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Iranian-born soldiers are hot commodity in IDF
Reuven Weiss
Published: 09.01.14, 12:07
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31 Talkbacks for this article
1. Beware
David ,   On this planet   (01.09.14)
After you finish your service they will throw you out like a dog. They threw me out after serving 5 years. Mizrahim are only good to be taken advantage off, that's why you have over a quarter of a million Mizrahim in Los Angeles
2. It works both ways
Ali ,   Tehran   (01.09.14)
Just as the IDF is highly seeking Iranian born operatives, they could also training people that will be reporting back to Tehran on the operations of the IDF..A very stupid policy is ya as me..The Iranian army is too large to be affected by a few "James bonds"
3. you cannot avoid a good screening....
Toledano Jean-Pierre ,   Israel   (01.09.14)
It's good to accept all of them in the army and to use them for intelligence purposes and eventually to recruit them later for one of the intelligence services. I think, I hope and I'm sure that the recruitement for those services will be preceded by a highly accurate screening of them, especially if they have still very near family in Iran. To avoid criticism about my opinion on the subject: the same procedure for people coming from the USA, Russia, Great Britain, some other EU countries,... But, I fully trust their recruiters.
4. to #1
Steve Goodman ,   Israel   (01.09.14)
It is no wonder, your attitude speaks volumes for your true character......get your attitude adjusted and get on with a productive life......you just might become a happy camper, instead of a bad apple.....
5. To #1, u are very mistaken.
(01.09.14)
The "mizrachim" as you call them are in La La land because they prefer money to Zionism. Please stop the whining. If someone is smart and educated here he succeeds, no one gives a damn where he's from.
6. Its a two way street you know...
Michael Dally ,   Lebanese Christian   (01.09.14)
Have you ever considered that some may have came to Israel with the sole purpose of enlisting?
7. #5 Seriously?
Daniel   (01.09.14)
You're saying everybody gets the same chance in Israel? So why is there a Sephardi/Mizrachi majority, yet every prime minister has been Ashkenazi? And are you saying the proportion of Ashkenazis among the richest 10% is the same as their proportion in the general population? In that case, a reality check is needed.
8. patriotism???
oleg ,   Fort Lauderdale USA   (01.09.14)
Money is the core of all evils. It is our Jewish DNA. We will sell our souls to the devil to enrich ourselves by any means. Our people want more than they need. Iranians will sell their rug under their feet for $$$. To the IDF main brains watch out they could be double agents. It happened before boys.
9. #7 Maybe the Ashkenazi are smarter than us Mizrahi
Sami ,   Ex. Cairo, Egypt   (01.09.14)
#7 Maybe the Ashkenazi are smarter than us Mizrahi? Part may be society / Government but maybe social?
10. What's in the name? :-)
Buckwheat ,   USA   (01.09.14)
They are not " ex-patriots"; they are expatriates. English, anyone?
11. Persian Israelis
Persian Jew ,   California   (01.09.14)
It's a horrible shame that some Persian Jews had no other choice but to go to Israel. As with all edot (ethnic Jewish communities), the intelligent and/or those with means went to the United States or western Europe. The uneducated and religious went to Israel. Mizrahim in Israel are poor and uneducated due to stigma and fermented culture; those abroad are by far the wealthiest and successful Jews in the world.
12. #11, Stereotyping and nonsense
Jake   (01.09.14)
Really? The "dumb" Mizrachim went to Israel, while the "clever" ones went to the US?? By the far the overwhelming majority of Mizrachi Jews in the world live in Israel. A minority ended up in the West, but I have yet to see any evidence that they are of "higher quality" than the ones in Israel. And if you are to be taken as an example, I rest my case.
13. Ask not what your country can do for you
Beni ,   US   (01.09.14)
To all who don't think they were treated right in Israel or the IDF. We all did our duty. We all think things can be done better. I have never met an Israeli who thought things were optimal. Far from it. Let's keep complaining because that's how things get better. But please remember it's not about us as individuals. It's about the country. I only wish I could have done more.
14. #9, No, Ashkenazim are not smarter than Mizrachim
Jake   (01.09.14)
I say that as one who is half Mizrachi and half Ashkenazi and in a position to compare and contrast both sides of my extended family with a reasonable amount of objectivity. What is true, on the other hand, is that Ashkenazim tend to be more "politically" minded, whereas Mizrachi Jews are more aloof from politics and put more faith in traditional structures instead.
15. #6, Pity you chose to sell your soul to the Devil.
Jake   (01.09.14)
16. #2, #6, You're kidding right?
Jake   (01.09.14)
The Iranian-born IDF soldiers the article is referring to are Jewish and they made Aliyah with their families and great risk to their lives, precisely to get away from the Islamic fascist theocratic regime in Tehran.
17. Mizrahi versus Persian
Ziba ,   Stateless wanderer   (01.09.14)
Egyptian Jews and Iraqi Jews are 'Mizrahi' -- how can that compare to Persian Jews ?!?
18. "risked their lives" is a shameful lie.
Human ,   Tehran   (01.09.14)
Iranian jews can leave the Country free and at any time like all other citizens. You just cant travel to Israel direktly: You got to travel to Israel via Turkey for example. thats all. BTW: In Iran jews feel so save, that you see them all arount openly wearing the kippa etc. i never saw this for example in germany, France or britain, they feel much less save there. Iran has no Problem with jews. they are well accepted. Iran just opposes the occupation of other People.
19. Iran is reading Bamahane too.
Nora Tel Aviv   (01.09.14)
The IDF journal Bamahane should think twice before letting those statistics known. Now, leaving Iran for israel might become more and more difficult for those Iranian Jewish youngsters.
20. stupid and dangerous "expose"
BEN ,   TEL AVIV   (01.09.14)
subject says it all !
21. #18 - "risked their lives" is a shameful lie,...
split ,   US   (01.09.14)
Wrong crowd, pal, only to those that know what shame means ,...
22. split #21,
Jake   (01.09.14)
If I said that Jews *risked their lives* to leave Iran, it is because I know intimately and personally what I am talking about, and I have the personal testimony of individuals close to me to back it up. I do not rely on media heresay or petards released by trolls on the forums for my information.
23. mizrahim moving up
israeli paratrooper   (01.09.14)
dear david , since their arrival in israel in the early 1950s , the mizrahim have climbed up the social , economic, and poliitcal ladder . there have been mizrahi chiefs of staff , chief judges , and billionaires . no need for self pity . mizrahim are doing well . each generation forges ahead.
24. #18, Oh, really?
Jake   (01.09.14)
Sounds like the Iranian version of "Izvestiya". Surreal how you just gloss over several high profile murders of Persian Jews in recent years, incarcerations on trumped up charges of "espionage", the threat of death penalty for those promoting emigration to Israel, and the surveillance of family members of those who have left the country.
25. #17, Simple. Persian Jews ARE Mizrachi Jews.
Jake   (01.09.14)
26. #18
Mike LA ,   CA   (01.09.14)
I am an Iranian Jew. We actually hate your backwards country. You are a country of 70 million people and you think you are so tolerant of Jews because there are like 12,000 of them left? Get your head out of the mullahs behind. In 20 years there will be no Jews left in your country. We are not your dhimmis!
27. #18
Iranian Jew   (01.09.14)
Your comments are not truthful at all. Having lived in Iran as a jew, I must disagree with you. Are you really trying to tell me that I was not called names, beaten and spit on for being a jew in Tehran as a kid? Are you really saying that jews are welcome there? That they have not been thrown in jail for being jewish, and had their property taken from them for no other reason? Are you really saying that they are not discriminated against? You are either blind, or lying. If jews feel safe, and welcome, why have they left Iran by the hundreds of thousands since the revolution? I suggest you look deeper into Iranian society to find the antisemitism which is deeply rooted there.
28. 5.
Birdi ,   Israel   (01.09.14)
Well said & so true. Kudos.
29. This Mizrahim vs Ashkenazi shadow boxing
Chutia ,   New Delhi, India   (01.10.14)
is so interesting. If i can put in my two cents from a bit far away, don't think the ashkenazim bothered much about the rather fashionable rabbi in the tinted glasses who recently passed away :) He had to make rather silly statements every other time and wear rose tinted glasses to keep himself afloat beyond the miz/Sep communities
30. #16 Jake
Hezbollah ,   Lebanon   (01.10.14)
We have a few 'Jewish brothers' that are eager to serve in the IDF too, we can send them if you wish...lol
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