\"We call upon the citizens of the State to volunteer for reserves service of nine days on the seam-line sector.\" So reads a small ad that appeared in yesterday\'s Maariv newspaper, signed by a series of IDF generals in reserves. The text explains, \"To encourage our children serving in the standing army, to encourage our friends in reserves service, for the sake of the personal security of all the citizens of the country, and for the sake of strengthening the IDF.\"
The program was the idea of Brig.-Gen. Shaike Erez, who served as Head of the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, and Col. (res.) Yonatan Basi. Erez told Arutz-7 that they decided that \"at times like this, when the entire country is a front, this could be the national contribution of those who have passed their military prime.\" He said that he met with the Chief of Staff and the General Staff, and that the idea was greeted happily. The nine-day stints, for which almost 200 people have already volunteered, are open to those with no health limitations and who are otherwise suited for reserves duty. Erez said,
\"We, former Colonels and Brig.-Generals, can come without our stripes, and do a very fine job patrolling in jeeps. We have life experience, motivation, and knowledge of the terrain, and the army agrees that it would be very welcome.\" When asked why the effort is limited to the seam-line [the pre-1967 ceasefire line], Erez said, \"There was nothing political about it. We thought that we would start this way, to make it easier for people to get home if they have to, etc., and then if the army needs us elsewhere, we will do that too.\"
The program was the idea of Brig.-Gen. Shaike Erez, who served as Head of the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria, and Col. (res.) Yonatan Basi. Erez told Arutz-7 that they decided that \"at times like this, when the entire country is a front, this could be the national contribution of those who have passed their military prime.\" He said that he met with the Chief of Staff and the General Staff, and that the idea was greeted happily. The nine-day stints, for which almost 200 people have already volunteered, are open to those with no health limitations and who are otherwise suited for reserves duty. Erez said,
\"We, former Colonels and Brig.-Generals, can come without our stripes, and do a very fine job patrolling in jeeps. We have life experience, motivation, and knowledge of the terrain, and the army agrees that it would be very welcome.\" When asked why the effort is limited to the seam-line [the pre-1967 ceasefire line], Erez said, \"There was nothing political about it. We thought that we would start this way, to make it easier for people to get home if they have to, etc., and then if the army needs us elsewhere, we will do that too.\"