Just came back from the Middle East ... some gun photos to share

[mythaeus]

Wife and I went to Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank for vacation. I tried to take as many photos of guns as I could and thought I'd share them. Got a bunch from Israel and the West Bank, but nothing out of Jordan and Cyprus.

West Bank, Palestinian Territory, taken on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem
A couple shots of special police inside The Church of the Nativity




Me and a couple of Palestinian military officers




Presidential guards securing the streets because Abbas was in town for mass




Palestinian military and police (who don't carry guns) are very friendly. There was heavy military presence in Bethlehem that night because the president was there.

All around Israel
Special police/military usually see patrolling along with police (far right carrying backpack). This was taken in Akko.


Israeli soldiers at the border of Lebanon. They were about 200 - 300m away (I have a big zoom).


These 2 soldiers guard Rosh Hanikra, the far most northern city/tourist attraction on the border with Lebanon. Had a short basic conversation with them.




A guard outside the Knessett (Israeli Parliament) in Jerusalem. Couldn't figure out what he was carrying.


Off-duty soldiers carry their guns unloaded on the streets. The majority of them carry beat up M16A2. Some, like this one carry some bull pup.


These off-duties are at the Western Wall for a tour. Note how they carry their mags.




Plain clothes police in Jerusalem


Soldiers walking/guarding along Via Delorosa (in the Muslim Quarter in Old Jerusalem), the path which Jesus carried his cross to his crucifixion.


Soldiers guarding the Temple Mount area


Israeli soldiers, guards, police, are also all very friend. While military service is mandatory in Israel, it's not for Palestinians or Jordanians.

If you're interested in photos of our trip, check out http://www.luckycouple.com/pictures/trips.cfm (starting from Dec.16th). Please note that the Cyprus set and New Year in Tel Aviv sets contain photos of fashion show & performance art nudity and may not be suitable for all viewers and occasions.

Al

[Triggerh4ppy]

Wife and I went to Cyprus, Israel, Jordan, and the West Bank for vacation. I tried to take as many photos of guns as I could and thought I'd share them. Got a bunch from Israel and the West Bank, but nothing out of Jordan and Cyprus.

West Bank, Palestinian Territory, taken on Christmas Eve in Bethlehem
A couple shots of special police inside The Church of the Nativity




Me and a couple of Palestinian military officers




Presidential guards securing the streets because Abbas was in town for mass




Palestinian military and police (who don't carry guns) are very friendly. There was heavy military presence in Bethlehem that night because the president was there.

All around Israel
Special police/military usually see patrolling along with police (far right carrying backpack). This was taken in Akko.


Israeli soldiers at the border of Lebanon. They were about 200 - 300m away (I have a big zoom).


These 2 soldiers guard Rosh Hanikra, the far most northern city/tourist attraction on the border with Lebanon. Had a short basic conversation with them.




A guard outside the Knessett (Israeli Parliament) in Jerusalem. Couldn't figure out what he was carrying.


Off-duty soldiers carry their guns unloaded on the streets. The majority of them carry beat up M16A2. Some, like this one carry some bull pup.


These off-duties are at the Western Wall for a tour. Note how they carry their mags.




Plain clothes police in Jerusalem


Soldiers walking/guarding along Via Delorosa (in the Muslim Quarter in Old Jerusalem), the path which Jesus carried his cross to his crucifixion.


Soldiers guarding the Temple Mount area


Israeli soldiers, guards, police, are also all very friend. While military service is mandatory in Israel, it's not for Palestinians or Jordanians.

If you're interested in photos of our trip, check out http://www.luckycouple.com/pictures/trips.cfm (starting from Dec.16th). Please note that the Cyprus set and New Year in Tel Aviv sets contain photos of fashion show & performance art nudity and may not be suitable for all viewers and occasions.

Al

Nice pictures ...that is a big zoom you got on that

[Kaos]

That bull pup is the Tavor...Charles Daly is supposed to be doing a semi version in the US. DO WANT.

[ChamberedRound]

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing. Must've been amazing to walk along the same path Christ did.

[Swarner793]

Great photos, thanks for sharing.

I would be a little apprehensive in taking some of those shots. Some of the shots looks like you were doing intel work I can almost see it now, "No really Officer, I am just a gun crazy American taking some pics for my buddies back home. Can you get your muzzle out of my ear? By the way, does the select fire on that rifle include a 3 round burst?"

Be safe (and make everyday the trip of a lifetime).

Scott

[cadence2arms]

Nice pics. Looks like you had a lot of fun taking them.

[mythaeus]

Nice pictures ...that is a big zoom you got on that

You can almost see the name tags on those guys. Well, at least they were smiling at me

That bull pup is the Tavor...Charles Daly is supposed to be doing a semi version in the US. DO WANT.

Yeah, I remember now. I want one!

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing. Must've been amazing to walk along the same path Christ did.

Thanks! I'm a Buddhist, but really wanted to see all of the Christian spots in Israel for historical purposes. Here are a few more significant pieces.

14-point star marks the spot where Jesus was born (Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem).


The spot of crucifixion in The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Note the top of the rock enclosed in the glass case.


The stone where Jesus body was cleansed for the burial in The Church of the Holy Sepulcher


His tomb in The Church of the Holy Sepulcher

Great photos, thanks for sharing.

I would be a little apprehensive in taking some of those shots. Some of the shots looks like you were doing intel work I can almost see it now, "No really Officer, I am just a gun crazy American taking some pics for my buddies back home. Can you get your muzzle out of my ear? By the way, does the select fire on that rifle include a 3 round burst?"

Be safe (and make everyday the trip of a lifetime).

Scott

Hahaha...sure looks like it doesn't it? We got to Bethlehem a little late had to walk around a bit fast that I didn't have time to change lenses to get better lighted photos. Most of them were well-aware of the fact that I was taking pictures of them. The one of me with the 2 Palestinian officers they had to ask their commander, who had no problem and wanted to know where we were from.

Al

[son of the revolution]

Im not intentionally trying to stereotype , but if Im an American Tourist in Israel and a Palestinian Army Commander starts asking where Im from I think I'd be a bit nervous that I might be getting targeted for a kidnapping attempt later on in the trip. Not necessarily by the Palestinian Army , but by others that might be tipped off.

[mythaeus]

Im not intentionally trying to stereotype , but if Im an American Tourist in Israel and a Palestinian Army Commander starts asking where Im from I think I'd be a bit nervous that I might be getting targeted for a kidnapping attempt later on in the trip. Not necessarily by the Palestinian Army , but by others that might be tipped off.

When I said Philadelphia, the commander said "Welcome to Bethlehem". Heard the same from a police officer a little later.

If you ever make your way to these Middle East countries, I guarantee that your view of that region will change dramatically. The media paints that area out like how they paint guns and violence in America to people abroad. I met Israelis who blamed guns for violence in American schools. Extremist militants are not visible, especially not in the presence of these PNA military/guards (see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palesti...onal_Authority for info on the PNA). Also, Bethlehem is in the West Bank, not Gaza (where the Hamas are the main political faction).

Like the past trips where I visited Turkey and Egypt, this one "felt" equally secured, especially in the West Bank.

Al

[rovert97]

gota love the hot Israeli ladies of the Army holding guns.