Americans join, die for the Israeli army over allegiance to Jewish homeland 1 / 6 In this June 2012 photo courtesy of Stuart Steinberg, Max Steinberg poses on a trip to Israel. Stuart Steinberg confirmed the death of his son Max Steinberg to The Associated Press on Sunday, July, 20, 2014. Steinberg, whose family lives in Southern California's San Fernando Valley, was a sharpshooter for the Golani Brigade in the Israel Defense Forces. (AP Photo/Courtesy of Stuart Steinberg) The Associated Press <http://connect.pennlive.com/staff/pennap/photos.html> Print <http://blog.pennlive.com/midstate_impact/print.html?entry=/2014/07/israel_idf_americans_in_idf_ga.html> [image: Ivey DeJesus | [email protected]] <http://connect.pennlive.com/staff/idejesus/index.html> By Ivey DeJesus | [email protected] <http://connect.pennlive.com/staff/idejesus/posts.html> Email the author | Follow on Twitter <http://twitter.com/iveydejesus> on July 31, 2014 at 1:51 PM, updated August 01, 2014 at 6:50 AM
Traci Siegel grew up strongly identifying with her Jewish roots. The former Susquehanna Township resident attended Jewish schools, Jewish summer camps and took several family trips to Israel. "I loved it there," said Siegel, who was 14 the first time she traveled to Israel. Two years ago, after completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Maryland, Siegel moved to Israel, and before long, volunteered to serve in the Israel Defense Forces. "I saw my future here," she said during a phone interview this week from Jerusalem. "I identified with the culture and with the people, especially with my interest in politics." For Siegel, as with many of the young Americans who put their lives at risk to defend Israel, her commitment to serve was a natural extension of her affinity to the Jewish homeland. "Most people here serve in the military," said Siegel, 25. "It's so much a part of the culture and identity. I thought it was a good idea to serve to integrate myself better." [image: Traci Siegel, IDF]Harrisburg native Traci Siegel moved to Israel and joined the Israel Defense Forces. She said a desire to integrate into the country's culture and identity compelled her to join. She completed her service in April. Her parents live in Susquehanna Township.Courtesy of Traci Siegel The bloody conflict escalation between Israel and Hamas has shed light on the number of Americans serving in the IDF, and the weight of their sacrifice. Since the start of the fighting three weeks ago, at least two Americans have been killed: Max Steinberg, 24, of California, and Nissim Sean Carmeli, 22, of Texas. "They are defending their homeland on a national level and their own families and friends on a personal level," said Aviva Miskin, of Harrisburg, whose two sons live in Israel, and as citizens must meet the country's compulsory army and reserve obligations. "It is their duty and responsibility to serve and defend their country against terrorist attacks." In the 23 days of fighting, approximately 1,300 Palestinians and 56 Israeli soldiers have been killed. International efforts to end the fighting have failed. Palestinian leaders - including Hamas and Islamic Jihad leaders - were expected in Cairo in the coming days to discuss a new truce proposal. On Thursday, The Times of Israel was reporting that ceasefire negotiations were at a dead end <http://www.timesofisrael.com/ceasefire-talks-at-dead-end-palestinian-official-says/> . In interviews with other media, IDF spokeswoman Lt. Libby Weiss reports that close to 1,000 Americans serve in the IDF. In total, the force has about 4,000 non-Israeli-born troops, or lone soldiers, foreign nationals who volunteer to serve in the IDF. Lone soldiers are different than the American citizens who have become Israeli citizens and serve in the IDF. "These are kids who have a strong sense of who they are and they understand history and feel that by doing this they are protecting democracy and Jews worldwide," said Philip Berry, Mid-Atlantic region executive director of Friends of the Israel Defense Forces <http://www.fidf.org/page.aspx?pid=194>, an organization that works to support lone soldiers and their families. "They have a strong sense of community and love for the U.S. and Israel." "They are defending their homeland on a national level and their own families and friends on a personal level." - Aviva Miskin Israel grants citizenship to all Jews. Foreign nationals, as with Israeli-born citizens, who meet the requirements for admission into the military <http://www.nbn.org.il/aliyahpedia/army/serving-in-the-israeli-army.html>, must serve out their compulsory service. The mandatory service applies to men age 18-25 and women age 17-20. His family tree bearing the names of relatives who perished in the Holocaust, Williamsport attorney Clifford Rieders said the decision by his daughter Kaila to move to Israel and join the army did not surprise him. "We are very proud of her," Rieders said. Kaila, who is 23, reports for basic training on Aug. 24. The weight of the sacrifice - particularly in the wake of the deaths of the two American soldiers - weigh on young Americans in Israel. "I think all deaths are sad but there is something really special about someone who came here and left their home to do something they really wanted to do and give his life for it," Siegel said. "It's just sad. These people a made choice and knew what they were doing. We are just very grateful for them." To be sure, such commitment also weighs heavily on the families in the U.S. watching the events in Israel and Gaza unfold. "It's very a frightening situation," said Rabbi Eric Cytryn of Beth El Temple in Harrisburg, whose daughter, Sarah, her husband and nine-month son live in Israel. Gabi Mitchell, Cytryn's son-in-law, serves in the IDF. "No one should have to live under the threat of having missiles shot at you by your neighbors. We are scared for our children on that level but we are hopeful that this will all stop as soon as possible." Cytryn was in Jerusalem a few weeks ago when the first wave of rockets aimed at Israel were destroyed by the country's Iron Dome defense system. For now, he takes comfort in the fact that they will return to the states in a few weeks, as his son-in-law prepares to enter into a doctorate program at Virginia Tech. "It makes us feel happy," Cytryn said. "They will be two-and-a-half hours away. There's probably little danger that Maryland and North Carolina will want to shoot missiles at them." Eva Siegel, Traci's mother, also finds a measure of comfort knowing her daughter lives in Jerusalem, and not closer to Gaza. But in a country the size of New Jersey, distances are relative. A few weeks ago, she was on the phone with her daughter when the sirens went off, warning Israeli citizens of incoming rockets. "Most of the time I know she's safe," Eva Siegel said. "I know Israel is doing whatever it can to protect its citizens. It's a tough situation, though, knowing you child is in country at war." Siegel said that while it's a heroic sacrifice for Americans to live a safe country and volunteer to serve in the IDF, she mourns the lives of all who have been killed in the fighting. Although she had reservations when Traci first told her of her decision to move to Israel, Eva Siegel says she is nothing but proud of her daughter's decision. "The path she chose, to move to Israel all alone, is very challenging under the best of circumstances," she said. "It is hard enough for young college graduates to become independent here. She is navigating life in a foreign country....While we miss her, we are proud and supportive of the choices she has made." Siegel, who completed her service with the Israeli Air Force in April, will attend Tel Aviv University in the fall where she will start a Masters program in public policy. Although she is fiercely loyal and supportive of Israel, Traci Siegel would prefer to see Israel resolve the conflict in a diplomatic way, rather than wage a war. "I moved here and served in the army," she said. "All I want to do is serve this country. I just think I have a different vision of how things could work." --- 1,000 Americans Are Serving in the Israeli Army and They Aren’t Alone The Jewish state is one of four that let U.S. citizens in their militaries. The death of two Americans serving in Israel’s military in this weekend’s fighting with Hamas in Gaza is not the first time Americans have died while serving in foreign militaries. Max Steinberg, 24, of California, and Nissim Sean Carmeli, 21, of Texas, were serving in the Israeli army when they died along with 11 other Israeli soldiers over the weekend. At least 60 Palestinians were also killed. “All of them have joint citizenship,” Maya Kadosh, Israel’s Houston-based deputy consul to the Southwest United States, told *The New York Times <http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/22/world/middleeast/2-americans-among-israeli-soldiers-killed-in-gaza.html>*. “They are very proud. They are not less American when they serve in the army. They are more American. They feel they protect the values of the place they came from, and they also protect the values of the state of Israel.” Steinberg and Carmeli were not alone in Israel. Today, the Jewish state has one of the largest number of Americans serving in its military, with roughly 1,000 Americans who did not grow up there serving, said Israeli Defense Force (IDF) spokeswoman Lt. Libby Weiss. In total, it has about 4,000 non-Israeli-born troops. While Israel is a bit of a special case—foreign-born Jews often serve in the Israeli military thanks to that country’s right of return—three other militaries either actively recruit Americans or are open to them. Australia and New Zealand both have programs to fill spots in their militaries by active-duty or veteran service members, and the French Foreign Legion is legendary for taking almost anyone who shows up at their recruitment offices outside Paris. (Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl reportedly tried to join the Legion <http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/13-things-you-need-to-know-about-bowe-bergdahl-20140602> before enlisting in the U.S. Army.) But estimating the number of Americans serving in foreign militaries is fiendishly difficult, since it includes both U.S. citizens serving in the aforementioned militaries and dual-citizens serving in the militaries of the other countries. A State Department official said the department doesn’t track who is serving in foreign armies. Dual citizenship can sometimes complicate things for traveling Americans, though. There have been several instances of 18-year-old men vacationing in ye olde country and then finding out they’re responsible for national service there. In 2004, a Korean-American man, born in the United States, was teaching English outside Seoul when he was drafted into the South Korean army for two years <http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/The-accidental-citizen-soldier-1141729.php> after he failed to fill out his paperwork renouncing his Korean citizenship before his 18th birthday. He was stopped while trying to return to the U.S. and conscripted. While forced conscription of Americans is rare, the practice of volunteering has a storied history. Before the United States joined the Allies in WWI, a number of Americans joined the Canadian army to get in on the action. During the 1930s, the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War was made up exclusively of Americans fighting against the fascists. By the time of Pearl Harbor, more than 6,000 U.S. citizens were serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force and 10,000 in the Canadian Army, according to Col. Stanley W. Dzuiban, author of *Military Relations Between the United States and Canada, 1939-1945*. For the most part, this is all legal. Prior to 1967, Americans risked losing their citizenship if they joined a foreign military or even voted in a foreign election. That year, the Supreme Court decision in *Afroyim v. Rusk* established that citizenship is a constitutional right and can’t be stripped involuntarily. So, you’re free to join up with whatever military that will take you, as long as you don’t engage in active hostilities against the U.S. What is illegal is recruiting within the U.S. So, traveling to Israel to join is OK, but the IDF won’t be setting up next to the U.S. Army recruiting station in Times Square any time soon. Of course, non-state actors, such as al Qaeda, ISIS, the FSA, Libyan rebels, etc. accept Americans, but that’s frowned upon by the State Department. One peril while serving in a foreign military: the possibility of committing war crimes. Chuckie Taylor, son of Liberian warlord Charles Taylor, was an American citizen who was convicted in 2008 in Florida for torture in the Liberian civil war. He was the first American convicted on U.S. soil for crimes against humanity in another country. And let’s not even get into the case of John Walker Lindh, the “American Taliban,” currently serving time after being captured in Afghanistan in 2001. His family argued in his trial that he only joined a foreign military, the Taliban, and didn’t intend to fight the U.S., but that didn’t fly. The U.S. military likewise is open to non-citizens <http://www.uscis.gov/news/fact-sheets/naturalization-through-military-service-fact-sheet>, with all active-duty personnel able to file for citizenship immediately and receive expedited treatment from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. From September 2002 to May 2013, almost 90,000 members of the Armed Forces gained citizenship. On Thursday, October 9, 2014 11:38:42 AM UTC-5, KeithInTampa wrote: > > > http://freebeacon.com/national-security/dem-rep-40-american-isil-fighters-have-already-returned-to-the-united-states/ > > Dem Rep: 40 American ISIL Fighters Have Already Returned to the United > States > These individuals under surveillance, 'being tracked' by the FBI > SHARE > <http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=http://freebeacon.com/national-security/dem-rep-40-american-isil-fighters-have-already-returned-to-the-united-states/> > TWEET > <http://twitter.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Ffreebeacon.com%2Fnational-security%2Fdem-rep-40-american-isil-fighters-have-already-returned-to-the-united-states%2F&text=Dem%20Rep:%2040%20American%20ISIL%20Fighters%20Have%20Already%20Returned%20to%20the%20United%20States> > EMAIL <javascript:> > [image: AP] > <http://freebeacon.com/national-security/dem-rep-40-american-isil-fighters-have-already-returned-to-the-united-states/> > > AP > > > BY: Adam Kredo <http://freebeacon.com/author/adam-kredo/> > September 19, 2014 9:35 am > > Rep. Tim Bishop (D., N.Y.) warned during a recent speech that up to 40 > radicalized U.S. citizens who have fought alongside the Islamic State of > Iraq and Levant (ISIL or ISIS) have already returned to the United States, > where they could pose a terrorist threat. > > Bishop claims that of the 100 or so Americans who have traveled to the > Middle East to join ISIL’s ranks, some 40 have returned and are currently > being surveilled by the FBI, according to his remarks, which were filmed > and uploaded > <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5gPDpYSMyw&list=UUqNfXxfww4ATBZsbv64nwRg> > to > YouTube last week. > > “One of the concerns is the number of U.S. citizens who have left our > country to go join up with ISIS,” Bishop said during the speech. “It is > believed there have been some number up to 100 that have done that.” > > “It is also believed that some 40 of those who left this country to join > up with ISIS have now returned to our country,” Bishop said, eliciting > shocked responses from some in the crowd. > > These 40 individuals, Bishop said, “are under FBI attention and > surveillance. So they are known and being tracked by the FBI.” > > Lawmakers have warned that radicalized ISIL fighters could clandestinely > enter the United States through the porous southern border. > > U.S. officials with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other > security agencies have said that while the southern border poses a risk, > they are more concerned about lone wolf attacks in which an isolated > radicalized individual with sympathy to ISIL carries out a solo terror > attack. > > Bishop said that while ISIL poses and extreme threat, it is not yet > capable of attacking the United States, though that could change as the > group grows in strength and resources. > > “It is a very, very complex and very, very dangerous threat and I think > the plan that the president outlined the other night [in his national > speech] is a good plan,” Bishop maintained. > > President Obama “is correct to recognize the threat, and it clearly is a > threat to the stability of the Middle East, a region that is already > remarkably unstable,” Bishop said. > > “It is not yet a threat to the homeland, but there is a concern that it > could metastasize in such a way that it could become a threat to the > homeland,” Bishop said, echoing concerns expressed by lawmakers on both > sides of the isle. > > “But at the present time, the intelligence is ISIS does not present a > threat to the homeland, although that is not something that will remain > static going out into the future,” Bishop said, describing the regional > upheaval as “more of a political conflict in the Arab world then a > sectarian conflict” between Muslims. > > DHS has said that while there is no evidence of a direct threat by ISIL to > the United States, it is aware that the group’s affiliates have been > discussing the possibility of crossing the southern border. > > “There have been Twitter, social media exchanges among ISIL adherents > across the globe speaking about that as a possibility,” Francis Taylor, > under secretary for intelligence and analysis at DHS, told senators during > a recent hearing > <http://freebeacon.com/national-security/u-s-confirms-isil-planning-infiltration-of-u-s-southern-border/> > . > > Other U.S. officials also have discussed the possibility of an ISIL > adherent carrying out an attack on the United States. > > “We remain mindful of the possibility that an ISIL-sympathizer—perhaps > motivated by online propaganda—could conduct a limited, self-directed > attack here at home with no warning,” Matthew Olsen, director of the U.S. > National Counterterrorism Center, said in a speech earlier this month. > > “We have seen ISIL use a range of media to tout its military capabilities, > executions of captured soldiers, and consecutive battlefield victories,” > Olsen said. “More recently, the group’s supporters have sustained this > momentum on social media by encouraging attacks in the U.S. and against > U.S. interests in retaliation for our airstrikes. ISIL has used this > propaganda campaign to draw foreign fighters to the group, including many > from Western > > > http://washington.cbslocal.com/2014/10/08/gop-rep-at-least-ten-isis-fighters-have-been-caught-coming-across-the-mexican-border/ > -- -- Thanks for being part of "PoliticalForum" at Google Groups. For options & help see http://groups.google.com/group/PoliticalForum * Visit our other community at http://www.PoliticalForum.com/ * It's active and moderated. Register and vote in our polls. * Read the latest breaking news, and more. --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "PoliticalForum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
