Volunteer Group Emanuel Served With Sometimes Wears Keffiyahs–Sorry, I Meant Israeli Army Uniforms

Jeff Blankfort writes:

I don't know if you've seen Jeffrey Goldberg's take on Emanuel [adulatory] but it
is pure BS and Goldberg is disingenuous when he writes that Emanuel was
not in the Israeli Army—

Rahm did not, despite the rumors, serve in the Israeli Army, but he is
deeply and emotionally committed to Israel and its safety

While technically correct, Emanuel was a Volunteer for Israel, an organization that was formed in 1982 during the invasion of Lebanon that recruited American Jews to serve on Israeli army bases doing mundane chores which would free regular soldiers to go to the
front and kill Lebanese and Palestinians. I have seen photos of those
who served as volunteers and they were wearing uniforms.

Here's the website for Volunteers for Israel. Here are some defibrillating photographs. Blankfort says Emanuel signed up with the org in 1991 when he was still an aide to Chicago Mayor Richard Daley but working on the Clinton campaign. During the Gulf War. Not to help the U.S., mind you.

[Adolescent aside: Reminds me of the Jefferson Airplane tune about revolution, Volunteers for America!!!! I guess it's just a ringtone now.]

By the way the remarkable Scott McLeod of Time has done a very fine piece on the Emanuel pick depressing people in the Middle East. Gets right into the hearts and minds question. Hints at the dual loyalty. Quotes Goldberg saying Emanuel thinks about Israel constantly. Goldberg of course served in the IDF. I want a reliable narrator.

Volunteer Group Emanuel Served With Sometimes Wears Keffiyahs–Sorry, I Meant Israeli Army Uniforms

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