"IDF YOUTH PROGRAMS LIKE JIHAD CAMPS" British journalist Matthew Holehouse of New Stateman seems to find little difference between the Marva IDF youth summer programs and what Hamas and Fatah are offering:

Holehouse adds that Marva "demonstrates how some Zionists have inadvertently come to mimic their opponents in defining Israel solely by its militarism."

Among the things that Holeshouse seems to overlook:

Describing Marva, [director of Federation of Zionist Youth, Michael]Freeman said: "Participants teach English in schools, volunteer in hospitals, work with Magen David Adom - in some cases working on the Gaza border with Palestinians, work in old age homes and other places.

And if you look at the descriptions and pictures of Marva here, here, and here there are no pictures or mention of anyone jumping through rings of fire.

Technorati Tag: Israel and Marva and Gadna.