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Arab world 'disgusted' by IDF Facebook photos
Roee Nahmias
Published: 17.08.10, 18:26
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1. This girl is an idiot
AlexB ,   Toronto, Canada   (08.17.10)
Disclaimer: I'm a former Israeli Oleh. This girl's behaviour shows the typical young uncultured Israeli. It's not a matter of "sadism", as the Syrian press is trying to propagandize, just basic rudeness and idiocy. It also shows the incompetence of commanders who should know better than to allow this to go on. There should really be a cultural change in the IDF. The top echelons should drill really really hard all the way to the bottom of the chain that the world is obsessively and unfairly watching IDF's every move, so it's time to stop behaving this irresponsibly and crudely. The young Israeli soldiers are those who have just started their service, are 18-19 years old and are still immature. The army has a responsibility to drill into them the values that they should have when they're out on patrol BEFORE these embarrassing pictures float up on al-Jazeera.
2. Picture
amnon ,   usa   (08.17.10)
I did no hear a pip from the arabs about Shalit in a hole for 4 years ,keep your mouth shut before condemning the Israeli army condemn the Hamas and there metods .
3. boo hoo hoo at the arab world
whatever ,   lake titicaca valley   (08.17.10)
REALLY??? I'M STILL OFFENDED BY THE BEHEADING VIDEOS THEY POSTED!!!
4. On Facebook, Ms. Abergil is qouted as
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (08.17.10)
saying, "the best days of my life". Now she says she's sorry for what's she's done and further reports that the army has let her down and she's sorry she's ever served. Sounds confused and irresponsible to me.
5. Were the Arabs "disgusted" by the
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (08.17.10)
videos of the actor, playing the part of Gilad Schalit, to a cheering crowd of 100,000 in Gaza City, as he (the actor) whined, "I want my mommy and daddy?" I don't think so. Rather, they too took pleasure in it. It's just when they are humiliated in return do they get their dander up.
6. Hypocrisy
Daniel Reyes ,   Mapleton, UT, USA   (08.17.10)
I agree that this young woman was foolish to allow pictures of herself with detainees to be published or even taken for that matter. However, to hear the arab world claim that the photos are immoral, inhuman, etc. etc. etc. literally raises the bile in my throat. These are the same people who won't say a word when Saudi security forces allow young girls to burn to death rather than appear in public unveiled or when islamic terrorists saw the head of a journalist on the internet in the name of God or who celebrate when muslims kill thousands of innocent people, mostly their own fellow muslims in the name of their "peaceful" religion. Disgusting...
7. Let's Talk About Degrading
Jethro ,   Marquette, MI   (08.17.10)
Let's talk about the anti-semetic propaganda that is created and distributed on Al-Jazeer. Is that degrading? Quit your crying. Let's talk about Israeli's being depicted with big noses? And Greedy looking faces. Is that degrading? What about the jew eating mouse and bunny on Palestinian television? Again, quit your crying.
8. Me Too!!
Shmuel ,   Merkaz   (08.17.10)
I would be described by many as a "right-wing nationalist". Nevertheless, I must say that I am also disgusted by these pictures and the incredible thoughtlessness of this young woman. My son is soon due to join the army and if I ever found out that he was involved in anything like this I would send him back to his commander covered in fresh bruises! We are supposed to be better than this!!
9. what Israelis do to prisoners doesn't compare to what Arabs
Libbie ,   Tel Aviv   (08.17.10)
are you joking?! arabs are offended by pics of blindfolded prisoners? that is NOTHING compared to what arabs do - how about the latest TIME cover photo of an arab woman in afghanistan who had her nose and ears cut off by her arab family, for "disobeying" ? or the bombings in baghdad today by arabs that killed 41 people? and thats just TODAY's headlines... what the israelis do to prisoners pales - to say the least - in comparison. this is just anti-semitism veiled as anti-israelism.
10. :: IDF Ethics
Matty Groves ,   Fairport   (08.17.10)
The following is one of the three 'Basic Values' of the 'Spirit of the IDF' and is taught to very serving member of IDF *before* they assume active duty. It is one of the main three pillars on which the IDF base the rest of their ethical code eg: purity in arms, etc. "Human Dignity - The IDF and its soldiers are obligated to protect human dignity. Every human being is of value regardless of his or her origin, religion, nationality, gender, status or position". It is quite pointless have a set of moral codes if: 1) The IDF command ignores the widespread systematic humiliation and abuse of Palestinian civilians 2) The IDF actively cover up such abuses which breeds a culture of impunity 3) Local IDF commanders actually, as we have seen in other reports, encourage such abuses among the rank and file The lack of adherence to a moral code also explains the continuous use of Palestinian civilians as human shields by the IDF. Clearly the IDF is rotten to the core and only by ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinians and their land will this immoral behavior be stopped.
11. Arabs should look at the mirror
oxo ,   USA   (08.17.10)
Arabs should look at the mirror in disgust at themselves before they pass judgement: - lying to achieve goals - killing of family members for the sake of (false) honor - Extreme intolerance and bigotry - False pride
12. prison photo
suzana michel ,   boston ma   (08.17.10)
Just because others do it, it doesn't mean that Israelis have to do it. Bushah!
13. And we are disgusted with arab terrorists who kill and maim.
Bunnie Meyer ,   Los Angeles, CA USA   (08.17.10)
14. Out of proportions
Christian ,   Sweden   (08.17.10)
To publish the pictures on Facebook was unhelpful and silly. But as long as the detainees cannot be easily identified(being blindfolded) I am not sure that there is a legal case here(based on the assumption that the detainees were prisoners of war). On the other hand Eden Abergil may have transgressed the rules of conduct for IDF soldiers and can in that case be disciplined for that. Anyhow the reactions so far seems quite out of proportions. That the side which keeps Gilad Shalit in a dungeon since four years now uses words like torture is pathetic.
15. "continuous use of Palestinian civilians," Matty,
Robert Haymond ,   Israel/Canada   (08.17.10)
"as human shields by the IDF" or more of your overdramatizations, demonizations and propagandistic products from your profession as Ynet's longterm Israeli basher? The only thing you have ever actually cited is one video taken during Operation Cast Lead and even that is problematic. I just thought we should clarify for the sake of the thoughtful Readers.
16. To the people who say that "this is no big deal"...
seadog1946 ,   Shooters Island, NJ   (08.17.10)
then you won't even care if Shalit's masked captives blindfold and handcuff him so that they too can take "been there, done that" photos and post them on the internet.
17. Oh, So Degrading
emanon ,   USA   (08.17.10)
Yes a female captor posing with terrorstinian prisoners is so much more degrading than videos of terrorstinians beheading Pearlman and others.
18. and im disgusted by the arab world
ronen   (08.17.10)
19. Arab World Disgust
Paladin ,   J-M   (08.17.10)
Strange, the US Army does it in Iraq,Afganistan,Guantanmo, and the Arab world is just now disgusted...spin the reverse fellas!!!! cuffs and blindfolds are standards...maybe commo wire is better when they shoot them!!!
20. Comparisons
Arne ,   Trondheim, Norway   (08.17.10)
Why do people keep comparing this to what terrorists do? Isn't the point that the army in a democracy should be better? I f not, what the hell is the point of fighting in the first place?
21. They like Jihadis cutting off heads better.
Terry ,   Eilat - Israel   (08.17.10)
Maybe some photos of Muslims killing Christians in Pakistan, or perhaps a stoning in Iran, how about some nice family photos of wife beating, some wedding photos with 13 yrs old child brides, let's not forget a picture or two of gays being hung. Say, anyone post any photos of Hamas thugs throwing Fatah members off a ten story building? I heard there was a big suicide bombing in Baghdad today, anyone post pictures yet on Facebook?
22. What are we really talking about?
Mark from Georgia ,   USA   (08.17.10)
The Muslim male ego. Nothing and I mean Nothing ticks them off more than the picture of a female dominating the male Muslim prisoner's. In a society where the female is second class, at best, these pictures really hit a raw nerve. So while 60 Muslims were killed, and 125 wounded by another Muslim in Iraq today. This is what the headline is in the Muslim media. The photo's provoke more outrage than the murder of 60 Muslims, by another Muslim. Here are some other pictures: http://faithfreedom.org/Gallery/7.htm These are pictures of Muslim prisoner's, two of them were Israeli, take a good look at the expression on their faces. Have you ever seen such pure hatred, ever ! Now these were smuggled out of the Palestinian territories. Please don't talk to me about their phony outrage. Just another chance to delegitimize Israel. Yes, the IDF soldiers were out of line, but overreaction is an understatement, when it comes to the Arab reaction.
23. Arabs? Disgusted? Huh?
Heather Czerniak ,   Mississauga, ON, CA   (08.17.10)
Not half as disgusted as the rest of the world is with Arabs murdering women who are falsely accused of adultery, among other things! You want to see disgusting? Visit the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC and tell us if you Arabs think a few guys bond and blindfolded is disgusting! At least they were allowed to live.
24. Pictures that offend...
Michael Davison ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (08.17.10)
The last time the Arab world had the chance to show Israeli prisoners blindfolded with their hands on their heads sitting, they had no such feelings. Pictures of Israeli prisoners dominated the Arab media in the early days of the Yom Kippur War. It's only "offensive" when it happens to Arabs... That being said, the hayelet in question was pretty stupid to post these with the comments she made.
25. Nothing wrong with what he was doing
Tony   (08.17.10)
So what if she took pictures of the enemy and made some jokes about it? And they weren't tortured like the Arab liars imply in their silly newspapers.
26. This is so ridiculous
Carsten Schmidt ,   Germany   (08.17.10)
Leave her alone, she has done nothing that deserves all the hype. Remember? Only a few days ago the non-human Taliban stoned to death a young couple for alleged adultery. After one hour of torture the badly injured girl was still alive so they shot her in the head. Already forgotten? Yeeeees, a young Israeli girl posing with detainees - thats the big story...
27. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill
Cameron ,   USA   (08.17.10)
A smiling Israeli soldier next to Arab detainees. Who give's a damn? Something new here? What a nothing issue.
28. :: Robert - #15
Matty Groves ,   Fairport   (08.17.10)
Yes “continuous”, just because you are self-ignorant on the matter doesn’t mean that I am in anyway wrong. Actually I have cited many example, the most common one I cite is when the IDF admitted to using human shields on over 1,200 occasions between 2000 and 2005. This immoral practice was so common and widespread that the Israeli high court was petitioned to make a ruling on the matter (it ruled that the IDF were to stop this practice). It should be noted that the IDF sought to appeal the courts decision and in the end just ignored the ruling. Every human rights organization that monitors the situation in Israel and the Occupied Territories have recorded and reported that the IDF commonly use Palestinian civilians as human shields while engaged in a combat zone. B’Tselem has a special section on this matter with testimonies (from the period 2002-2009) from civilians (including children) who were forced by the IDF to act as human shields. If you ever bothered to Google the subject instead of wallowing in self-ignorance you would find a wealth of information including video clips, photos, reports, testimonies that verify that the use of innocent civilians as human shields by the IDF is continuous and commonplace. Robert I have approx 14 relevant links bookmarked on this matter (and I can Google more) all of which will verify what I have just stated - what refs/links can you provide to disprove what I have just stated?
29. Arab "outrage"? Puh-leeze! We know about Arab mentality
Brian Cohen ,   Judean Peoples Front   (08.17.10)
A Muslim suicide bomber killed dozens of innocent people in Bagdad today. Around 150 more were injured, many of them horribly maimed for life. Arabs certainly aren't expressing much outrage about that, so why should they give a damn about some pictures of Palestinians? Sadist culture? Look at Afghanistan where they burn down schools with the girls still inside. They can certainly take their outrage and stick it where the sun don't shine in the Arab ministers of information...
30. She must be sevirely punished
Friedman ,   Princeton, NJ, USA   (08.17.10)
She must be jailed. She probably works for some Arab group. Shame on her and her stinken family who educated this piece of human refuse.
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