Military brief: lure male tourists

Out of Uniform in Tel Aviv


Brazen notion for a government body
(Cartoon from NY Post)

Scantily clad ex-soldiers in a men's magazine are beckoning young males to try sex tourism in Israel. Unlikely? Well, the brainstorm of the Israeli consul in New York resulted in what some critics branded a soft-porn photo spread in July's Maxim magazine, called "Women of the IDF".
Reports are mixed whether the scheme to show a little skin in order to promote the land of Guns and Moses was ill-advised. Particularly at a time when overt sexuality, hetero- or homosexual, scandalizes the devout of three monotheistic religions, to release officially-sanctioned, military-themed smut was a tad crass. Sex is invariably a bombshell in the world's holiest and hottest region (Some 7500 security cops were called out to guard a couple thousand Gay Pride marchers in Jerusalem yesterday. A dozen arrests and a confiscated homemade bomb made the day go smoothly, but not much fun was had by anyone. A real Drag, so to speak.)

Any visitors to Israel will need to book soon. Airfares are 15% higher than last summer and some flights already are sold out. Despite upheavals in Gaza, Qassam rocket attacks in Sderot and perceived threats from Syria and Iran, people flock here. The tourism ministry anticipates a 20% increase in visitors this summer, but mainly because summer youth programs have a record turnout.
Gidi Mark, who markets Taglit-Birthright Israel, says 24,000 North American youths will arrive during the next three months for free trips; they had to turn away 6,000. "This will be the largest number ever of students from the Diaspora in Israel during one season," he said.