Hannibal protocol standardized

Three weeks ago, the IDF said it was going to standardize the Hannibal protocol, a long-standing IDF procedure for preventing soldiers' kidnapping in light of the denouement of the Shalit kidnapping, and in light of the fact that commanders have long given differing interpretations to the protocol. Now, thatstandardization has been completed.

Under the new work being conducted within the IDF, officers are writing clearer guidelines for what soldiers are expected to do in the case of an abducted soldier.

One scenario is if a soldier is grabbed from a tank along the Gaza Strip – similar to the way Schalit was abducted – and is put into a car, once in Gaza. The first stage, one officer explained, would be for a nearby tank to try and target the car’s engine to prevent the terrorists from fleeing with the abducted soldier.

If that does not work, they would have to then consider firing at the center of the car, even at the risk of injuring their comrade.

The IDF is concerned that Hamas and other terrorist organizations like Islamic Jihad and Hezbollah are currently plotting to kidnap Israeli soldiers.

Fearing future abductions of soldiers, the IDF on Sunday held a large-scale exercise in the Jordan Valley to prepare a response for the potential kidnapping of a soldier.

Gantz oversaw the drill, which took place throughout the Jordan Valley with the purpose of reviewing the readiness of Division 162, which is stationed along the border.

The scenario included a soldier being abducted by Palestinian terrorists and moved between a number of vehicles as well as a number of villages in the Jordan Valley area. On the sidelines of the kidnapping, the scenario included a terrorist infiltration into an Israeli settlement in the area.

Here's the problem: No one believes we won't do another Shalit deal (or worse) and as long as the terror organizations believe they have something to gain by kidnapping IDF soldiers, the kidnappings will continue.

IDF Honors Reservists

The IDF marked this week Reservists’ Appreciation Week, intended to recognize reservists (called “miluimnikim” in Hebrew) for their contributions to Israel's security over the years.

In Israel, reserve service is done after a person's regular army service. The IDF may call up men for reserve service of up to one month annually, officers for even longer, until the age of 43 to 45 or to active duty immediately in times of crisis.

In most cases, the reserve duty is carried out in the same unit as the regular service. As many soldiers who have served together in active service continue to meet in reserve duty for years after their discharge, the reserve duty has become a strong male bonding experience in Israeli society. In fact, reserve duty is considered so special that quite a few reservists continue to volunteer for duty even after the age of 45.

On the other hand, reserve duty is also a great sacrifice for Israeli men and their families. University students miss a month of lectures, often have to sign up for make-up exams at special dates, small businesses are left hanging with wives or assistants trying to keep them going, conferences and meetings are missed.  Wives are left singlehandedly coping with car pools, sick children and repairs, while children miss their fathers presence and everyone waits for the call saying whether Abba (father) will be allowed home for Shabbat. 

Importance of reservists discussed at special Knesset meeting
As part of Reservists’ Appreciation Week, a special day took place in the Knesset on Tuesday, which included plenum discussions as well as special event in the Knesset auditorium which was attended by reserve soldiers and officers from various military units.

Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said during the event, “Those who respond to the reserve call are also responding to the call of their conscience. This faithful group has proven over and over again that it can be counted on. The reserves is a unique phenomenon that we should not be taking for granted.

“At a time when performing reserves duty has ago long ceased being a common thing, the reservist does not want to feel like a ‘national sucker,’” continued Rivlin. “When such a feeling exists, it is hard to ask someone to drop everything and endanger his life. It is no secret that feelings of deprivation still accompany most reserve calls.”

In light of the above, said Rivlin, “it is not enough to pat the reservists on the shoulder; on this day we must examine how to practically reward them. Financial grants for reservists and issuing certificates are only the beginning and it could lead to a fundamental change in our attitude to this minority which fulfills a national mission. Truly appreciating them is a challenge which all of us face.”

Rivlin’s words were echoed in the Knesset’s special session in honor of Reservists’ Appreciation Week. Lt. Col.(res.) Madeleine Abuazio, said during the session that a decrease in the value of the IDF is evident among Israeli employers, some of whom do not see favorably the fact that their employees need to take time off work for reserve duty.

“I have accompanied reservists who were fired because of the reserve duty,” he said. “It does not matter how many days they were called in for, the employer has them choose between work and reserve duty. When a soldier is required to choose between being employed and his conscience, we have a serious problem.”

Abuazio noted that “Many of the reservists are self-employed business owners and the country must take responsibility for them. The laws regarding reserve duties must be enforced. We have good laws but they are not properly enforced.”

Yanai Beni, a former battalion commander in the reserves, said, “I was a battalion commander in the Second Lebanon War and my soldiers were fired by SMS. Reservists leave out the fact that they are battalion commanders in their resume, they dress in parking lots and are ashamed to come up with their uniforms to work.

“It cannot be that battalion commadners and fighters are considered second class,” added Beni. “We feel like we are in an Israeli army in an American society, where capitalism has taken over everything that was good. Despite it all, we will continue to come [for reserve duty].”

34-year reservist honored
As part of Reservists’ Appreciation Week, a special evening honoring outstanding reservist soldiers was held on Monday.

One of the soldiers who were honored was the Vice President of the Association of Hesder Yeshivas, Eliezer Deutsch. Deutsch has served in the reserves for 34 years and was even injured during training, but the injury did not prevent him from continuing to serve for many more years.

As part of his role as VP of the Association of Hesder Yeshivas, Deutsch accompanies hundreds of students during their military service. “The cooperation with the IDF, both in the hesder yeshivas as well as in the reserves, allows me to fulfill my duties and help the troops,” he said.

The 55-year-old father of six and grandfather of six added that he sees in serving in the reserves a mission, and wished to pass the following message to the younger generation:

“When young soldiers who have completed their regular service come to reserve duty for the first time, I try to support and guide them. On the one hand it strengthens them and gives them the tools to serve, and on the other hand when they see me after decades in the reserves, it encourages them to continue to serve.”

Deutsch noted that he intends to continue to report to reserve duty. “As long as they let me serve, I’ll be there,” he said.

Israel Condemns Web List of Gaza Soldiers

Jerusalem - Israel's military on Friday condemned the publication of names and photographs of 200 Israeli soldiers on a website that called them "war criminals."
Alongside the photographs, the site also published the home addresses and ID numbers of many of the Israelis. They included senior commanders and low-ranking soldiers who the site claimed participated in the three-week offensive Israel launched in Gaza in late 2008.
The accuracy of the published details could not be confirmed. A statement from the Israel Defense Forces said the military "deplores the publication of personal details of hundreds of IDF soldiers and officers, without any factual basis whatsoever."
The military said, however, that the information "poses no real threat to those whose names ended up on the list."
It was put up earlier this week by anonymous activists in Britain and hosted by a U.S.-based Web service, which took it down by Friday citing "breach of terms," according to the Israeli daily Haaretz.
The website said the information came from an anonymous source who was "presumably" serving in the Israeli military. The military is investigating the possibility that the information was leaked by a soldier, according to a report in the daily Maariv.
"The people listed here held positions of command at the time of the attack," the website said, "therefore, not only did they perform on behalf of a murderous state mechanism but actively encouraged other people to do the same."
It also included what appeared to be an implied threat to harm the soldiers, urging readers, to "do your bit so that this virtual list may come to bear upon the physical."
Israel began its Gaza offensive in December 2008, after years of intense rocket fire from the coastal strip ruled by the Iran-backed militant group Hamas. The fighting devastated the crowded Palestinian territory, killing around 1,400 people, most of them civilians, according to Palestinian and international human rights groups. Thirteen Israelis were killed.
In Britain and elsewhere in Europe, anti-Israeli activists have sought to use the principle of universal jurisdiction to pursue past and current Israeli officials linked to military operations that killed civilians. No cases have gone ahead, but Israeli officials have canceled trips abroad over concerns they could be arrested. The matter was discussed during a visit by Britain's foreign secretary to Israel earlier this month.
The Gaza offensive sharply reduced the rocket fire but did not end it entirely.
Early on Friday, Gaza militants fired a Grad rocket into southern Israel as well as seven mortar shells and crude homemade rockets, causing light damage and no casualties.
Militants usually fire mortar shells or rockets they manufacture themselves and only rarely use military-grade projectiles like the relatively powerful rocket launched early on Friday.
None of the armed groups in Gaza immediately claimed responsibility for the attack.

IDF unveils new systems that increase safety, precision; The Logistics and Technology Directorate unveiled new systems aimed at improving ability to bring supplies to troops behind enemy lines.

The IDF Logistics and Technology Directorate on Tuesday unveiled a number of new systems aimed at improving its ability to bring supplies to troops operating behind enemy lines.

HAARETZ: Top IDF officer warns of new Gaza war if Hamas abducts soldier Senior IDF officer says Hamas now resembles less a terrorist group than a 'militia with semi-military order' that receives help from Iran and Syria.

Israel's response to the kidnapping of another soldier into the Gaza Strip will be no less severe than Operation Cast lead, a senior General Staff officer warned on Sunday. The statement came in the footsteps of assessments that Hamas may be planning to attempt to capture more soldiers.