For the first time, IDF soldiers will receive not only the left-center newspapers Yediot Acharonot and Maariv, but also the more nationalist Makor Rishon.
After a long and protracted struggle by at least two very determined individuals, who do not always see eye-to-eye on other issues of import, the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) has agreed to include Makor Rishon among the Friday newspapers it buys for its soldiers. Makor Rishon is a daily newspaper identified with nationalist values, geared to the nationalist public, both religious and secular.
There is still a slight catch, and that is that soldiers who want it must specifically request it.
The two former soldiers who fought for the right of IDF personnel to receive newspapers other than Yediot and Maariv are Assaf Danoch and Sar’el Shpeier. The two, who happen to chair the youth movements of the National Union and Jewish Home parties, respectively, completed their IDF service in the summer of 2008, and immediately began working on improving the newspaper situation in the IDF.
They first wrote to Makor Rishon, asking the paper’s management to consider sending copies to IDF units. The newspaper responded that such a move had been initiated, but it was the IDF that had refused.
Exposing the Soldiers to a More Zionist Message
The struggle received a boost from a small weekly publication called Olam Katan (Small World), generally distributed every Sabbath, along with a dozen others, in synagogues around the country. Olam Katan reported on the new initiative, emphasizing that the purpose was not simply to benefit religious or right-wing soldiers – but rather to ensure that soldiers in general be exposed not only to post-Zionist writings, but also to Zionist concepts that would “enhance the soldiers’ fighting spirit.”
Danoch and Shpeier then wrote to their parties’ Knesset Members, asking for their intervention. MKs Uri Ariel (National Union) and Zevulun Orlev (Jewish Home) took quick action, writing separate letters to Defense Minister Ehud Barak about the lack of Makor Rishon in the army. Barak’s office was not impressed, responding, “At present, we do not see a need to broaden the array of newspapers distributed to IDF soldiers at IDF expense.”
Shortly after the establishment of the present government, Shpeier and Danoch turned again to MK Orlev – who, as opposed to MK Ariel, was a member of a coalition party - and asked him to raise the matter again. Orlev submitted a Knesset query to the Defense Minister, asking, “Which newspapers are distributed for free in IDF bases, and in what quantities? What are the criteria for choosing which papers are distributed?”
Success!
Though Orlev never received answers, the fact is that earlier this month, Makor Rishon received a message from the IDF Spokesman stating that the army is now willing to supply the paper to soldiers who request it.
Makor Rishon then published an announcement stating that soldiers who wished to read the paper in their bases should send an email message to the newspaper offices to this effect. Danoch and Shpeier, however, fear that many soldiers do not have ready email access, and have therefore provided a phone number to which soldiers can send SMS messages requesting the newspaper. To receive Makor Rishon, soldiers should send their name, personal army number and the military postal address of their unit to 052-467-2284.