Interviews

Algunas entrevistas realizadas a ex-combatientes de distintas unidades sobre su servicio militar, experiencias y la forma en la cual influyo en su pensamiento y la forma de ver el mundo.


INTERVIEW 1

Age: 33
Gender: Male
Iechida: Tzanchanim
Function: Samal Machlaka
How long ago have you unjoined the Tzahal: it`s been 9 years but I still do the military reserve.
Who did you vote on the last elections: Ehud Olmert (Kadima)
Who do you think you're going to vote on the next: It is too soon to be sure, but today I would vote Liberman (Israel Beitenu)

Politics
Q. Are you satisfied with the actual government?
A. It could be better. I was more satisfied with the previous government. From 1 to 10 I would give them 7.

Q. What do you think about the obligatory military service?
A. It must be obligatory. We need to have a strong army. It needs to be for all Israelis because besides the war, in the army we learn about social conscience and partnership.

Influence of the Army on the society
Q. For you, does the army influence on the political vision of the people? Why?
A. In short terms, it does influence, but it doesn't really change the political view of people during the 3 years of service.

Q. In which ways could the Army influence someone's life?
A. People tend to be more responsible, adults and serious in the things they do.

Q. Is there something that you think could be done, educationally, in order to prepare the young people that you enroll in the Tzahal?
A. During the High School (tichon) we must talk to the young about it, bring soldiers and ex-soldiers to talk, teach them the options they have when enrolled, the history of the country and the army (in order for them to understand how big and important is the organ they will represent).

Q. Which experience during the army service most marked you as a person?
A. There's nothing specific. The whole service on the Tzahal made me a more responsible man and citizen.

Q. How important do you think is the issue of army inside de educational process in Israel?
A. During my basic training in the army, my mefaked (commandant) not only taught me about how to fight, but also values, history, education. You can learn a lot of things besides the fight learning from it.

Personal Formation
Q. How do you define yourself politically?
A. Right wing and Zionist (Iemini ve Tzioni)

Q. Which person/institution/experience most influenced you at this issue?
A. Before I joined the army, my family played a big roll on it, and after that, Rafael Eitan, ex-Ramatkal.

Galut(Diaspora)
Q. How important is the service on Tzahal for the absorption of new immigrants (Olim Hadashim)?
A. A immigrant that was on the army feel more fit into the Israeli society, has a better understanding on the country issues and people also treat him in a different way. For the persons themselves it is also good. Tzahal gives you a lot of courses that help you in the absorption, for example, Hebrew classes.

Q. How important is the army for the Jews in the Galut?
A. People from the Galut that stand for Israel (and see the Tzahal as a main part of it) also help with money, serving the army and defending it in discussions.


INTERVIEW 2

Age: 28
Gender: Male.
Iechida: Handassa Kravit
Function: Two different. Kashar MP and Kalah( medium distance shooter).
How long ago have you unjoined the Tzahal: 4 years ago.
Who did you vote on the last elections: Meretz.
Who do you think you're going to vote on the next: Hadash.

Politics
Q. Are you satisfied with the actual government?
A. No

Q. What do you think about the obligatory military service?
A.On one hand it's not necessary because Israel can live without it and, as I'm sure that the war situation is evitable, and therefore, we can reduce the size of the army. It also doesn’t fulfill its plays in creation of a equalitarian society anymore. It was said that the army would help to built a society with equal rights, but it's really not because the Arabs have fewer rights than the Jews. Also, there could be other situations to accomplish these goals outside the army and the persons that succeed in the Tzahal have the same profile: Ashkenazim, kibtuzinikim, wealthy…

Influence of the Army on the society
Q. For you, does the army influence on the political vision of the people? Why?
A. In the majority of the cases it creates a vision more to the right wing. The military experience turns you more aggressive, impatient, with more hate to the Arabs, in general. In our case, being Kravi (combatants) takes you more to the right wing politically.

Q.In which ways could the Army influence someone's life?
A. To me, it made me think there's nothing more important in Israel nowadays than to solve the Israeli-Arab conflict.
Nothing is black or white. In a certain way, it creates suspicious, aggressive people, that consider that thing can be owned by force (It's possible to see this easily when taking a bus, for example). People create superb (believe that they are world owners and can do whatever they want).

Q. Is there something that you think could be done, educationally, in order to prepare the young people that you enroll in the Tzahal?
A. That people would join the army with 21 instead of 18, but its not right to require from the 21 ones that want to study and move on with life to let it all on the side and to go to the army.

Q. Which experience during the army service most marked you as a person?
A. One day we had to cut an Arab village in two, in order for a terrorist not to escape. 50 people arrived and they just wanted to go to Meca for peregrination and we couldn't let them pass through. It could be easily seen that they had nothing to do with it. I talked with one of them, a professor from the Hebron university, who said that he understood me, but just wanted to pass with elderly people that were very tired.. At least we were able to call the Shabak to view their situation on the computer and to let them pass. The army should'nt have direct contact with the civil population.

Q. How important do you think is the issue of army inside the educational process in Israel?
A. Very big. In many ways the Jewish schools transmit expectations as to what they will do in the army, for them to be combatants, good soldiers. The children are encouraged to send gifts to soldiers during wars. That's not just to pass information, but expectations also and that's clear for everyone. I think that is not the role of the school to deal with that. The teacher does not have legitimacy to do it.

Personal Formation
Q. How do you define yourself politically?
A. Humanistic and liberal. Economically I'm liberal, not neo-liberal, I don't support the wild capitalism. Nor think that the State has to be too much into the economic activities.

Q. Which person/institution/experience most influenced you at this issue?
A.In a certain way, the place in which I study (university). In the recent years some of my positions were better defined. From the tnua a little, from the experience in the shnat a little, from my home also, from a Israeli cousin that I have…

Galut(Diaspora)
Q. How important is the service on Tzahal for the absorption of new immigrants (Olim Hadashim)?
A. There are pros and cons. In the end, it's the same. When in the army you learn more of integration elements, but if you have worked in a restaurant you would integrate yourself also. There are also bad things like delaying personal projects. In the end, I really think is the same.

Q. How important is the army for the Jews in the Galut?
A. None. There shouldn't be relations except in very specific cases. It's not supposed to be the Jewish army, but the country's army. Sending money or people to protect the communities shouldn't be done, unless they would pay for it but nothing too big.