there won't be mediocrity," Mizrahi said.

"I will offer incentives and the necessary budgetary resources in order to keep those whom we need."

"The Lebanon War left us with with many lessons, among them that we need to do a house cleaning," Mizrahi said. "The Medical Corps is a good, professional organization and I trust that it will know to correct what is needed to correct."

IDF Spokesperson - Tuesday 06/03/2007 09:30

IDF Establishes New Southwestern Border Brigade

The IDF announced on Wednesday the creation of a new brigade whose primary responsibility will be to defend the southwestern border of the State of Israel from various threats. The brigade, which was given the name "Sagi," will be based in the region near Mt. Sagi.

The southwestern border which separates Israel and Egypt has proven vulnerable to terrorist infiltration and the smuggling of drugs as well as stolen goods from the Sinai Peninsula. Last month, three Israeli civilians were killed in a bomb attack in Eilat.

In 2006, a 70 percent decrease in smuggling was recorded across the Israel-Egypt border, an improvement when compared to the previous year. In 2005, authorities estimate that 7,000 kilograms of marijuana, 60 kilograms of heroine, and 64,000 kilograms of tobacco and cigarettes were illegally transported from Sinai into Israel. In 2006, those figures dipped to 4,800 kilograms of marijuana, 25 kilograms of heroine, and 12,100 kilograms of cigarettes and tobacco.

Colonel Udi Ben-Moha will assume command of the new brigade.

"This is an important milestone," said GOC Southern Command Major General Yoav Galant said at the brigade's opening ceremony.

"The process is Sisyphean and difficult but I think you are fortunate to take part in this special occasion," Galant said in remarks directed at the brigade's soldiers. "This is an event that doesn't happen every day and I am sure that you will come to appreciate it in the future.

"There's no doubt that the establishment of the brigade is a significant doubling of our forces in this sector," said the commander of the Adom formation, Brigadier General Imad Faras.

"Nonetheless, we must remember that there are more challenges that stand before us and we must continue to develop in many other ways."