Who's Standing With Israel ?

 :Nadene Goldfoot                                                    

Here's a good example of Israel's youth and how they are expected to spend their time. Teens begin IDF training in high school: 'No one else will do it in our place.'  With demand for combat soldiers rising amid war, high schoolers are already training for their military service, describing the intense workouts, their drive to contribute and motivation sparked by October 7th.  

 Israeli teens undergo a rigorous preparation process for the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). During high school, they participate in physical fitness boot camps and leadership programs, while many choose to postpone their enlistment after graduation to attend pre-military academies or perform a year of community service. During high school, Pre-Military Fitness Programs: Teens often join civilian or NGO-led fitness groups (e.g., Mechinot or local fitness clubs) that train several times a week. These simulate military tryouts to prepare students for the physical and mental rigors of elite commando, naval, or pilots' courses.Pre-Draft Screening (Tzav Rishon): Around age 17 (11th grade), teens receive their first draft notice. They undergo medical, psychological, and aptitude testing to determine their Profile (medical fitness) and Kaba (quality score).

The majority of Israelis enlist right after high school, but many opt to defer their service to participate in one of the following developmental programs:

• Pre-Military Academies (Mechinot): Highly competitive, 1-to-2-year residential programs. Students focus on Zionism, Jewish history, physical training, and community volunteering.
• Service Year (Shnat Sherut): Students defer their army service for one year to volunteer in underprivileged neighborhoods, youth movements, or agricultural communities and boarding schools.
• Hesder Yeshivas: Religious male students combine intense Torah study with military service. They typically serve a shortened active-duty period while dedicating a significant portion of their time to religious studies.
• Academic Reserves (Atuda): Teens accepted to university delay their enlistment to earn a bachelor's degree in highly technical or medical fields (such as engineering, computer science, or nursing). After graduating, they serve in the military utilizing their specialized degrees
  
  We have a saying:  Am Yisael Chi!  this means:  The people of Israel Live !  Israel's population now is:   approximately 10.2 million people. It is roughly comparable in size to the U.S. state of New Jersey or the country of El Salvador.
  The demographic breakdown of the population includes:
  • Jewish population: Approximately 75% to 76%.
  • Arab population: Approximately 21% to 22%.
  • Other minorities: Roughly 2% to 3% comprising non-Arab Christians, other religions, or those with no classified religion.

Who stands with Israel?  The United States is Israel's primary defender at the United Nations, consistently using its veto power on the Security Council to block resolutions opposed by Jerusalem. While a large majority of the UN General Assembly frequently votes in favor of Palestinian statehood and condemns Israeli occupation policies, a small bloc of nations regularly joins the U.S. and Israel in voting "no."

Countries that most frequently stand with Israel by opposing anti-Israel resolutions and declarations include:

• United States
• Argentina
• Hungary
• Czech Republic
• Micronesia
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Paraguay 

Additionally, countries like Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, and India often abstain from these resolutions or issue votes aligned with more moderate stances, creating a diplomatic buffer.  This stands from March 27, 2024.  Since October 7, 2023, I'm not sure.  

For what reason was Israel created and born on May 14, 1948?  The modern State of Israel was established in 1948 primarily as a sovereign national homeland for the Jewish people. This was driven by the Zionist movement seeking to end centuries of persecution and was accelerated by the atrocities of the Holocaust, which highlighted the urgent need for a safe sanctuary.  The Holocaust took place from January 30, 1933, when Adolf Hitler was appointed Chancellor of Germany, to May 8, 1945, marking the official surrender of Nazi Germany and the end of World War II in Europe. 

https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/timeline/holocaust

Book:  The Holocaust, a history of the Jews of Europe during the second world war by Martin Gilbert, copyright 1985

https://wng.org/opinions/the-un-dithers-while-israel-stands-alone-1711502272

Could Donald Become Prime Minister Of Israel ?

 Nadene Goldfoot                                           

Former US president Donald Trump (left) hosts Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, July 26, 2024. (Amos Ben Gershom/GPO)

Just to keep things straight, Donald Trump just said that Netanyahu would do anything he wanted.  Sorry, Donald, but the PM of Israel has already let you know that he will only do what he sees as best for Israel.  "

• President Trump said Wednesday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will do "whatever I want him to do" on Iran. Mr. Trump also said he's "in no hurry" to make a deal to end the war.
• He has said that Netanyahu is a war-time PM, and not treated fairly at all, and in this he's right, but...he's ready to replace Netanyahu with himself.  

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made such remarks during a press interview in June \(2025\), when he pushed back on calls for U.S. intervention and stated, "President Trump will do what's best for America, and I will do what's best for Israel". 

Netanyahu's office previously issued a statement in October \(2024\) similarly emphasizing this dynamic, asserting that while Israel listens to the U.S. administration, it makes its final decisions based on its own national interests.

Netanyhu could write a book of psychology on how to speak to foreign leaders showing signs of thinking they are emperors who could cause everyone to do their bidding without winding up on the chopping block.  

We see that Donald thinks he's snowing everyone with his statements, and indeed, he probably is, or they wouldn't be asking him such questions expecting to hear such answers.

Trump posts bizarre AI video of a rebuilt Gaza with Netanyahu, Musk

US President Donald Trump has posted a bizarre AI-generated video believed to represent his heavily-criticised ‘Gaza Riviera’ plan, featuring characters who resemble his billionaire adviser Elon Musk and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Published On 26 Feb 202526 Feb 2025                                                    

He thinks Israel loves him so much, and he has done lots for Israel that other presidents haven't ever thought of doing, that he could become Prime Minister there.  

Is he so deluded that he thinks he could?  He's not even Jewish, nor is he a citizen.   In getting to the nitty-gritty of becoming PM, here are the qualifications:

• Citizenship and Residency: Must be an Israeli citizen and a resident of Israel.
• Age Requirements: Must be at least \(30\) years old on the day of submitting their candidacy.
• Knesset Membership: Must be a Member of the Knesset (MK).
• Criminal Record: Cannot have been convicted of a crime involving moral turpitude with a prison sentence exceeding three months in the past seven years.
• Political Backing: Must receive the backing of the majority of parliamentarians (at least 61 of the 120 Knesset seats) to form a viable governing coalition. 

In practice, this means the Prime Minister is almost always the leader of the largest party in the ruling coalition. Following a national election, the President of Israel consults with party leaders to determine who is best positioned to form a majority government and formally tasks that candidate with the role. 

Now here is the catch:  To qualify as a resident of Israel, you must establish that your "center of life" is in the country. This requires that your primary residence, family ties, and employment or assets are located in Israel, and you must physically spend at least 183 days of the tax year in the country. 

The requirements for legal residency and citizenship depend on your background and the path you take:

1. By Aliyah (Law of Return)

Under the Israeli Law of Return, eligible individuals can immigrate and immediately obtain citizenship and residency. You qualify if you are: 

• Jewish by birth or officially recognized conversion.
• The child or grandchild of a Jew.
• The spouse of a Jew, child of a Jew, or grandchild of a Jew. 

2. By Temporary Residency (A-1 Visa)

If you are entitled to Jewish descent but want to temporarily reside in Israel to explore living there, you can apply for an A-1 Temporary Resident visa. 

• Requirements: Meet the Aliyah eligibility standards under the Law of Return.
• Duration: Valid for up to 3 years and can be extended to 5. You can legally work and receive health coverage. 

3. By Naturalization (Non-Jews)

Foreign nationals can apply for permanent residency and citizenship if they meet the following baseline requirements: 

• Reside in Israel legally (e.g., hold permanent residency or an A/5 temporary resident visa).
• Live in Israel for at least 3 out of the 5 years prior to the application.
• Demonstrate basic fluency in the Hebrew language.
• Intend to settle in Israel.
• Renounce any prior nationality. 

4. By Birth or Descent

• By Birth: Any child born to at least one Israeli citizen acquires citizenship and residency status at birth.
• No Other Nationality: If born in Israel and you have never had any other nationality, you can apply for citizenship between ages 18 and 21, provided you have been an Israeli resident for 5 consecutive years prior to applying. 

For official applications, assessment, and legal documentation requirements, you can check the Israeli Ministry of Interior guidelines or consult the Jewish Agency for Israel for Aliyah processes.

I don't think we ever have to worry about Donald stepping into the PM shoes.   

Resource:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Israel

https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-trump-irgc-threatens-attacks-beyond-region/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/netanyahu-told-trump-in-call-that-israel-makes-decisions-based-on-its-own-interests-pms-office-says/