Travel
IDF soldiers new attraction for gay tourists
Yaniv Halily
Published: 09.04.10, 15:13
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39 Talkbacks for this article
1. Disgusting!
Hadassah ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (04.09.10)
I hope they stop this group at the airport and send them right back. No i am not anit-gay. I am against any 'meat-market' tactics no matter what one's sexual persuasion!
2. Israel vs producer
Brod ,   USA   (04.09.10)
Israel should kick out the producer for trying to pervert and weaken its army.
3. if this is true
JL   (04.09.10)
then we are truly disgusting
4. Visit to IDF Base
Shalom Hartman   (04.09.10)
If the IDF dept responsible for setting up group visits knows the reason of the group, I am pretty sure that they will veto it. As it is, it's hard enough to co-ordinate a visit to IDF bases, with so much beaurocracy here.
5. I just threw up in my mouth
Yaniv ,   Israel   (04.09.10)
6. way to go IDF
ramallah   (04.09.10)
7. Though I've always been proud...
Yo Efraïm Douieb   (04.09.10)
Though I've always been proud with the fact the our society was pretty open about people's sexual preferences, I truly believe that this is seriously wrong and going way too far. The IDF if a very serious institution and shouldn't be used to advertize such things. It is important to note that the only ones to blame here are the US producers that promote that. I don't think the army general staff approves of it.
8. to #3
Reem ,   Jerusalem, Palestine   (04.09.10)
You are already disgusting, since a very very long time.
9. Gay Soldiers
(04.09.10)
Admittedly, this would probably make me apoplectic if women were being exploited, but maybe after all the demonizing of the IDF and the obscenity of accusing young soldiers of being Nazis and baby killers, this will actually be good for morale. Because the truth is that gay or straight, Israeli soldiers are fabulous...so why not let the rest of the world know it?
10. treating people like meat
Y ,   Israel   (04.09.10)
You would never see a tour for men to see the hot female soldiers--this is just as offensive. And I think this is offensive to gay people too--why is only about seeing hot guys? why does it all have to be about sex? Can't they just see the sites?
11. This can't be happening!
Danny M ,   Vancouver, Canada   (04.09.10)
I can imagine how gays in the IDF feel about this. They fought for the right to serve their country and now some moron porn producer wants to come over and turn the IDF into a gay burlesque. Sorry, Hollywood, but this isn't what the gay rights movement is all about.
12. Israel should not allow such tourism. If
Vardina   (04.09.10)
gays want to visit Israel it is their privilege like every other tourist's, but trying to advertise IDF as a nest for gay soldiers is unthinkable!
13. WHAT?!?
Gregg ,   Haifa, IL   (04.09.10)
This is completely crazy ! As a gay, I am deeply sadden to see that this guy adverts us as "sex machines" who are willing to pay 3000$ just to come and watch some "hot guys". Hot guys is something completely subjective. We might not have all the same taste.
14. Gays welcome in Israel
David ,   Jerusalem   (04.09.10)
I think it is fine for anyone to visit IDF bases as long as they meet the security conditions. when i was serving, we are weathered young men, we spent a lot of time running around and I can see how that makes people think of us as attractive. What is funny is that nobody was complaining (like these stupid talkbackers here) when the government actively put Israeli women on Maxim USA magazine wearing nothing. sexualizing and objectifying them. these our sisters man! if anybody should be sleeping with them it should be us soldiers! not new yorkers looking to hit on some israeli girls! FURTHERMORE, the IDF is the most progressive army in the world when it comes to gays and women so this is a positive thing. time get more arab israelis in the army and nobody could say a bad word about us!
15. solution
Rob ,   UK   (04.09.10)
send lucas to gaza to do the same thing with their men in uniform. problem solved.
16. Keep your money and your dirty paws far away from Israel
Jew ,   The HOLY Land   (04.09.10)
We don't want this type of "tourism". Go to Thailand, where anything goes.
17. Keep your disgusting gay fantasies in America
Amir ,   Haifa   (04.09.10)
Iegsaa!
18. SOUNDS GREAT
ALAN ,   TORONTO   (04.09.10)
so many hot Israeli soldiers. I love them all !!!!!!!! COUNT ME IN !
19. Many "humanistis" are gay...they fantacize about defending a
Sam ,   USA   (04.09.10)
noble cause. Obviously, they are not going to Sudan, Kashmir, Nigeria or Chechnya but prefer to fight the democratic Jewish state of Israel. Had they gone to Mindanao and disappeared nobody would claim anything or fight anyone but in the Jewish state of Israel it is different. Not only Israel is one of the most open and liberal democracies in the world it is also under a constant scrutiny that is not known anywhere especially not within the 22 violent Arab dictatorships. Lucas is doing a good deed because he is pulling a rug under the so-called gay "humanists" from the US, Sweden, Holland or wherever. The gays of America and there are some powerful gay groups must know that the world want to create another hateful Arab dictatorship that will hate and persecute the gay population and at the same time contract the Jewish democracy where the Arab gays of Ramallah and Jenin can flee to just to remain alive.
20. LOL
Nick Sporek ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (04.09.10)
There's also a lot of hot lesbians in the IDF but everybody know that the the cream of the crop is in the IAF not the IDF.
21. thank you Lucas
marc feldman ,   haifa, israel   (04.09.10)
for bringing tourists to Israel-we need every dollar. thank you for showing that israel, despite some bigots that comment on this blog , is a free and open country. And thank you for trying to show israeli man as a good people, not a war mongers.
22. Gay tourism??
Davidka ,   Los Angeles, U.S.   (04.09.10)
After the gay tourists visit Israel to gawk at the manly soldiers at IDF bases, they can visit some of its neighboring Arab countries, where gay prostitution, especially teenage or even younger boys, is common and accepted.
23. brilliant
Zach   (04.09.10)
Someone needs to show the positive sides of Israel, and the men are probably the best thing you have got. Great idea
24. nice
jorge stern ,   mexico   (04.09.10)
so many jewish racists here. After 3000 years, we are still waiting for acceptance and we will never surrender until gays and lesbian jews are equal. viva israel !
25. wow- a lot of homophobia in the talkbacks
israeli   (04.10.10)
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised but what do all these talkbackers care. There are lots of gay soldiers, some gay tourists come for the fantasy element. big deal. No straight guy goes on vacation to see hot topless European women? Some straight women aren't thrilled that Italian men call out at them? it is all the same fantasy tourism.
26. Just photos?
Martin ,   Jo'burg, South Afric   (04.10.10)
If this project involves gay tourists just taking a photo with an Israeli soldier, then I do not see anything wrong with it. I just hope the soldier is paid for his time and not used as some sex object without a brain. But if it involves porn, then I am totally against it.
27. gays in armies
sohnes ,   holzheim, germany   (04.10.10)
I do not want to talk about moral issues. Only want to point out, that gays are likely to fight as hard as straight people - imo, they just might fight way harder. History tells us about several gay elite-units, isn't it? So i can not see any "troop demoralization", but you are invited to tell me that you don't like this statement :)
28. Israel is homophobic with exception of TA
Gavriel ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (04.10.10)
The only open-mined place in Israel is Tel Aviv. I really like Jerusalem but religious puritanism and politics make it boring
29. Crazy!!!
Gideon ,   NYC , USA   (04.11.10)
How can this be allowed? I think it's s terrible idea & will only make israel look bad.
30. Great idea welcome
Avi ,   Israel   (04.11.10)
Must admit there are some real hot soldiers.
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