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IDF and Bulletproof Vests

When I first learned about the Save our Soldiers Fund, which was formed in 2002 by two Americans who served in the IDF, and raises money to purchase high quality bulletproof vests for soldiers, I was skeptical. Surely, I assumed, the IDF is providing such vests to their soldiers.

I was very wrong. And today Haaretz reports that IDF Golani soldier Gabriel Uziel was killed in Jenin yesterday by Fatah terrorists because he was "not wearing a ceramic bullet-proof vest that could have saved his life." Uziel was 20. The article states that "military sources clarified that the IDF cannot afford to provide the superior ceramic vests for budgetary reasons."

I am skeptical that the IDF cannot afford to provide superior ceramic vests for its soldiers. More likely, I think, when budget cuts are required, army bureaucrats find it easier to compromise on the safety of the boys in combat than on their own salaries, pensions and perks. Since I'm not privy to the IDF's budget, I may be wrong.

Regardless, it is tragic that a soldier has died because his inferior bulletproof vest failed. The efforts of the Save our Soldiers Fund - which is a tax-deductible organization, are therefore vital and should be supported.

UPDATE: The Jerusalem Post reports that according to a senior IDF commander ceramic vest would not have saved Uziel's life, "since the bullet that killed him penetrated the area between an opening at the shoulder and the vest."
posted on 9/05/2003