Israeli Army Struts Desert Fighting Prowess

Thudding Israeli artillery shells and a dramatic F-16 jet and Apache helicopter-aided tank assault on a mock enemy desert encampment concluded a recent three-day conference on how digitally wired armies can process immense amounts of battlefield data, in real time, in order to win.

All photos: Dave Bender - All rights reserved

An Israeli Army MLRS rocket streaks across an open desert plain, as it homes in on an enemy stronghold in a mock assault display held at the Shivta Field Artillery Base, in southern Israel, Thursday, May 24, 2012.
(All photos: WWW.DAVEBRIANBENDER.COM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Israel Air Force Apache Longbow attack helicopter takes a "nap-of-the-earth" shortcut, flying only meters above a wadi, in a mock assault on an enemy stronghold at the Shivta Field Artillery Base, in southern Israel, Thursday, May 24, 2012.
(All photos: WWW.DAVEBRIANBENDER.COM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

An IDF soldier hitches a ride on an "Alfa" artillery transporter heading back to base after taking part a mock assault on an enemy stronghold at the Shivta Field Artillery Base, in southern Israel, Thursday, May 24, 2012.
(All photos: WWW.DAVEBRIANBENDER.COM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Two Israel Air Force Apache Longbow attack helicopters open machine gun fire, in a mock assault on an enemy stronghold at the Shivta Field Artillery Base, in southern Israel, Thursday, May 24, 2012.
(All photos: WWW.DAVEBRIANBENDER.COM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

An Israeli Army mobile howitzer artillery piece heads back to base, after an assault on a mock enemy stronghold in a display held at the Shivta Field Artillery Base, in southern Israel, Thursday, May 24, 2012.
(All photos: WWW.DAVEBRIANBENDER.COM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

Israel Air Force Apache Longbow helicopter goes in for the kill, in a mock assault on an enemy stronghold at the Shivta Field Artillery Base, in southern Israel, Thursday, May 24, 2012.
(All photos: WWW.DAVEBRIANBENDER.COM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

An Israeli soldier sits atop the open hatch of a mobile howitzer artillery piece headed back to base, after an assault on a mock enemy stronghold in a display held at the Shivta Field Artillery Base, in southern Israel, Thursday, May 24, 2012.
(All photos: WWW.DAVEBRIANBENDER.COM ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)

One Year Later: Terrorism , Triplets, And Growing Up An Israeli Teen

"In Jerusalem on Wednesday, March 23, 2011, the first thing you heard after the explosion was an instant of deafening silence.

"And after that, a sudden cacophony of car alarms set off by the blast’s pressure wave.

"And after that..."


Read the rest: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/one-year-later/

Jerusalem: The Friday Paper Chase

Dozens of passersby crowd around two women actually guarding the weekend section of the Israel Today freesheet, before the restive crowd snatches the incomplete newspaper.

Section 1 - headlines - is on the way, but some have no patience and argue and try to cajole the hawkers into divvying up what, remember, is a freesheet...

Medical Clowning in Israel - No Kidding

My latest feature for China's CNC World Television: Medical Clowning in Israel



I gratefully appreciate all those who took part in helping this production.

Comments welcome.

The Golan Heights In Shades Of Grey

 (All Rights Reserved: Dave Bender) Click here for my Flickr Photostream.

Mt. Hermon on the Golan Heights. I shot the original in color, and tried for a faux HDR effect. Punched up the contrast a bit, as well. I welcome your comments and suggestions for improvement.

Western Wall: 'That Was Then, This Is Now' (exclusive photography)

"That Was The, This Is Now"
(Photo: Dave Bender, All Rights Reserved)

Cool - More Israeli Stuff to Boycott!

Remember the swallowable, diagnostic "PillCam?" Well, now Tel Aviv University's developing a similar, remotely-guided device that can perform surgery. From the inside of your body. Yes, like in 1969's Fantastic Voyage.






But without a tiny Donald Pleasance swimming through your guts. Ewwwww.

"We have completed building a prototype of a tiny and very sophisticated endoscopic capsule," according to Dr. Gabor Kosa, of TAU's School of Biomedical Engineering, who said the device precludes invasive surgery or a lengthy recovery period after the procedure.
The pill might also be able to be used in delicate brain surgery.

“The idea is that, during brain surgery, the tiny device could be inserted via a cannula (a narrow tube), and released. It would then make its way to the chosen lobe in the brain – something that was previously impossible,” Kosa told the Ma'ariv daily on Sunday.

Run the page through Google Translate for the rest.

B.D.S.* this, bitches: http://www.nrg.co.il/online/1/ART2/317/633.html?hp=1&cat=402&loc=4

(*Boycott. Divest. Sanction. = a malevolent international movement to demonize and destroy Israel)

Sunset Serenade

Sunset Serenade, a photo by Dave Bender on Flickr.

'Jerusalem Sunset Serenade'
Dave Bender (all rights reserved)

Winter sunset falls over Jerusalem, bracketed by the International Convention Center and the supporting spar of the "Bridge of Chords" for the light rail system.

Jerusalem Police: The Real Story

I took a “ride-along” with Israel Police patrolman Hadi Hassan out on the beat on an average day in Jerusalem, which included a possible terrorist bombing at the central bus station, an attempted suicide in a downtown park, car theft, not to mention maneuvering through all of the above in midday traffic snarls…

Here's The IAEA Report on Iran's Nuke Program

The IAEA's report on Iran's nuke program: http://isis-online.org/uploads/isis-reports/documents/IAEA_Iran_8Nov2011.pdf

In the .pdf doc, hit Cntrl + F, and then enter "G Possible Military Dimensions," for the money quotes.