Recruits are expected to undergo accelerated basic training for three weeks, after which they will be armed and stationed in the settlements. The program is open to civilians between the ages of 27 to 50, who have not served in the Israeli army
ed note–No mystery where all of this is headed, but for those who still have not done the very simple math on this, we’ll spell it out for you in the Kristol Clearest of terms/language, to wit–
‘When the LORD your God brings you into the land you are to possess and casts out the many peoples living there, you shall then slaughter them all and utterly destroy them…You shall save nothing alive that breathes…You shall make no agreements with them nor show them any mercy. You shall destroy their altars, break down their images, cut down their groves and burn their graven images with fire. For you are a holy people unto the LORD thy God and He has chosen you to be a special people above all others upon the face of the earth…’–Book of Deuteronomy
Haaretz
The IDF intends to recruit settlers who have not undergone military service and place them as regional defense militiamen in their area of residence.
The recruits are expected to undergo accelerated basic training for three weeks, after which they will be armed and stationed in the settlements. The program is open to civilians between the ages of 27 to 50, who have not served in the military.
Candidates were asked to fill out a form to indicate, among other things, their religious affiliation such as ultra-Orthodox, national-religious, national ultra-Orthodox, religious or other.
A designated website states that candidacy will be evaluated according to ‘various criteria,’ but does not specify what those criteria include. A person who called the army to inquire about the program was told that basic training would begin in two weeks and that he would receive the salary of a regular soldier, and after that the salary of a reservist.
When the interested party asked if a criminal record would prevent his enlistment, the military representative asked if that criminal record was ‘something like hilltop youth,’ referring to the radical, often violent settlers from illegal outposts. He asked not to elaborate. Later, the interested party was told that this depended on the nature of his criminal record. He was also told that he would be able to fill the position in a community that was not his place of residence, but that the army would not provide him with lodging.
Another person who inquired about the program and told the military representative that he had been a hilltop youth, was asked if he had a criminal record. When he answered in the affirmative, he was told that in some cases the army would ‘overlook it if he was serious. It depends,’ and was told to register so that his candidacy could be examined.
Earlier this week, the army suspended a reservist after violating numerous army procedures. The soldier, a company commander of a regional defense unit in the Etzion Bloc, shot at a Palestinian violating the rules of engagement, blocked Palestinian traffic opposite the entrance to the Ma’ale Amos settlement in opposition to his brigade commander’s orders.
He blocked roads to Palestinian traffic together with settlers who are not soldiers, failed to prevent the building of unauthorized roads around settlements, and conducted unauthorized tours while on duty. The company commander was suspended, but not dismissed from duty.
This IDF company is composed mainly of residents of settlements.
Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, the IDF has handed out some 8,000 weapons to settlement defense squads and regional defense battalions in the West Bank.
Furthermore, as previously published in Haaretz, since the start of the war some 1,500 ultra-Orthodox men above the exemption age for military service (26) have submitted requests to be enlisted to reserve duty.
Their requests were submitted within the framework of the ‘Phase B’ program, a designated track for ultra-Orthodox men that was introduced two years ago, primarily for positions as drivers’ in the health professions, and identifying the deceased.
‘In view of current circumstances, we received many requests from citizens who received an exemption from military service in the past and who wish to volunteer in the IDF. For years, the IDF has made it possible to enlist as part of the ‘Phase B’ program, a process that includes recruitment to basic training, after which volunteers can enlist and contribute to active reserve service. The IDF looks at all inquiries, checks with the relevant authorities and approves them accordingly,’ an IDF spokesperson said.