Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Israeli Government Loves Bar Refaeli - Rest of Country - Not So Much

Bar Refaeli was recently tapped by the Israeli government to appear in an ad campaign so she is turning up in public service announcements and commercials all over the country. Makes sense. Bar is one of Israel's most visible exports. I have also thought maybe she was doing a little something on the side for the government of a more secretive nature. She has been some places that seem totally out of character for her. Anyway, many of the population of Israel is not as enamored with Bar because they think she is a draft dodger. Is she? Probably. Israel requires compulsory military service for men and women. There are exceptions. One of those if you are a woman is getting married. Bar got married and as soon as she received her exemption, she got divorced. Did you know she had been married? Not something she advertises. The populous of the country thinks she pulled a fast one, but she does not really care what they think and has stated so repeatedly. You have to admire her willingness to not back down, at the same time she has never really addressed her marriage and quickie divorce.

38 comments:

rhinovodka said...

I find her so bland.

__-__=__ said...

Good for her. I admire anyone who declines to participate in the unreasonable killing of other humans. I wish more would follow her lead. It breaks my heart to see soldiers return missing limbs like after Vietnam. When will the insanity stop!

Vikingwench said...

*populace*

Maximus said...

Look, I'll be honest: I don't give a f*** about people being honest about marriages and divorces. It's...not anyone's business.

mooshki said...

Natalie Portman is another draft dodger. __-__=__, serving in the Israeli army is quite culturally different from serving in the US Army. We haven't been under constant threat of invasion since we became a country.

Pip said...

I'd get a fake marriage too, if I were in her position.

crila16 said...

She is a draft dodger as far as I'm concerned. Wimp. Never cared for her.

surfer said...

Orthodox Jews are also exempt from military service (which makes no sense to me).

Topper Madison said...

I just want to know why married women are exempt from serving? Are married men exempt, too?

Sherry said...

Natalie Portman, while living on a kibbutz in Israel as a child was not living there when her time came to serve the 2 yrs. The family moved when she was 3 and she had become a citizen of the US long before her 18th birthday.

I didn't know that you could get out of the compulsory service by being married. Interesting. And I'll bet Bar isn't the only one who's pulled this maneuver!

Anonymous said...

whatever, she's a swimsuit model, bland and blah as far as I can tell, she's definitely pretty, so good for her I guess.

Gayeld said...

@Topper. I'm guessing that it's because a married woman could be pregnant with a future Israeli, while we all know that unmarried women never get pregnant. Never ever. *crossing heart*

Sherry said...

I don't know Gayeld..Have you ever seen the Israeli Army uniforms? They wear some of the tightest tops I have ever seen! I did business in Israel and the women there are really hot!

Anonymous said...

She's right- it's her life and it's none of our business. If the Israeli people don't like her bc of it then that's the consequence she chose

Topper Madison said...

@Gayeld Then why not excuse only pregnant women? I really don't understand "men rules" ('cause you know men came up with this one.)

Oh! Speaking of which, whenever I find one of those "Expectant Mother" parking places near a store entrance, I ALWAYS park there. I will continue to do so, no matter how old I get. The way I look at it, if you are too fragile to be walking an extra 50 feet to a store, you really probably shouldn't be thinking about giving birth. Not to mention I dare someone to call me out on it. "HEY! You're too old to be pregnant, aren't you??"

Ari said...

wow, my opinion of her has totally changed...everyone in Israel must serve but she gets an out? I would hate her too

Gayeld said...

@Sherry. No, can't say I have. Frankly, my U.S. Army uniform (for the brief period of time I was in basic before they discovered that no matter how high you score on the aptitude test some people really can't be taught to do push-ups,) was ugly enough that I never wanted to see another one. Love my combat boots, though, still great for stomping on black widows.

@Topper. No doubt. What they should do is put angry mothers on the front line. They can be a scary beast.

Taracu said...

Were you raised by wolves? Obviously you've never had to run an errand with painful stitches, gaping 4th degree tears, leaking milk everywhere, and trying to carry a colicky baby in a bulky, heavy carseat

hilloochka said...

I'm Israeli, I live in Israel, and yes - I spent 2 years in the IDF. yet, I don't care much about Bar's personal life. her decisions - her problems.
it all happend...9? years ago, and - well - some people refuse to let it go. many people here become somewhat emotional when it comes to the IDF.
IMO, Bar as a soldier...waste of time for her - waste of money for the country. she probably would've gotten a very easy job that would *somewhat* fit with her career (just like other local celebs).
and... I think it's good for israel, in the end of the day, that Bar got famous overseas instead of joining the IDF because now Israel is also known for this model and not only for nasty politics and wars.

Jessica said...

I read about her being a draft dodger years ago, this isn't new at all. It's funny so many say "so what, one less person killing." It's a HUGE deal to Israelis. Think how many are forced, yet this one just said "oops! I'm married!" then lives in L.A. while claiming she's from Israel. Also, Portman moved to the states when she was three-years-old and got dual citizenship. Don't think she was required to serve.

Alicia said...

Hilloochcka - I give you props - your 2 years couldn't have been easy. Question - is it true that all soldiers are required to learn cra maga?

8====D KermitGossnellKnobjob said...

This was as illegal/inmoral as someone marrying some else from a Third World Country in order to make him/her get the green card/ nationality / whatever and divorcing right after that.

I think that military service should not be mandatory, but while it is, dodgers are despicable.

PS said...

I think this is a cultural thing. As an American, I think, pfft - absolutely, if there's a legal way out, and I can fit myself into those legal requirements, I'd do it to get out of serving in the military. But, I think this is definitely one of those times that my American perspective has no place. I don't judge her, and I don't judge her country for judging her.

hilloochka said...

@Alicia - first of all, thank you! of course, at the age of 18, I wanted to see the world and all that. joining the army isn't the most glorious thing on earth. but...I did my job, finished and got out.

as for Kerav Maga... well, that depends on your job - if you're about to be a warrior or have a "regular" office job.
in the end of the day, we're all required to learn how to deffend ourselfs. but as for proper Kerav Maga lessons - nope, I didn't get those, unfortunately. ;)

Li said...

The Israeli army is objecting to a new commercial featuring Bar as a representative of the country. They don't think she should be the representative considering her alleged draft dodge.

Li said...

The Israeli army is objecting to a new commercial featuring Bar as a representative of the country. They don't think she should be the representative considering her alleged draft dodge.

Alicia said...

Thanks for the spelling correction @ hilloochka:) stupid google! Anyways yah, that is a brutal fighting form!!! My ex husband is Jewish ( though via Minsk rather than Isreal ) and he wanted to give our EIGHT year old Kerav Maga lessons .. I was like ?!? He'a eight for goodness sakes!!l Let the boy be!
Thanks for the insight and congrats on finishing your term!

Anonymous said...

she has great boobs

rexruther said...

Jesus. Do you park in handicapped spaces too because disabled people have no right to be running errands?

Have some compassion Topper.

MrWolf said...

@Alicia - 8 years old is about the time you want to start practicing any sport if you want to be good, including Krav Maga.

Catarina said...

I don't like Bar, I find her really bland and she is a terrible model. That being said no one should be forced into the military no matter for how long.

urban chaos said...

I have a friend who's parents left Israel to avoid having their teenaged children go to war. They had seen friends die in combat and had enough. It was a quick and rash decision.

My friend is a staunch pro Israeli but yet she doesn't begrudge the decision her parents made one bit.

urban chaos said...

I meant to add I don't have issue with her choice.

MnGddess said...

Isn't the spelling "Krav Maga"? Or is that Americanized?

Alicia said...

@MrWolf - my son is in Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling five days a week. I'm all for martial arts but I think eight is a bit young to teach him to go for the jugular and the solar plexus! :) he's already convinced he's a reincarnated general. He doesn't need any more military tactics til he's at least 12

Sherry said...

@Gayeld: I was talking about the Israeli uniforms not the US. Ours are definitely more modest having had a friend who did the marine corp an my sister being career USAF. Maybe it wasn't the uniforms in Israel just the women were particularly voluptuous. Not to be disrespectful of course.

Hollyweird said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gayeld said...

@Sherry. LOL! I knew that. I was just expressing my dislike for uniforms in general.

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