Indian bidis are the latest hit among young Israeli soldiers following a ban on smoking of the traditional hookah due to concerns that images of soldiers sharing a hookah may damage the prestige of the army.
The ban on puffing hookah was imposed a year and a half ago by the police and disciplinary department of Israel Defence Forces' (IDF) manpower division. It prompted soldiers to adopt bidis, which are cheap and legal.
"The bidis contain only tobacco and smoking them is legal. I would not bring something to Israel that would put my place in danger," Oren Gilad, owner of one of the small food shops selling bidis, said.
"The soldiers smoked them for the first time in festivals like Boombamela and Bereshit and found that it was a different and interesting experience altogether," he told daily Ma'ariv.
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