The Be’er Sheva central bus station is simply known as a hub for all things in the south. The Negev, or the southern region of Israel, is a region that is not only bigger than anywhere else in Israel, but is also sparse and only home to a small percentage of the population. As a result, this region is home to many IDF bases, and Be’er Sheva as a result becomes a hub for soldiers traveling to and from base.
This morning as I left base, I traveled about 45 minutes on a local bus until I finally arrived at the Be’er Sheva central station. Upon entering, one thing becomes clear, the military is a big part of the state. The station is filled with soldiers all throughout the army. With a closer look at everyone’s tags, boots, pins, and rankings; you can then start to see the diversity of soldiers all gathering in one station (pit stop) on their way home from base.
This observation, while maybe more prominent in a central hub like Be’er Sheva, is a phenomenon noticed all throughout the Country. On all six days of the work week, and more specifically on Sunday, Thursday and Friday when soldiers tend to be traveling to and from base; the country is filled from Eilat to the Hermon with soldiers in uniform on public transportation.
This is a phenomenon that exists mainly due to the IDF’s insistence on taking public transportation. I am not sure how it works in every part of the army, and I know those that have been in the army for longer have a different set of rules, but when I was at the Michve Alon base for example, we all had to take public transportation to base unless we received a special permission to either drive to base or get dropped off. The army was essentially telling us to take public transit.
Despite the reasoning, as I mentioned earlier, one thing becomes clear, Israel’s military plays a big role in the state. When the vast part of the population takes busses and trains throughout the week, and when these trips are marked by seeing soldiers in uniform, the IDF automatically becomes more part of the country, and not some distant or separate thing.
One thing the army likes to stress is the difference between a professional army and a national army. The United States, for example, has a professional army. This means that people decide to enlist out of their own will, unless there is a need for a draft of course, and usually spend more time in the army making more money.
On the contrary, Israel has a national army where (almost) everyone is required to enlist, giving up a few years to the state. Just this alone creates a society where the army becomes a part of the culture. However, when civilians see soldiers traveling the country everyday, uniform on and gun around their neck, this further solidifies the IDF’s importance and centralization to Israel’s heart and sole. This alone shows the absence of any separation between the army and the people, a separation that so clearly exists in The United States.
Lastly, next time you’re on public transportation in Israel, and when you notice soldiers traveling on busses and trains, take note of this: there is no difference between you and the soldier. The soldier is traveling to and from work the same way you are traveling to and from your destination. In that way, the soldier is a part of the people, meaning that the military is part of the people. And, when the military is part of the people and the people are part of the military, the two become one, and and this cohesion allows us to be united towards our national goals.
All that from a morning glance at the Be’er Sheva central bus station while eating some chocolate pastries of course after a week on base.
Keep rolling along