Israel to Compete in Russia’s “Military Olympics” for First Time

For the first time, Israel will be one 28 nations to compete in Russia’s annual “military Olympics.” The Jewish state will send teams from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to compete in the categories of military medicine and logistics, but will forego other areas of competition that would pit its paratroopers or armored corps against the other armies which last year included Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Security considerations presumably are at least partly behind Israel’s decision to pass up this year’s newest competition, drone use. The latest indication of Israel’s new and growing level of participation in security issues along with its neighbors comes from the London-based Al-Quds Al-Araby newspaper which reported Israeli involvement in security arrangements aimed at preventing ISIS infiltration into the region’s nations alongside Jordan, Russia and the United States.