American Iraq war veterans tour Israel

Enthusiastic director Paul Reickhoff calls the country "fantastic" and "a model of social involvement."

By ALI LIFSHITZ
us iraq war vets 224 88 (photo credit: Courtesy)
us iraq war vets 224 88
(photo credit: Courtesy)
The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America arrived in Israel this week for a week-long tour. The group of enlisted soldiers, medics, pilots, and military officers decided to visit Israel after some IDF soldiers they met at an event suggested coming to Israel to learn about the culture and meet more Israeli veterans. Paul Rieckhoff, director and founder of IAVA and a nationally recognized authority on the war in Iraq and American military issues, told The Jerusalem Post "I've always wanted to go to Israel... Israel's a close ally of the US and it was a great opportunity." Scheduled for the group are tours to several military bases as well as some of Israel's more famous historical and geographical locations, including the Golan Heights, Masada, and the Old City in Jerusalem. On the agenda as well are some hikes and a briefing by Public Security Minister Avi Dichter. When asked about the group's impression of Israel based on what they've seen here and in their previous encounters with Israelis, Rieckhoff replied that "Israel is a model of social involvement... It's great to be in a country where everyone is so involved, where everyone understands sacrifice and what it means." The group was also impressed by Israel's military achievements; The consensus among the US Veterans who have had contact with members of the IDF is that Israeli soldiers are "dynamic, innovative fighters." Pieckhoff also asserted that he had a tremendous amount to learn from his friends that served in the IDF, and that he had in fact studied up on the Israeli military before his unit's counter-insurgency operations in Iraq. Another thing that struck the group was the prominence of the military in Israeli culture. "You can tell from the moment you get here that Israel appreciates its soldiers, Israel supports its soldiers. Its soldiers and its people are one, which is very different from what you see in the US... I think the US has lost some of that appreciation," Pieckhoff said. The IAVA is a non-profit group education and advocacy organization that seeks to promote awareness of and benefits for all those who are fighting or have fought in the war on terror.