Israel junket: ‘live penetration raids in Arab territory’

[Peter Presland]

This appeared on a few blogs I follow a couple of days ago. Did't get around to posting it but, looking at the Jerusalem Post this morning (That article about Iran agreeing to the EU Uranium enrichment plan). The Flash advertisement for this little junket is there. It's pretty much unbelieveable. In fact I thought it was some kind of send-up when I first saw it. But no; It's real - headed: Come and see Israel's struggle for survival

Oops - just been and had another look and it's been replaced by a 'Join the Party' one to celebrate Hertzl's 150th birthday. They seem to be rotating them. Do try and get a look at the 'ultimate mission one' though. It really is surreal. Reminded me of Arnie S in that Sci-fi thing 'The Running Man' - come and watch us shoot a few terrorists - in total safety - then enjoy some bracing conversation over canapes & wine in your first class hotel. bloody unbelievable!

Below is an ad that was in Haaretz lately for the Ultimate Mission to Israel. The trip is a red-meat propaganda trip of a retro-masculine character–"live exhibition of penetration raids in Arab territory"– pitched to American professionals, accountants, doctors, lawyers. The fascination is not just the disgusting events–"observe a trial of Hamas terrorists in an IDF military court"–but that the ad is pitched to wealthy American Jews, and also apparently, the Modern Orthodox. Those groups overlap in the Status Quo Lobby, as it’s called, AIPAC. These are Jews who are deeply enmeshed in the American political process: note the meetings with senior Cabinet officials and the emphasis on Israel’s "struggle for survival." The ad follows the jump.

Monday, June 21 – Monday, June 28, 2010

Experience a dynamic and intensive eight day exploration of Israel’s struggle for survival and security in the Middle East today: "a military, humanitarian, historical, judicial, religious, and political reality check."

Mission Highlights

• Briefings by Mossad officials and commanders of the Shin Bet.
  
• Briefing by officers in the IDF Intelligence and Operations branches.
  
• Inside tour of the IAF unit who carries out targeted killings.
  
• Live exhibition of penetration raids in Arab territory.
  
• Observe a trial of Hamas terrorists in an IDF military court.
  
• First hand tours of the Lebanese front-line military positions and the Gaza border check-points.
  
• Inside tour of the controversial Security Fence and secret intelligence bases.
  
• Meeting Israel’s Arab agents who infiltrate the terrorist groups and provide real-time intelligence.
  
• Briefing by Israel’s war heros who saved the country.
  
• Meetings with senior Cabinet Ministers and other key policymakers.
  
• Small airplane tour of the Galilee, Jeep rides in the Golan heights, water activities on Lake Kinneret, a cook-out barbecue and a Shabbat enjoying the rich religious and historic wonders of Jerusalem’s Old City.
  

First Class Accomodation

• Five-star accommodations at the Sheraton Plaza Jerusalem (Glatt Kosher);
  
• Three meals a day (all Kosher);
  
• Luxury bus transportation and knowledgeable tour guide;
  
• A dedicated Executive Communications Center at the hotel;
  
• Personal cell phone for each participant.
  

Hat tip to Aletho News

[David Guyatt]

You're right, it's quite unbelievable -- a cross between the Deer Hunter, a Sky Travel infomercial and an episode of Hell's Kitchen.

It's hard to know for certain but my guess is that they're taking mind altering drugs down on the living firing range...

I assume this was directed at media and academic types?

[Peter Presland]

It's organised as a fund-raiser for 'Shurat Hadin' Israel Law Centre - all for $2,835 + 'a minimum $500 donation to Shurat Hadin'. Their web site is an education.

Founded by attorney Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, Shurat HaDin works together with western intelligence agencies and volunteer lawyers around the world to file legal actions on behalf of victims of terror.

I wonder how they categorise what 1.5 million people in Gaza went through last year if not 'Terror'? with no less than one tenth of one percent of the entire population killed and a further 4 times that number seriously injured - fully 50% of them women and children.

They just CANNOT see it for some reason.

Here's the full itinerary - without comment because it makes me just too damned angry to remain rational:

[B]Itinerary[/B]

Monday, June 21: Opening
Registration at the Sheraton Plaza Hotel in Jerusalem.
Opening Banquet at the Sheraton Plaza Hotel.

• Introductory remarks by Shurat HaDin’s director, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, Esq.
  
• Briefing by Vice Prime Minister and former IDF Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Moshe Ya'alon: "Strategic and tactical analysis of the threat to Israel from the Palestinians and Middle Eastern states".
  

Tuesday, June 22: The Terrorism Reality
Breakfast in the hotel.

Travel to the Israel Defense Force Center at Latrun.

• Briefing by terrorism expert, former Shin Bet Commander for the Judea and Samaria region: "The use of informants, analysis and counter terrorism". Discussion with undercover Palestinian agents who work with the Israeli security services to infiltrate the Palestinian Authority.
  
• Briefing by former head of the interrogation unit of the Shin Beit: "Israel’s case for pre-emptive self defense."
  

An authentic Middle Eastern lunch in Tel Aviv's historic HaTikva Quarter.

Walking tour of Jaffa.

Insiders’ tour of the IDF Headquarter in Tel Aviv, HaKiria.

• Briefing by Defense Minister’s senior adviser, Amos Gilad: “Israel’s response and preparedness in a hostile Middle East”.
  
• Briefing by Gen. Avigdor Kahalani, a hero of the Yom Kippur War who defeated the Syrians on the main Israeli-Syrian battlefield of the 1973 War
  

Dinner at Meatos, the finest restaurant in Tel Aviv.


Wednesday, June 23: The Judicial Reality
Pack for two nights stay in the North.

Breakfast in the hotel.

• Briefing by Senior Official of the Mossad: "Tracking The Material Support and Resources of the Palestinian Terrorist Organizations".
  

Visit to Machane Ofer Military Base near Jerusalem.

• Tour of the military court.
  
• Observation of a security trial of Hamas terrorists.
  
• Greeting by Chief Judge of Military Court, Col. Aharon Mishnayot.
  
• Briefing by military court judge, Menachem Liberman.
  

Lunch at the military base.

Travel to the Arab town, Kalkilia.

• Tour of an IDF checkpoint on the outskirts of Kalkilia in the West Bank, guarding one of the main terrorists infiltration routes into Israel. First hand visit and inspection of the controversial Security Fence.
  
• Briefing by base commander : "The infiltration and detection of terrorists, explosives and smuggling, emergency medical vehicles, and the civil population".
  

Drive to the northern Tel Aviv Airport “Sdeh Dov”.

• Pre-Flight Briefing.
  
• Private airplanes for a low-flying flight from Tel Aviv to Rosh Pina in the Galilee.
  

Travel to the Sea of the Galilee, Kinneret.

Moonlight Boat Cruise on the Sea of the Galilee.

Dinner at Decks, the finest restaurant on the Sea of the Galilee.

Check-in at the Kinar Village Hotel on the Sea of the Galilee.

• Overnight: Ramot Guest House, Tiberias.
  

Thursday, June 24: The Military Reality
Breakfast in the Ramot Guest House.

Travel to the Golan Heights.

• Visit to Gamla, the ancient fortress from which Jews fought the Romans tooth and nail during the great Jewish revolt (67 C.E.).
  

Visit to IDF tank unit on the Syrian border.

• Briefing escorted by Gen. Yair Nafshi, a former senior commander on the Syrian border.
  
• Briefing by Aviv Shir-On, Deputy Director General for Media & Public Affairs, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  

Lunch in the base.
Tour of a military forward position on the Lebanese Border, escorted by a Senior Commander of the Northern Division, first hand look at the IDF surveillance units.

• Briefing by Northern Front Commander: "The threat from Hezbullah terrorist organization in South Lebanon".
  

Visit to Misgav Am, a front line Kibutz on the Lebanese border.

• Briefing on the Lebanese border.
  

Tour of Tzfat.

Return to Tiberias.

Dinner at Pagoda, a Chinese restaurant on the see of the Galilee.

Walking tour of the city of Tiberias.

• Overnight: Ramot Guest House, Tiberias.
  

Friday, June 25: The Human Reality
Breakfast at the Ramot Guest House.

• Briefing by Shurat HaDin’s director, Nitsana Darshan-Leitner, Esq.: "Taking the battle against Palestinian terrorist organizations, their leaders and financial patrons to court".
  

Walking tour of the old town of Beit Shean.

• Lunch in town.
  

Return back to Jerusalem.

Bus ride to The Western Wall (The Kottel) in Jerusalem’s Old City.

• Welcoming in the Sabbath, “Kabalat Shabbat”, at the Western Wall.
  
• Traditional Dinner and Shabbat Celebration at the Old City Yeshiva “Aish HaTorah”.
  

Walk back to the Sheraton Plaza Hotel for overnight.



Saturday, June 26: The Historical & Religious Reality
Breakfast at the hotel.
Morning Services at The Great Synagogue or other local congregations.
Lunch at hotel.

Walking tour of The Old City with Guide.

Coffee and Cake at the hotel. Divrei Tora (torah words) by Prop. Israel Auman, Israel Nobel Prize winner for economic.

Evening: free.





Sunday, June 27: The Political Reality

Breakfast at the hotel.

Visiting to an Air Force Base.

• Briefing by Gen. Nechemia Dagan, a former Air Force Base Commander, on “the realities of Israel’s policy of targeted killings.”
  

Travel to Gaza.

• Visit to Machsom Erez, Gaza Border. Lecture by the commander of the border crossing: "Gaza: The Security Threat After the Israeli Withdrawal”.
  

Visit to Sderot: Israeli City on the Edge of Gaza, Under Constant Mortar Attacks by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza.

• lunch in Sderot.
  

Travel to Zeelim.

• Visit to Mala, the IDF's state-of-the-art Center for Urban Training. Maco Palestinian city where soldiers receive extensive training in the realities of house to house fighting.
  

Travel back to Jerusalem.


Guided tour of the Israel's Supreme Court.

• Briefing by Supreme Court Chief Justice, Aharon Barak: "The legal and moralistic tensions between Israeli civil rights and security".
  

Farewell Banquet at the Hotel.

• Farewell greetings by Shurat HaDin’s staff.
  

Monday, June 28: Farewells
Farewell Breakfast in the Hotel.