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A note from Linda Olmert

31 July 2006

I am posting a copy of an email I received from Linda Olmert this morning. Linda is the sister in law of Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert. I asked for her permission to post her email here and she has graciously agreed.

Dear Friends:

I have not written in the last weeks. So many words were spilled onto the internet, most said it all. And although there are things that words cannot possibly cover, I have come to the point that I need to try.

What words can possible convey the heartsick and pain of visiting Nahriya last Thursday and finding that the silence of those who had fled was so much more audible than the sounds of tourists flocking to the town in previous years. We invest in building, planting and growing, and in a moment, a few madmen, crazed with their lust for our blood and the ruin of our accomplishments, invest their all in destruction.
What words can convey the gut curdling frustration at the tears of the world for the Lebanese, who have aided and abetted the terrorist for years in allowing them to build their factories of destruction under cover of their houses, while the unprovoked destruction of our economy, homes and businesses and the loss of our lives is considered not “worthy of such a strong attack
What words can convey the heroism and quiet determination of aged Holocaust survivors,shrunk and wrinkled with age, the burden of their survival, and building the State of Israel through so many wars. Replaying the dialogue of their youth and reliving the 70 year old dilemma of whether to stay or to go – we watch them gather the last of their strenght yet again, to vow that from this place they will not move – not from a million rockets.
And what words can convey the heartbreaking rejection from a world that can see the lengths to which Israelis go to save civillian lives of the enemy, at the cost of our own soldiers and yet condems us when there is loss of life despite our unrealistic efforts. The terrorists know of our sensibilities, so they hide among civilians – no one else would care! I once asked a teacher of mine: the Tanach was written in a violent age – why are the Hebrews exhorted to wipe out the enemy – that is what people did then, and it seems so cruel now. And the teacher answered that God knew the hearts of his people – that what others did naturally, we needed to be told to do – and still we did not do it. That doing the cruel things that a sovereign nation must do to survive did not come naturally to us. And yet it is us that the world condemns.

I could fill a book with the words that I do not have for this latest installment to our trajedy.

Instead, I have pasted below the Ethical Code of the Israel Defense Force. Every Israeli soldier learns this, and carries it around in his/her pocket (in Hebrew of course). I am proud of our military – they are fighting with a humanity that can only grow out of love – for our people and our country, for our past and the future that we hope to build. The code below is the expression of who we are.

This was taken from the official site of the IDF

With hope for peace

Shalom

Linda

__________________________________________

http://www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/mainpage.asp?sl=EN&id=32

The Ethical Code of the Israel Defense Forces

The IDF Spirit

The Israel Defense Forces are the state of Israel’s military force. The IDF is subordinate to the directions of the democratic civilian authorities and the laws of the state. The goal of the IDF is to protect the existence of the State of Israel and her independence, and to thwart all enemy efforts to disrupt the normal way of life in Israel. IDF soldiers are obligated to fight, to dedicate all their strength and even sacrifice their lives in order to protect the State of Israel, her citizens and residents. IDF soldiers will operate according to the IDF values and orders, while adhering to the laws of the state and norms of human dignity, and honoring the values of the State of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state

Spirit of the IDF-Definition and Origins

The Spirit of the IDF is the identity card of the IDF values, which should stand as the foundation of all of the activities of every IDF soldier, on regular or reserve duty. The Spirit of the IDF and the guidelines of operation resulting from it are the ethical code of the IDF. The Spirit of the IDF will be applied by the IDF, its soldiers, its officers, its units and corps to shape their mode of action. They will behave, educate and evaluate themselves and others according to the Spirit of the IDF.

The Spirit of the IDF draws on four sources:

The tradition of the IDF and its military heritage as the Israel Defense Forces.
The tradition of the State of Israel, its democratic principles, laws and institutions.
The tradition of the Jewish People throughout their history.
Universal moral values based on the value and dignity of human life.

Basic Values:

Defense of the State, its Citizens and its Residents – The IDF’s goal is to defend the existence of the State of Israel, its independence and the security of the citizens and residents of the state.

Love of the Homeland and Loyalty to the Country – At the core of service in the IDF stand the love of the homeland and the commitment and devotion to the State of Israel-a democratic state that serves as a national home for the Jewish People-its citizens and residents.

Human Dignity – The IDF and its soldiers are obligated to protect human dignity. Every human being is of value regardless of his or her origin, religion, nationality, gender, status or position.

The Values: – The IDF and its soldiers are obligated to protect human dignity. Every human being is of value regardless of his or her origin, religion, nationality, gender, status or position.

Tenacity of Purpose in Performing Missions and Drive to Victory – The IDF servicemen and women will fight and conduct themselves with courage in the face of all dangers and obstacles; They will persevere in their missions resolutely and thoughtfully even to the point of endangering their lives.

Responsibility – The IDF serviceman or woman will see themselves as active participants in the defense of the state, its citizens and residents. They will carry out their duties at all times with initiative, involvement and diligence with common sense and within the framework of their authority, while prepared to bear responsibility for their conduct.

Credibility – The IDF servicemen and women shall present things objectively, completely and precisely, in planning, performing and reporting. They will act in such a manner that their peers and commanders can rely upon them in performing their tasks.

Personal Example – The IDF servicemen and women will comport themselves as required of them, and will demand of themselves as they demand of others, out of recognition of their ability and responsibility within the military and without to serve as a deserving role model.

Human Life – The IDF servicemen and women will act in a judicious and safe manner in all they do, out of recognition of the supreme value of human life. During combat they will endanger themselves and their comrades only to the extent required to carry out their mission.

Purity of Arms – The IDF servicemen and women will use their weapons and force only for the purpose of their mission, only to the necessary extent and will maintain their humanity even during combat. IDF soldiers will not use their weapons and force to harm human beings who are not combatants or prisoners of war, and will do all in their power to avoid causing harm to their lives, bodies, dignity and property.

Professionalism – The IDF servicemen and women will acquire the professional knowledge and skills required to perform their tasks, and will implement them while striving continuously to perfect their personal and collective achievements.

Discipline – The IDF servicemen and women will strive to the best of their ability to fully and successfully complete all that is required of them according to orders and their spirit. IDF soldiers will be meticulous in giving only lawful orders, and shall refrain from obeying blatantly illegal orders.

Comradeship – The IDF servicemen and women will act out of fraternity and devotion to their comrades, and will always go to their assistance when they need their help or depend on them, despite any danger or difficulty, even to the point of risking their lives.

Sense of Mission – The IDF soldiers view their service in the IDF as a mission; They will be ready to give their all in order to defend the state, its citizens and residents. This is due to the fact that they are representatives of the IDF who act on the basis and in the framework of the authority given to them in accordance with IDF orders.

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