Been thinking about the 'former IDF soldiers' on the maidan and I'm starting to wonder if it's just another example of something that's been seen across the world, especially in latin America, since at least the 60s. I know more about it in Colombia than anywhere else - over there ex-IDF mercenaries have worked as 'counter-insurgency' trainers for the narcofascist paramilitaries. Apparently Israel produces much more than its fair share of mercenaries and 'specialist trainers' (not a complete surprise I suppose, given the nature of the work the IDF do and the sheer size of it as a proportion of the population.
the quote in
cynicaleconomy 's post above talks about a soldier in a skullcap leading a training exercise and that would fit too. I find the claims that this is something that's been organised by the Israeli government a bit iffy - not least because of the kinds of people who are making them - but it doesn't really have to be for the Jewish maidan fighters to represent something very different from genuine grassroots jewish support - they might just be mercenaries in it for the money. The likes of the AUC in Colombia were openly and intensely antisemitic and that didn't stop them there - one can only assume it was all about the money.
I admit this is just speculation but thought I'd put it out there - anyone else think this might be what's happening?