To provide greater exposure to primary Israeli news sources and opinions in order to become better informed on the issues, and to gain a better understanding of the wide range of perspectives that exist in Israeli society and politics. Issue 993 • February 12, 2016 • 3 Adar I 5776

ISRAEL SAYS 'ALWAYS WATCHING' IRAN’S MISSILE DEVELOPMENTS Israel at times holds on to the bodies of terrorists killed during attacks on FOLLOWING ANNOUNCEMENT OF MISSILE UPGRADE (JPost 2/11/16) Israelis, handing them over only once the families agree to low-key funerals. Israel did not respond on Wednesday to Iran’s announcement it will unveil an The measure is aimed at preventing large protests that could lead to riots. upgrade this year of its Emad ballistic missile whose 1,700 km range puts The essence of the controversy over the meeting, Odeh claimed, was Israel in its reach. whether or not the Arab MKs had stood for a minute’s silence in support of However, one government official said that Israel is “always carefully the terrorists. watching” Iran’s ballistic missile developments. Echoing the explanation given by Zahalka, Odeh said that there was no The official said that Iranian ballistic missile development was not part of the minute of silence in support of the terrorists. Rather, the Arab MKs stood Iranian nuclear deal, which was one of Israel’s objections to the agreement. silent for the reading of the fatiha prayer, which Odeh argued is said by Iran’s defense minister was quoted as saying the country would unveil an Muslims for all people who have died, whether you agree or disagree with upgrade of its Emad ballistic missiles, advancing a program that has drawn their actions. criticism from the United Nations and sanctions from the United States. In addition to the moment of silence, however, some critics of the meeting “We will unveil the next generation of Emad with improved precision in the said that the Arab MKs had referred to the terrorists as martyrs. Although next (Iranian) year (starting from March 20),” Iran’s Defense Minister Hossein Zahalka denied this, the other two MKs at the meeting continue to openly call Dehghan was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency late on Tuesday. the attackers martyrs — Ghattas in an interview with Channel 10 and Zoabi “The Emad missile is not a violation of the nuclear deal or any UN resolution on her official Facebook page. since we will never use a nuclear warhead (on it). It’s an allegation,” he said, Asked by The Times of Israel whether the Joint List leader would himself adding that mass production would begin in the near future. refer to slain terrorists as martyrs, Odeh said that he would never use such a The US says the Emad is capable of carrying a nuclear warhead and the test descriptor for terrorists. therefore violated a UN resolution. “Perhaps some people in my party have used that word [martyr]. But I have Washington imposed fresh sanctions last month against Iranian individuals never, nor will you ever hear me use that word.” and businesses linked to the missile program. 'IDF SPARING NO EFFORT TO NEUTRALIZE TUNNEL THREAT' (Israel JOINT LIST LEADER: PM’S POLITICAL ‘SCHEMING’ BEHIND BAN ON Hayom 2/9/16) ARAB MKS (Times of Israel 2/10/16) The Israel Defense Forces is sparing no effort to counter the threat posed by Joint (Arab) List leader Ayman Odeh accused Prime Minister Benjamin Hamas tunnels, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot said Tuesday. Netanyahu of narrow “political scheming” over the suspension of three Arab Speaking at a conference on military-civilian relations, hosted by the MKs for meeting with the families of terrorists. But he also hinted that his Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya in memory of late IDF Chief of Staff Amnon colleagues may have erred in holding the meeting and in referring to the Lipkin-Shahak, Eizenkot said the defense establishment is dedicating terrorists, who were all killed while carrying out attacks, as martyrs. The lawmakers were suspended by the Knesset Ethics Committee on Israel Report is a Student Publication of Monday, with Hanin Zoabi and Basel Ghattas receiving four-month bans and Jamal Zahalka receiving a two-month injunction. All three are members of Daniel Zolty, Editor-in-Chief Zev Jarashow, Yosef Segal, and Yonatan Kurtz, Editors Balad, one of three parties recently united under Odeh’s Joint List. We are proud to be distributed by these institutions, though they do not necessarily support or condone Netanyahu, said Odeh in an address Tuesday at the Jerusalem Press Club, any of the material published: Anshei Chesed Cong., Boynton Beach, FL Hillel at California State University - Long Beach sees the Arab minority as a threat — not to the Jewish character of the State Bergen County High School of Jewish Studies Hillel at Columbia University of Israel, but to the prime minister’s control over the government. Boca Raton Synagogue, FL Hillel at Johns Hopkins University Carmel School, Hong Kong Hillel at Yale University The Joint List leader said Netanyahu learned about the political force the Chabad of Oak Park, CA Hillel High School, Deal NJ Arab minority constitutes, among other times, when he won the 1996 general Cong. Agudath Achim, Bradley Beach, NJ Jewish Center of Teaneck, NJ election by just 30,000 votes over Shimon Peres. Cong. Ahavas Achim, Highland Park, NJ Kehillas Bais Yehudah Tzvi, Cedarhurst, NY Cong. Ahavath Achim, Fairfield, CT Kemp Mill Synagogue, Silver Spring, MD “He understands that Arabs have the power to change the outcome of an Cong. Anshe Shalom, Jamaica Estates, NY Mizrachi Shul, Johannesburg, SA election,” said Odeh, adding that “if we [the Arabs] were to be a legitimate Cong. Beth Aaron, Teaneck, NJ North Shore Hebrew Academy HS, NY Cong. Beth Shalom, Monroe Twp, NJ Suburban Torah Center, Livingston, NJ force, then he would always have to convince 70% of the Jewish population Cong. Bnai Yeshurun, Teaneck, NJ The Learning Shul, Columbia, SC to keep his regime.” Cong. Ohr Torah, Edison, NJ Woodsburgh, NY Minyan Cong. Rinat Yisrael, Teaneck, NJ Young Israel Bet Tefilah of Aberdeen, NJ Without clearly condemning the meeting, Odeh hinted that it may have been Cong. Sons of Israel, Allentown, PA Young Israel of Brookline, MA unwise from a political perspective. “There are some instances that require a Cong. Zichron Mordechai, Teaneck, NJ Young Israel of East Brunswick, NJ Cong. Zichron R. M. Feinstein, Brooklyn, NY Young Israel of Fort Lee, NJ thoughtful approach,” Odeh said. “This is an important thing. At least so that Delray Orthodox Synagogue, Delray Beach, FL Young Israel of Hancock Park, CA certain actors who are waiting for a mistake don’t take advantage.” East Denver Orthodox Synagogue, CO Young Israel of Holliswood, NY The Joint List leader, who said he was not invited to the meeting with the Flatbush Park Jewish Center, Mill Basin, NY Young Israel of Houston, TX Harvard University Library Young Israel of New Hyde Park, NY terrorists’ families, held firm to his party’s position that none of the three MKs Hebrew Academy of Long Beach, NY Young Israel of North Woodmere, NY was there to legitimize terrorism. Rather, he said, the meeting was a Hillel at Baruch College Young Israel of New Rochelle, NY Hillel at Brandeis University Young Israel of Sharon, MA humanitarian act to help the families negotiate the conditions set by the YI Shomrai Emunah, Silver Spring, MD Israeli authorities for the return of their children’s bodies. We encourage our readers to subscribe to our sources on the internet. For more information or to subscribe by e-mail, reach us at [email protected] 2 considerable resources to intelligence gathering efforts. participate in a general meeting in the parliament to discuss the subject, after The threat of Hamas' network of terror tunnels "has been a top priority for us 35 parliament members requested such a meeting. since late 2013. Our enemies didn't just forget about it after [Operation] In the beginning of February, the Jordanian BDS movement relaunched its Protective Edge, and they are investing considerable resources in it," he said. social media campaign against gas imports from Israel that was first "We are looking at every possible countermeasure to neutralize [the threat]. launched in September 2014 following reports of renewed negotiations We have advanced capabilities ... but I can't elaborate on everything we're between Noble Energy and the Jordanian authorities. doing. Much of it is done far from the public eye." The partners of the Leviathan gas reservoir signed a letter of intent to supply The military is "concentrating considerable engineering and intelligence about 45 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Jordan’s National Electric efforts versus this threat. We possess the most advanced capabilities in the Power Company (NEPCO) over a 15-year period in September 2014. world, and we won't be fooled by the lull in the south," he said. However that deal was put on hold by Jordan due to upheaval between Commenting on the recent wave of Palestinian violence, Eizenkot said that Israel’s Antitrust Authority and the Leviathan natural gas reservoir’s main defeating terrorism across Judea and Samaria will not necessarily require a stakeholders. wide-scale operation, as demanded by some ministers. The antitrust issues were apparently solved with the approval of Israel's gas "We currently have six brigades -- dozens of battalions and hundreds of outline in December 2015. Jordan's deal with Leviathan is now awaiting companies -- deployed across Judea and Samaria, fighting terrorism nightly," Jordanian government approval. he said. "Anyone talking about 'Defensive Shield 2' simply isn't familiar with the reality on the ground in Judea and Samaria. The IDF has free operational ALEPPO CODEX NAMED WORLD TREASURE BY UNESCO (Israel hand." Hayom 2/10/16) Operation Defensive Shield was a large-scale IDF military campaign waged The Aleppo Codex, on permanent display at the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, in 2002, targeting Palestinian terrorist infrastructure across Judea and has been declared a world treasure by UNESCO and will be listed in the Samaria. organization's Memory of the World Register. According to Eizenkot, "While the situation is complex they [the terrorist] don't Written in Tiberias in 930 C.E., the Aleppo Codex is one of the most have direction. Hamas and Islamic Jihad incite violence but they don't have important biblical manuscripts of all time and twice was in danger of being infrastructure on the ground [in Judea and Samaria]." lost. Crusader rulers saved the book from an ancient Jerusalem synagogue The Palestinian Authority's incitement plays a key role in the surge in and moved it to Egypt, where, in the 12th century C.E., the Jewish violence, Eizenkot said. "Interrogations all see one thing in common -- community of Cairo purchased it for an immense sum of money. Two terrorists saying they were incited by television, Facebook and Twitter," he centuries later, it found its way to Aleppo in Syria. said. "These viral trends have a significant effect on Palestinian youth and it Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, the manuscripts disappeared is compounded ... by the difficult economic situation in Judea and Samaria." after an outraged mob rioted against the Aleppo Jewish community. In 1957, it was brought to Israel in a secret operation. ISRAEL, INDIA TO SIGN WEAPONS DEAL (YNet 2/10/16) Now the codex, known as the first Hebrew Bible bound in book form, has A $3 billion weapons deal is to be signed between Israel and India ahead of a been deemed by UNESCO as a unique treasure of universal value. historic planned visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Holy The codex, which was given to the Ben-Zvi Institute for the study of Jewish Land. Communities in the East by former President Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, is currently on India is planning to buy 164 laser systems for its air force, specifically for its display in the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum, a joint exhibit by both Sukhoi-30MKI and Jaguar planes, and 250 precision guided bunker busting institutions. bombs, according to a report in The Times of India on Tuesday. Dr. Adolfo Roitman, curator of the Shrine of the Book, told Israel Hayom: Additionally, negotiations have started on the acquisition of 321 Spike anti- "This is recognition of the Aleppo Codex as an integral part of humanity's tank systems and 8,356 missiles. cultural treasures, and it's miraculous that the manuscript, which was created "There have already been more than 20 meetings between the sides in Israel, is part of the human legacy. The international recognition testifies to following disagreements in the price," said an Indian Defense Ministry official. the status of the codex as part of the treasures of humanity and also to the "The agreement will be finalized within the next month," official continued, enormous importance of the codex, which was written in Tiberias over 1,000 "and we are attempting to bridge the gaps between the two sides." years ago." The Times of India also reported that the Indian military is in urgent need of Ben-Zvi Institute Director Yaakov Yaniv said, "The Aleppo Codex Bible 3rd generation anti-tank missiles, and needs to arm their 382 infantry proves through its trials, its power, and its survival the story of the Jewish divisions and 44 armored divisions. In October of 2014, India decided to people from the days of the Diaspora and destruction through the current acquire the Israeli made "Spike" over the American made "Javelin." day." Narendra Modi became Prime Minister of India in 2014, and has been a leading force in strengthening the Israeli-India relationship. S & P'S CONFIRMS ISRAEL'S A+ CREDIT RATING WITH A STABLE India was also one of only five countries to abstain from voting for the OUTLOOK (YNet 2/7/16) adoption of a UN Security Council Resolution on Gaza. It was the first time International credit rating company Standard & Poor's on Friday said that it that India publicly abstained from a UN vote criticizing Israel in an was leaving Israel's credit rating unchanged at A+ with a stable outlook. international forum. This was S & P's second rating confirmation since their representative's last annual visit of Israel in June, 2015. JORDANIAN MP THREATENS TO TOPPLE GOVERNMENT OVER The company's announcement stated that "the stable outlook reflects our ISRAELI GAS IMPORT (JPost 2/11/16) expectation that the government will maintain stable public finances and that Jordanian parliament member Muhammad Dawaymeh declared that the the impact of security risks on the Israeli economy will be contained over the parliament will vote no confidence in the government if it moves towards next two years." signing a natural gas import deal with Israel. S & P's estimated that Israel's fiscal deficit for 2016 will be below 3% of GDP. In an interview with the Jordanian Raya radio station on Wednesday, The report also noted that the stable outlook reflects the company's Dawaymeh claimed that in the next week, government representatives will assessment that the impact of security risks on the Israeli economy will 3 remain limited. recreational drugs such as marijuana, with 3% reporting consumption of The rating agency commended the government's efforts in the housing harder drugs such as ecstasy. sector. It stated that the government implemented a series of measures in The figures don't seem to surprise psychologist Professor Leehu Zysberg, order to release land for development, reduced bureaucracy in order to Head of the Research Authority at Gordon College of Education in Haifa. "We accelerate the process of issuing building permits and is also changing the are a violent and less and less tolerant society. The Education Ministry criteria for construction tenders. doesn’t really have effective tools to treat violent incidents, and you can't blame the teachers and principles – there's no clear policy given by the UNSEASONAL WINTER HEATWAVE EXPECTED IN ISRAEL NEXT WEEK Ministry of Education," he said. (Ha’aretz 2/11/16) Israel is expected to experience a highly unusual winter heatwave next week, INTEL ISRAEL IS CONSTANTLY EXPANDING (JPost 2/9/16) with temperatures in the center of the country and along the coast reaching Intel, the largest employer in the Israeli hi-tech industry expanded its R&D 30 degrees centigrade or even higher. centers in 2015, namely in cognitive and perceptual computing, big data, The heatwave is likely to begin on Saturday, according to the Meteo-tech cyber and Internet of Things. meteorological service, and last for several days. “Our manufacturing plants play a significant role in the growth of Israel’s Sunday's temperature is expected to be 10 – 12 degrees hotter than the economy,” says Intel CEO Maxine Fassberg. seasonal average for this time of year. Intel’s R&D centers in Haifa, Jerusalem and the Center added a total of more According to the forecast, high barometric pressure in all levels of the than 400 employees in 2015 and Intel’s exports, totaling $4.1 billion, account atmosphere will cause, among other things, the warming and drying of the for 11 percent of Israeli exports. This increase in the number of employees air. Instead of cold air entering from the east, which is common for this time has enabled Intel to establish unique development groups and expand of year, warm air will enter from the south-west. others, such as its perceptual and cloud computing departments. One or two warm days is not unusual in February, but next week's heatwave During the year, Intel created projects in an effort to absorb hi-tech is likely to last for several days and to be unusually hot. The last time it professionals who had been laid off from other companies such as AMD, happened was in 2010. Marvel and Qualcomm. Intel has always encouraged diversity among its staff and has made concerted efforts to promote women to senior positions. In NEW SURVEY SHOWS WORRYING LEVELS OF SCHOOL VIOLENCE IN fact, 27% of Intel employees are women, thanks in part to incentives offered ISRAEL (YNet 2/10/16) in the company’s friend referral program. The Education Ministry's annual survey on violence in Israeli schools has “It’s been an excellent year in terms of recruitment,” says Intel Israel been published recently, and it reveals that 12% of students from fourth to development centers manager Ran Sandrovich. sixth grade reported being victims of severe violence (strong physical strikes, “Intel Israel’s development teams continue to excel at creating innovative threats, and extortion), as well as 8% of students from grades seven to nine, breakthroughs in an ever expanding range of technologies. We’re and 6% of tenth and eleventh graders. accelerating the development of processors, adding senses and artificial The survey is based on answers given by 26,136 Israeli elementary, middle, intelligence, and integrating them into devices to create incredible and high school students. 25% of those in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades experiences. One of the most important Intel products launched this year was reported being victims of more moderate violence, as well as 18% of seventh the sixth Generation Intel Core processor family, which was mostly to ninth graders, and 11% of tenth and eleventh graders. developed in Israel.” "Children are affected by the level of violence in society," explained Professor Renovations on Intel’s fabrication plant in Kiryat Gat are expected to be Revital Sela-Shayovitz of the David Yellin Academic College, an expert in the completed soon, and over the next two years, the company is planning to field of violence and addiction among teenagers, "And even so, most recruit a large number of production workers and engineers. The large scale teachers haven't been trained to handle violence and have a hard time taking renovations on Fab 28 required the help of 2,300 construction workers. care of violent students and their victims." Mobile Health Israel start-up contest Of the those surveyed in the tenth and eleventh grades, 4% reported carrying The third annual mHealth Israel conference, geared towards start-ups in a knife or pocket knife into school, with 3% of seventh to ninth graders and digital health, will include a contest offering an all-expenses paid business 1% of fourth to sixth graders reporting the same. development trip to the Medical World Americas Conference taking place in 10% of those in the fourth, fifth, and sixth grades have reported being victims Houston, Texas, in association with Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest of sexual violence – defined as an attempt at causing harm, either physically medical complex. More than 40 Israeli and global health-tech startups, with a or verbally, which has sexual aspects. The rate increases in the seventh to working prototype and up to $2 million in previous funding, were expected to ninth graders group, standing at 17%, with tenth and eleventh grade students apply. reporting rates of 16%. 4% of the whole student population reported hearing Finalists will present their companies at mHealth Israel, scheduled for sexually-related comments by school staff, and 3% reported that school staff February 18, before a panel of C-level judges from companies including members had attempted to sexually touch them in the past. Phillips, IBM and EMC. The students' answers regarding alcohol consumption show how common it In addition to the trip, the contest’s winner will meet with C-level executives at is. 47% of tenth and eleventh graders admitted to drinking beverages with a Texas Medical Center and Houston Methodist Hospital, and will be an high alcohol content (such as vodka), and 41% reported drinking low-alcohol- automatic finalist in two other start-up contests Medica App Competition in content beverages (such as beer). 25% of the students in this group said they Düsseldorf, Germany, and Med- City News INVEST in Chicago, Illinois. had become drunk in the past. “Israel is a world leader in digital healthcare technologies,” said mHealth lead Among seventh to ninth grade students, 14% reported having drunk high- organizer Levi Shapiro, who also serves as general partner at Veritas alcoholic-content beverages, with 20% having drunk those with low alcohol Ventures. “There are more than 200 digital health start-ups in Israel, and levels. Among fourth, fifth, and sixth graders, 6% reported drinking high- funding has continued to reach record-breaking levels. The start-up contest alcohol-content beverages, with 10% having drung low-alcohol-content and mHealth conference are premier platforms for Israel’s burgeoning beverages. medical technology field to showcase their innovations to the world.” In addition, 7% of tenth and eleventh grade students reported consuming “Israel’s enormous contributions to the medical technology industry have not 4 gone unnoticed” added Dr. Ashish Atreja, chief technology innovation and families. According to Haaretz, I am evincing “vindictiveness against the engagement officer, medicine, at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “We families” for the deeds of their sons, and am sticking to the decision on the are excited to see new developments for the medical community at the grounds of “internal party populism.” Delaying the burials is “unnecessary mHealth conference and are looking forward to building relationships in abuse” and “collective punishment.” Israel.” Here are the facts. I never claimed that the purpose of the directive is to deter the families, nor is it revenge. The purpose of my directive is to prevent the HEROINES OF THE FRONT (Lital Shemesh, Israel Hayom, 2/10/16) funerals from turning into mass demonstrations of incitement, inflaming of The wave of terrorist attacks we have been enduring for some months now emotions, aggrandizement of terrorism, and calls for more terror attacks. has reminded us all that alongside the brave male soldiers stationed on the Families that agreed to hold small-scale funerals at night, adhering to all the front lines preventing attacks are also female fighters. rules of ritual and religion and who honor the family and the dead without Since the start of the year, eight border policewomen have been wounded in turning the burials into inflammatory demonstrations, received the bodies of terrorist attacks. Last week, 19-year-old Hadar Cohen was shot and killed their sons without delay. For instance, the Melhem family. [Nashat Melhem, during a combined attack in Jerusalem. She had enlisted in the Border Police an Israeli Arab, shot and killed three people in Tel Aviv on January 1.] just two months earlier. The public has entrusted me with the responsibility for public security. Cohen managed to shoot the terrorists before she was killed, thus preventing Pursuant to my responsibility, I take the required steps. We have learned a much bigger attack. She reminded us all that the women on combat duty from experience. Many funerals of terrorists who died while carrying out their are stationed at checkpoints, on vehicular and foot patrols, in east Jerusalem, attacks turned into demonstrations of incitement to hatred, provoking young in Hebron, and on the seam line. As they thwart attacks and arrest terrorists, people who take part and hear the songs of praise for the martyr to join the the female Border Police officers prove they are no less capable than their circle of terrorism themselves. male counterparts. Many funerals descended into riots and clashes with the security forces, On Monday, the Israel Defense Forces announced that the number of ending in deaths. I am determined to prevent all of this, even at the cost of women signing up to serve in combat positions is expected to double in the holding up a funeral until its family gives its commitment. upcoming draft and that the military intends to open more combat roles to It is regretful and disappointing to see that in this matter, Haaretz is standing women. In 1995, the Border Police was the first of Israel's security forces to on the side of the terrorists’ families, who insist on turning the funerals into integrate women into combat positions, allowing women to serve in all its mass demonstrations of incitement, and not by the state, which is demanding units: as K-9 handlers, detectives, and also in field combat. Only two years that they bury their dead without causing a danger to the public. Instead of ago, the U.S. military started considering integrating women into combat lowering the flames, the Haaretz editorial staff is helping fan them. roles. We were smart enough to do it two decades ago. Moreover, the explanation presented in the editorial, that the state has an As someone who served as a Border Police fighter, I can attest to the interest in preventing terrorists from being buried for the sake of deterrence physical difficulty of completing combat basic training and serving in these or punishment, is ludicrous. That claim appears in Palestinian propaganda dangerous areas. But more than that, it demands no small amount of and in its editorial, Haaretz lent it support. The truth is, to a great degree, the courage and sacrifice. While men are drafted into combat units without being opposite. The Ministry of Public Security under my leadership is more given a choice, women have to volunteer and request that the IDF send them committed to the law-abiding Arab population than it was in the past. We to combat units. The Caracal infantry battalion, combat engineering, search intend to build more police stations in Arab towns, to supply equal policing and rescue, the Oketz K-9 unit, or Border Police -- there are plenty of options services and thus correct a long-standing injustice. for female soldiers who want to perform the same service as men. And the But this has nothing to do with the issue before us. Clearly the persistent female fighters get even more out of combat service than they give. It might incitement in Palestinian society fuels terrorism. In this context, mass funerals sound like a cliche, but any woman who enlists as a fighter remains a fighter for the martyrs fulfill a harmful, negative role. for the rest of her life. From the first moment of basic training, when you Were the assailants in the present wave of terror the first whose funerals the realize that you've broken all the boundaries of what you thought you could state demanded be held at night, with few participants, for reasons of accomplish, when you've marched 20 kilometers, survived two weeks of field safeguarding public order? No. training, crawling and bruised knees, that's the moment you understand that Soon 22 years will have passed since the small, night-time funeral that the you're much stronger than you imagined. state forced on the family of a terrorist, for the exact same reasons. In that Even today, when I meet with high school girls, I recommend that they sign case, the state even prevented the burial from taking place at a proper up for combat service. While their friends will go home every day during their funeral home, forcing the family to bury him outside the cemetery. The army army service and complain about things such as why their commanding even blocked off access roads to prevent supporters of the murderer from officer let them out at 5 p.m. rather than 4 p.m., women in combat will face accompanying the body. The name of that murderer was Baruch Goldstein. much more complicated problems. When they get out of the army, it will be Did the Haaretz easier for them to deal with big problems. The recent wave of terrorist attacks editorial staff has proved to us all that the female combat soldiers serve as a bulletproof view the harsh vest for all of us. They are at the flashpoints, they are alert, and they respond conditions of his just as fast as any male fighter. I'm proud of our army that offers equality in funeral and its combat units, and I'm proud of the female soldiers who choose the hard burial as route so they can be there for the citizens of Israel. evidence of a “leadership HAARETZ IS SIDING WITH THE FAMILIES OF TERRORISTS (Minister of vacuum” and Public Security Gilad Erdan Ha’aretz 2/10/16) “unnecessary According to the Haaretz editorial (“Holding the Bodies of Terrorists is abuse”? I think Political Populism, Not Deterrence,” February 7), my order to the police not to the answer is transfer the bodies of the terrorists, residents of Israel, for burial is ‘folly’ and clear. does not achieve its aim, which, the newspaper claims, is to deter the