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Israeli Soldiers Tour – Putting a Human Face to the IDF Uniform

[additional-authors]
April 29, 2015

2015 marks the 6th StandWithUs’ “Israeli Soldiers Tour” (Formerly “Israel Soldiers’ Stories”.) This project is one of the most significant counter-attacks of the notorious “Israeli Apartheid Week,” where false information about Israel is being spread by haters across North America college campuses.

In this tour, organized by the pro-Israeli nonprofit organization, StandWithUs, 14 reserve duty Israeli soldier-students travel the United States and speak on campuses, Christian and Jewish high schools, synagogues, churches, etc. They recount their personal experiences of serving in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) upholding its strict moral code while fighting an enemy that hides behind its civilians.

They also present their backgrounds, life in Israel and answer questions. StandWithUs “Israeli Soldiers Tour,” puts a human face to the IDF uniform, thus trying to combat the demonization of Israel and Israelis led by anti-Israeli movements, such as the BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions.)  Their in-front-of-the-lines-and-behind-the-headlines stories, which have never been heard before, try to depict the more accurate, more balanced, reality in Israel.

Yehuda and Keren (Last names are withheld for security purposes) participated in the StandWithUs' 6th “Israeli Soldiers Tour,” and agreed to share their experiences, the good and the bad, with us.


Yehuda, 26, was born and raised in Ethiopia and moved to Israel in 2009 due to his love for Jerusalem. As a volunteer in the IDF, Yehuda served in a border police unit where he served at checkpoints and in Hebron and Jerusalem guarding religious holy sites. He completed his service in 2012 and is currently studying political science and communications at Hadassah College in Jerusalem. An alumnus of StandWithUs` 2014 Israel Fellowship, Yehuda now resides in a quiet neighborhood in Jerusalem.

    

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