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Israel / Jewish Life

  The Invention of Palestine
» 3.5 MB - 9,507 hits - 22 May 2010
A powerpoint presentation about The Invention of Palestine as a psychological weapon for conquering Israel. Almost 2,000 years ago, the Roman Emperor Hadrian cursed the Jewish People and decreed that Judea should be henceforth called "Palestine" after the Philistines, an ancient enemy of Israel that had disappeared from the world’s stage more than 600 years earlier. Today, the modern enemies of a resurrected Jewish Nation have dusted off Hadrian's curse and are attempting to pull off a monumental theft: the Arab World have reincarnated "Palestine" to steal Israel's heritage and the Land of the Jewish People. (By Tsafrir Ronen).

  The IDF’s Role and Impact on Israel’s Society
» 4.6 MB - 4,198 hits - 1 September 2010
The following analysis takes a comprehensive look at the historical and contemporary role and influence that the Israel Defense Forces has had in Israeli society, and highlights the benefits of the IDF as a “people’s army”-one which serves as a melting pot and strives to fit the needs of Israel’s ethnically, culturally, religiously, and socio-economically diverse array of citizens. (A publication by the IDFSpokesperson, Aug 24, 2010).

  The IDF Spirit
» 104.5 KB - 3,597 hits - 14 February 2010
"The IDF Spirit" presents 'the IDF ethics' to which the Israel Defense Force, all its officers and its soldiers of all ranks, in all professions, positions and units, aspires, and is intended to shape the actions of IDF officers and troops and help them deal with ethical dilemmas in routine and emergency. It's the IDF's ethical and educational document aimed at formulating the professional and moral basis for military activity.

  The Third Va'ad Leumi Memorandum
» 114.2 KB - 2,553 hits - 28 March 2010
Third Memorandum: historical survey of the waves of Jewish immigration into Palestine from the arab conquest to the first zionist pioneers. (640-1882). "A Historical Survey of the Jewish Population in Palestine Presented to the United Nations in 1947 by Va'ad Leumi (National Council) on Behalf of the Creation of a Jewish State." (The Va'ad Leumi Memoranda). The Va'ad Leumi was founded in 1920 and its departmental structure served as a basis for the government ministries, when the State of Israel was established.

  Gaza Operation Investigations: Second Update
» 395.4 KB - 1,636 hits - 31 July 2010
An update to the information presented in Israel's reports related to the Gaza Operation previously released in July 2009 and January 2010. This Paper describes the progress and current status of investigations carried out by Israel into allegations of misconduct and violations of the Law of Armed Conflict by Israel Defence Forces ("IDF") during the military Operation in Gaza from 27 December 2008 through 18 January 2009 (the "Gaza Operation," also known as "Operation Cast Lead"). It is intended as an update to the information presented in Israel's reports related to the Gaza Operation previously released in July 2009 and January 2010. In addition, this Paper includes a summary of some of the changes in military operational procedures that Israel has made, or is making, to implement the lessons learned as a result of the Gaza Operation. [Released by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, July 19, 2010]

  Second Timeline of the History of the Jews
» 82.3 KB - 1,517 hits - 28 March 2010
Timeline of the History of the Jews and the Land of Israel to the beginning of zionist pioneering (63 B.C.E.-1887 C.E.). Based on "A Historical Survey of the Jewish Population in Palestine Presented to the United Nations in 1947 by Va'ad Leumi (National Council) on Behalf of the Creation of a Jewish State." (The Va'ad Leumi Memoranda). The Va'ad Leumi was founded in 1920 and its departmental structure served as a basis for the government ministries, when the State of Israel was established.

  The Second Va'ad Leumi Memorandum
» 289.5 KB - 1,427 hits - 28 March 2010
Second Memorandum: historical survey of the Jewish population in Palestine from the fall of the Jewish state to the beginning of zionist pioneering. "A Historical Survey of the Jewish Population in Palestine Presented to the United Nations in 1947 by Va'ad Leumi (National Council) on Behalf of the Creation of a Jewish State." (The Va'ad Leumi Memoranda). The Va'ad Leumi was founded in 1920 and its departmental structure served as a basis for the government ministries, when the State of Israel was established.

  Israel's Identity
» 2.0 MB - 1,234 hits - 18 May 2010
The creation of a new Jewish Identity. The New "Sabra" Jew and the Old "Diaspora" Jew, and other socio-cultural groups in Israeli society. (By Professor Ido Oren, University of Florida).

  The First Va'ad Leumi Memorandum
» 121.1 KB - 1,173 hits - 28 March 2010
First Memorandum: historical survey of the waves of the number and density of the population of ancient Palestine. "A Historical Survey of the Jewish Population in Palestine Presented to the United Nations in 1947 by Va'ad Leumi (National Council) on Behalf of the Creation of a Jewish State." (The Va'ad Leumi Memoranda). The Va'ad Leumi was founded in 1920 and its departmental structure served as a basis for the government ministries, when the State of Israel was established.

  Military Ethics of Fighting Terror
» 142.1 KB - 1,169 hits - 3 April 2010
The purpose of the present document is to briefly present principles that constitute a new doctrine within the sphere of Military Ethics: The Just War Doctrine of Fighting Terror. The doctrine has been developed by a team at the Israel Defense Force (IDF) College of National Defense. However, the work has been done on the general levels of moral, ethical and legal considerations that should guide a democratic state when it faces terrorist activities committed against its citizens. Accordingly, the proposed principles are meant to be justified and practically applicable under any parallel circumstances. Authors: Prof. Asa Kasher (University of Tel Aviv), Amos Yadlin (IDF College of National Defense). Published online: July 27, 2006 by Philosophia. Copyright: Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2006. Download this publication and read it together with the IDF Spirit (also available on this download page).

  Implications of a Palestinian Corridor Across Israel
» 1.2 MB - 1,151 hits - 22 August 2010
Linking the Gaza Strip with the West Bank. Before a viable Palestinian state can come into existence, the Palestinian Authority and Israel must come to certain agreements. The idea of a territorial link between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, commonly called the issue of “safe passage,” is often overlooked. Safe passage raises legal, economic, and security concerns for Israel as well as for the Palestinians. the lack of a link between separated territories does not affect whether a new political community should be recognized as a state under international law. In addition, based on past and present international practice, a state does not possess an inherent right to a link between its geographically distinct areas. In particular this may be applied to the sovereign link called for by the Palestinians between Gaza and the West Bank. [By Justus Reid Weiner and Diane Morrison; Visit http://jcpa.org/ for more information.]

  The Challenge to Israel's Legitimacy
» 74.0 KB - 1,114 hits - 14 January 2011
Looking at recent developments, there is a dangerous global shift occurring with respect to Israel’s international standing, which must be urgently addressed. Over the last decade, former Israeli officers have been threatened with arrest for alleged war crimes if they visit certain European countries. From Norway to the UK, there is increasing talk of boycotts against Israeli universities. There is more talk about trade sanctions, as well...The cumulative impact of these developments is the creation of an increasingly hostile environment for Israel, as every negative report about Israeli policy is accepted at face value. [By Ambassador Dore Gold, Friends of Israel Initiative No. 1, www.friendsofisraelinitiative.org]

  Gaza Operation Investigations Update
» 1.3 MB - 1,054 hits - 7 February 2010
On 29 January 2010, Israel released a 46-page Paper which describes Israel's procedures for the investigation of allegations of violations of the Law of Armed Conflict. The Paper focuses on investigations, legal proceedings and lessons learned, in relation to the actions of the IDF in the course of the Gaza Operation from 27 December 2008 through 18 January 2009. This paper supplements and updates a paper released in July 2009 -"The Operation in Gaza: Factual and Legal Aspects". [Released by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, January 29, 2010]

  First Timeline of the Ancient History of the Holy Land
» 20.3 KB - 1,038 hits - 28 March 2010
Ancient Sojourns Through the Holy Land (3000 B.C.E.-587 B.C.E.).

  Israel's Critical Security Needs for a Viable Peace
» 5.2 MB - 973 hits - 21 August 2010
Since the 1993 Oslo Declaration of Principles signed with Yasser Arafat’s PLO, Israel’s vital security requirements have been relegated to a position of secondary importance. Israel’s traditional “security-based diplomacy” approach to foreign relations had been set aside. Instead, a doctrine of “diplomacybased security” had come to dominate Israeli diplomatic thinking, as peace agreements were thought to be the guarantor of Israel’s safety... The Palestinians have adhered to their historical narrative of armed struggle that denies Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish nation-state, regardless of signed agreements or unilateral Israeli withdrawals. The Palestinians have interpreted Israeli territorial withdrawals as signs of weakness and retreat that have energized their struggle to force additional Israeli territorial concessions... Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s foreign policy speech at Bar-Ilan University on June 14, 2009, represented a fundamental restoration of Israel’s security- and rights-based approach to the conflict. Netanyahu insisted that reciprocity govern relations between the sides: that Israel be recognized as the nation-state of the Jewish people, that a future Palestinian state be demilitarized, and that Israel’s critical security needs be honored. [Full Study, copyright JCPA; Visit http://www.defensibleborders.org/security/ for more details.]

  The Jewish-People Deniers
» 93.9 KB - 952 hits - 19 September 2010
The Jewish-people deniers is a review essay by Anita Shapira (The Chaim Weizmann Institute for the Study of Zionism and Israel, Tel Aviv University) on Shlomo Sand's book "Eikh u-matai humtza ha-am ha-yehudi?" (When and how was the Jewish people invented?), Tel Aviv: Resling, 2008. This essay was first published in The Journal of Israeli History Vol. 28, No. 1, March 2009, 63–72.

  Added Value: Israel’s Strategic Worth to the European Union and its Member States
» 1.9 MB - 909 hits - 29 March 2014
A groundbreaking report examining the extent to which Israel represents a strategic asset to the EU. Analysing three key arenas ­– military, economic and scientific/technological – it finds that Europe is more secure, more innovative and more relevant on the world stage thanks to the tools Israel provides. At a time when Israel’s European detractors seek to cast it not only as an illegitimate state, but a liability and burden to Europe, this report demonstrates that by virtually all key parameters, Europe is better off with Israel than without it. (First published by Friends of Israel Initiative and The Henry Jackson Society, January 2014. © Friends of Israel Initiative and The Henry Jackson Society. All rights reserved.)

  Defensible Borders on the Golan Heights
» 447.2 KB - 888 hits - 7 April 2010
Israeli-Syrian negotiations in 1999-2000 discussed security arrangements to compensate Israel for the loss of the Golan Heights. The idea was to guarantee that in case of war, IDF forces could quickly return to the place where they are currently stationed. This analysis demonstrates that Israel does not possess a plausible solution to its security needs without the Golan Heights. Not only was the "solution" proposed in the year 2000 implausible at the time, but changing circumstances have rendered Israel's forfeiture of the Golan today an even more reckless act. A publication of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (copyright JCPA). Visit http://www.defensibleborders.org/ for more details.

  60 Years of Women's Service in the IDF
» 23.2 MB - 850 hits - 21 August 2010
The following presentation outlines the role women have taken in the army throughout the history of the Israel Defense Forces. Women have always taken part in Israel’s growing military, from the founding of state in 1948 to the modern army of today. Israel has come a long way from those early days in which they were asked to perform the traditional support duties to the present time, in which most military roles are open to women. But, not only the positions have been opened for women, currently all the way from the basic training to officers courses our soldiers are classified, selected and then trained - according to their abilities and not by gender. Today, women participate in a large array of duties and their presence is meaningful throughout the military. [A publication by the IDF Spokesperson Film Unit; Aug 18, 2010.]

  Israel's Defensible Borders
» 2.6 MB - 607 hits - 20 February 2010
Israel's decision to disengage from the Gaza Strip has placed the future of the disputed West Bank at the top of the international agenda. Prominent voices have called on Israel to withdraw fully from the West Bank and return to the 1949 Armistice Lines (1967 borders) – a move that would undermine Israel's security and even pose an existential threat. It is therefore a matter of urgency that while the debate over the future of the Middle East addresses Palestinian claims for an independent state, Israel's rights and requirements for defensible borders are now placed squarely on the global diplomatic agenda. An initiative of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs (copyright JCPA). Visit http://www.defensibleborders.org/ for more details.

  Israel's Timeline: From Ancient to Contemporary Times
» 698.2 KB - 552 hits - 6 June 2010
Contents: 1. Beginnings to the Destruction of the First Temple (ca. 1850 BCE - 586 BCE); 2. Return from Babylonian Exile to Roman Occupation (ca. 538 BCE - 63 CE); 3. Destruction of the Second Temple to the Middle Ages (ca. 73 CE - 500 CE); 4. Middle Ages to Rise of Ottoman Empire (ca. 501 CE - 14th century); 5. Ottoman Empire to Beginning of Modernity (ca. 1516 - 1897); 6. A Brief Modern History of Arab-Israeli Relations (1897 - Present) [publication of the JCRC]