Netanyah-boo! Walmart inexplicably sells children's 'Israeli army' Halloween costume
Netanyah-boo! Walmart inexplicably sells children's 'Israeli army' Halloween costume
Blog: The US megastore has a track record of poor-taste child outfits, and the latest has left many people puzzled and outraged.
3 min read
27 Oct, 2015
Walmart has previously come under fire for its costumes [Walmart.com]
Hold on to your paratrooper-red berets, the season's must-have Halloween costume for children has arrived.
Dressing up as spirits of the dead is just so passe these days, dahlings. No kids today want to be a ghoulish goblin, wild werewolf or sparkly vampire - now the other-worldly hype of Twilight has thankfully died down.
Parents the world over are searching high and low for that special outfit - often made of poor-quality, scarily flammable flimsy material - and the pressure is on.
But the search may finally be over. If you've still not got a costume, with just days to go until the spooky feast, fear not, Walmart has something to occupy your heart.
"The Israeli Soldier Costume for Kids includes product comes complete with: shirt, pants, belt and hat," reads the Israeli soldier costume description on the grocery giant's website.
The toy weapon, possibly modelled on the Israeli-made Uzi sub-machine gun, brandished by the child-model in the ad's photo, is apparently not included in the outfit.
It's a radical look which could be yours (or your child's) for just $27.44 - a steal considering it was originally offered at $57.62.
"When Halloween time rolls around, make this item part of your child's complete ensemble," the US megastore suggests.
And who wouldn't want their beloved youngster to dress up as a conscripted, order-following tool of military occupation?
Perhaps, judging by the comments on the site, some of the sarcastic reviewers.
"Your little one can now go to his friend's house, and take over their bedroom, and all of their toys and claim that God has given him/her the right to take it," said one five-star reviewer.
"If the friend refuses, your little IDF soldier can respond with force, and if they fight back, claim anti-Semitism, the right to defend their new room full of God-given toys and level the whole family and neighborhood block."
"How is this any better than the 'Pashtun papa' costume?" commented another reviewer, in reference to Walmart’s previous advertisement of an "Islamic costume" - which, naturally, came complete with fake beard.
They were forced to withdraw the product after accusations of racism and stereotyping.
Walmart, which pays many of its staff just $9 an hour despite making a gross profit of $130 billion this year, is also currently advertising a number of "Arab Sheikh" costumes and accessories for use at Halloween.
The world's largest retailer previously, and improbably, described one of the said outfits as "impeccably close to the real Arab wardrobe they wear during everyday life".
The Israeli army has been accused of numerous human rights abuses against Palestinians. The two sides are currently embroiled in clashes in the West Bank in what many have dubbed a "third intifada".
More than 200 Palestinian children were injured by Israeli troops or settlers in just one week - between October 6 and 12 this year - according to UN figures.
For many Palestinian children, the sight of an Israeli soldier is likely a much greater source of real, legitimate, tangible fear than any spooky ghost or zombie could ever be.
Dressing up as spirits of the dead is just so passe these days, dahlings. No kids today want to be a ghoulish goblin, wild werewolf or sparkly vampire - now the other-worldly hype of Twilight has thankfully died down.
Parents the world over are searching high and low for that special outfit - often made of poor-quality, scarily flammable flimsy material - and the pressure is on.
But the search may finally be over. If you've still not got a costume, with just days to go until the spooky feast, fear not, Walmart has something to occupy your heart.
"The Israeli Soldier Costume for Kids includes product comes complete with: shirt, pants, belt and hat," reads the Israeli soldier costume description on the grocery giant's website.
The toy weapon, possibly modelled on the Israeli-made Uzi sub-machine gun, brandished by the child-model in the ad's photo, is apparently not included in the outfit.
It's a radical look which could be yours (or your child's) for just $27.44 - a steal considering it was originally offered at $57.62.
Twitter Post
|
"When Halloween time rolls around, make this item part of your child's complete ensemble," the US megastore suggests.
And who wouldn't want their beloved youngster to dress up as a conscripted, order-following tool of military occupation?
Perhaps, judging by the comments on the site, some of the sarcastic reviewers.
"Your little one can now go to his friend's house, and take over their bedroom, and all of their toys and claim that God has given him/her the right to take it," said one five-star reviewer.
"If the friend refuses, your little IDF soldier can respond with force, and if they fight back, claim anti-Semitism, the right to defend their new room full of God-given toys and level the whole family and neighborhood block."
"How is this any better than the 'Pashtun papa' costume?" commented another reviewer, in reference to Walmart’s previous advertisement of an "Islamic costume" - which, naturally, came complete with fake beard.
They were forced to withdraw the product after accusations of racism and stereotyping.
Walmart, which pays many of its staff just $9 an hour despite making a gross profit of $130 billion this year, is also currently advertising a number of "Arab Sheikh" costumes and accessories for use at Halloween.
The world's largest retailer previously, and improbably, described one of the said outfits as "impeccably close to the real Arab wardrobe they wear during everyday life".
The Israeli army has been accused of numerous human rights abuses against Palestinians. The two sides are currently embroiled in clashes in the West Bank in what many have dubbed a "third intifada".
More than 200 Palestinian children were injured by Israeli troops or settlers in just one week - between October 6 and 12 this year - according to UN figures.
For many Palestinian children, the sight of an Israeli soldier is likely a much greater source of real, legitimate, tangible fear than any spooky ghost or zombie could ever be.
More in Opinion
