Aerith Gainsborough and Shin Bet: Difference between pages

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<!-- Please note:

:''For the ethnic group, see [[Shabak people]].''

This article name is "Aerith Gainsborough". This is not a typo, nor is it incorrect.

[[Image:ShabakLogo.gif|thumb|100px|Shabak emblem "Defender who shall not be seen"]]

If you wish to discuss an Aerith -> Aeris revision, see the talk page. For now all such revisions will be reverted back to Aerith.

The '''Shabak''' (in Hebrew, שב"כ '''{{Audio|He-Shabak.ogg|"Shabak"}}''') an acronym of "Shérūt Bītāhōn Klālī" שירות ביטחון כללי) is usually referred to in English as the '''Shin Bet''' (which was what Shabak was originally called in Israel's early days). The Shabak is also known in English as the '''Israel Security Agency''' (ISA), or the '''GSS''' (General Security Service). The Shabak is the Internal General Security Service of [[Israel]]. Its [[motto]] is "מגן ולא יראה," which translates into: "Defender (Shield) who shall not be seen". The service consists of close to 5,000 employees. It is one of three principal organizations of the [[Israeli Intelligence Community]], alongside [[Aman (IDF)|Aman]] (the [[military intelligence]] of the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]]) and [[Mossad]] (responsible for overseas [[Intelligence (information gathering)|intelligence]] work).

-->{{FFVII character |

menu image = [[Image:Aerith Gainsborough menu image.png|20px]] |

name = Aerith Gainsborough |

aka = '''''Aeris Gainsborough''''' |

job = Flower Girl |

weapon = Staff |

dob = February 7 |

birthplace = Icicle Inn |

age = 22 (in Final Fantasy VII)|

height = 5' 3" |

blood = O |

}}

'''Aerith Gainsborough''' (Japanese: エアリス・ゲインズブール, ''Earisu Geinzubūru''; also known as "'''Aeris Gainsborough'''"), is a fictional character from the [[computer role-playing game|role playing game]] ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'' . She has green eyes, long brown hair which she ties in a braid with pink ribbons, and wears a pink dress. She fights with a metal [[quarterstaff]]; however, her physical attacks are relatively weak, and she is better utilized as a mage. Her [[Limit Break]]s are used to heal or protect the party. In the original Japanese versions of ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]'' series and ''[[Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children]]'', she is voiced by [[Maaya Sakamoto]]; in the English version of ''Kingdom Hearts'', she is voiced by singer [[Mandy Moore]]. In the English versions of ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'' and ''Advent Children'', she is voiced by actress [[Mena Suvari]].

== Duties and roles ==

Aerith is often referred to as "Aeris," due to translation issues. The problem may have originated due to the fact that the foreign sounds "s" (as a stand-alone consonant) and "th" are both represented in Japanese syllabary by "su" (ス), or it may have been a deliberate aesthetic change on Sony's part. The alternative spelling was subsequently used in the English translation of ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]''. However, both "Aerith" and "Aeris" may possibly be pronounced the same (as "Air-ris").

{{Israelis}}

The Shabak's duties are:

* Upholding the state [[security]] against those who seek to undermine it by [[terrorism|terrorist]] activity or violent revolution.

* Expose terrorist organizations of [[Israel]]i civilians

* Interrogations of terror suspects.

* Providing [[military intelligence|intelligence]] for [[counter-terrorism]] operations in the [[West Bank]] and the [[Gaza Strip]].

* [[Counter-espionage]].

* Protect the lives of senior public officials (see also: [[bodyguard]]s).

* Secure important infrastructure and government buildings.

* Ensure the security of [[El-Al]], [[Arkia]] and [[Israir]] flights and Israel's [[embassy|embassies]] abroad.

One of the Shin Bet's roles is to protect the lives of senior Israeli ministers and public servants (such as the [[President of Israel]]). The Shin Bet is also responsible for preventing the funding of underground movements and terror groups whose members are Israeli citizens. It accomplishes this goal by using interrogations and secret agents ([[HUMINT]]).

"Aerith"&mdash;and, consequently, "Aeris"&mdash;is a Japanese transliteration of the English word "Earth" (confirmed by the ''Final Fantasy VII: Kaitai Shinsho'' guide). In [[katakana]] (the Japanese alphabet used for words that are not of Japanese origin), the name is written as "Earisu". [[Syllable]]s in the [[Japanese language]] are normally open, that is, they normally end in a vowel ("n" being the only consonant allowed in syllable codas; thus, the "i" after "r") and the Japanese language has no "th" sound, instead using "su". It became "Aeris" as a result of writing it in [[romaji]] ([[Latin alphabet|Latin characters]] representing Japanese sounds) to represent how it sounds when spoken in Japanese ("Air-ris").

== Legal status and methods ==

"Aerith," the actual official romanization of the name, should technically never occur. As it's written, it's essentially a combination of the romaji form of the Japanese transliteration and the original English word that was transliterated. It's technically impossible for this to occur in romaji because there is no "th" sound in Japanese to be represented by romaji characters. Nonetheless, it's the official romanization chosen by the creators of Final Fantasy VII.

The Shabak relies mainly on [[HUMINT]] to extract information and gather intelligence. It uses [[informant]]s from the local population in order to gather intelligence about planned attacks or about the ___location of opposition leaders. Shabak had overwhelming success with informants, managing to target the top leaders of the Palestinian organizations—including hardliners such as [[Hamas]] and the [[Islamic Jihad]]. The killing of Sheikh [[Ahmed Yassin]] and [[Abed al-Aziz Rantissi]] shows how deeply Shabak has penetrated into the Palestinian militias. As a result, the Palestinians groups, mainly the [[al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades]] started killing suspected [[collaborator]]s.

Shabak also extracts information by [[interrogation|interrogating]] suspects. In [[1987]], after complaints about excessive use of violence in interrogations of Palestinian prisoners, the Landau Committee (headed by a former Supreme Court President) prepared a two-part report on Shabak's interrogation methods. Only one part was made public. It revealed that the Shabak regularly used violent methods of interrogation and that Shabak agents were tutored to lie in court about how evidence was uncovered. The committee report also gave guidelines for future interrogations but most of the details were in the secret part of the report. The open part revealed that the guidelines allowed Shabak to apply "moderate physical pressure" in the case of "necessity." In [[1994]], State Comptroller Miriam Ben-Porat, in a report not made public until February [[2000]], found that during 1988-1992 "Violation of the Landau Commission and the GSS regulations continued to be widespread in the interrogation facility in Gaza and, to some extent, in other facilities.… Veteran and senior investigators in the Gaza facility carried out severe and systematic violations. Senior GSS commanders did not prevent these violations." [http://domino.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/a4d9ee9284f95f798525697b0049366c?OpenDocument]

{{spoiler}}

In [[1999]] the [[Supreme Court of Israel|Israeli Supreme Court]] heard several petitions against Shabak methods. It found that these included: (1) "forceful and repeated shaking of the suspect’s upper torso, in a manner which causes the neck and head to swing rapidly," (2) manacling of the suspect in a painful “Shabach position" for a long period of time, (3) the "frog crouch" consisting of "consecutive, periodical crouches on the tips of one’s toes," and other methods. The Court ruled that Shabak did not have the authority, even under the defense of "necessity," to employ such methods.

==Biography==

===Past===

Aerith was born to the last true [[Races of Final Fantasy#Cetra|Cetra]], [[List of Final Fantasy VII characters#Ifalna|Ifalna]], and her experimenter, [[List of Final Fantasy VII characters#Professor Gast|Professor Gast]]. Previous to this, Ifalna had been captured by the [[Shin-Ra]] to be experimented on by Gast, their top scientist. The two fell in love and instead eloped; Gast continued his investigation into the Cetra's history with Ifalna's help in Icicle Inn and a baby girl, Aerith, was born to them.

In the Justice Ministry, [http://www.justice.gov.il/MOJHeb/PraklitotHamedina/MehozotHapraklitutVehamachlakot/HamachlakaLetafkidimMeyuhadim/ the Department For Special Roles], there is a senior investigator who checks complaints about Shabak interrogations.

While Aerith was still a baby, her family was attacked by Shin-Ra soldiers under the command of [[List of Final Fantasy VII characters#Professor Gast|Professor Hojo]], an evil scientist at Shin-Ra, killing Gast and capturing Aerith and Ifalna to be experimented on by Hojo. Seven years later, Ifalna was able to escape with Aerith as far as the Sector 7 slums train station in [[Midgar]] where a dying Ifalna passed Aerith to [[List of Final Fantasy VII characters#Elmyra Gainsborough|Elmyra Gainsborough]], a childless widow.

Shabak claims that it is now basing its interrogations only on psychological means. However, organizations such as [[B'Tselem]] and [[Amnesty International]] still accuse Shabak of employing physical methods that amount to torture under international conventions.

In [[2002]] the Israeli [[Knesset]] passed a law, regulating the activity of Shabak. The law ruled that:

Elmyra mentioned that Aerith tried to hide her Cetra powers, the ability to hear the souls from the Planet for example, to prevent herself from being taken by Tseng.

* The [[Prime Minister of Israel]] is in charge of the Shabak and carries ministerial responsibility for its activity. The head of the Shabak answers to the prime minister.

* The Shabak head will serve 5 years in duty, unless there is a state of emergency.

* Interrogation methods: this part was not made public.

== History ==

At the age of sixteen, Aerith dated her first boyfriend, [[List of Final Fantasy VII characters#Other supporting cast|Zack]], who is linked to the ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]'''s protagonist, [[Cloud Strife|Cloud]]. Looking back on this relationship, Aerith comments that even though she and Zack weren't serious, admitted that she once liked him.

=== Foundation ===

With the declaration of Israeli Independence, the '''Shin Bet''' was founded, as a branch of the [[Israel Defense Forces]], and was headed by [[Isser Harel]] (the father of Israeli Intelligence, who later headed the [[Mossad]]). Responsibility for Shin Bet activity was later moved from the IDF to the office of the [[Prime Minister of Israel|prime minister]]. During the [[1948 Arab-Israeli war]] that was declared against Israel following the Israeli independence, the Shin Bet's responsibility included only internal security affairs. It was only later that its responsibilities were extended to [[Counter-espionage]] and the monitoring of [[Israeli Arabs]] (Arabs who did not leave Israel during the 1948 war of Israeli independence and who were granted Israeli citizenship).

=== Early days ===

She makes a living selling flowers, which is how she eventually meets Cloud during ''Final Fantasy VII''.

In the beginning, as part of efforts to prevent anti-state activity, the Shin Bet monitored pro-[[Soviet]] opposition parties suspected of supporting the [[Soviet Union]] over [[Israel]] if the [[Cold War]] were to become an active full scale war. The political leadership, headed by [[David Ben-Gurion]], silenced publications that dealt with these activities. Only [[Uri Avneri]] successfully published about these activities in [[Haolam Hazeh]] newspaper. A great controversy was created when two Shin Bet agents were caught installing a [[bugging device]] in [[Meir Yeari]]'s office (Yeari was the leader of [[Mapam]] - a [[Socialist]] [[Zionist]] party with favorable views of the [[Soviet Union]] and [[Joseph Stalin]]).

One of the Shabak's most important successes, though it is often incorrectly attributed to the [[Mossad]], was to obtain a copy of the [[On the Personality Cult and its Consequences|secret speech]] made by [[Nikita Khrushchev|Khrushchev]] in 1956, when he denounced [[Joseph Stalin|Stalin]]. A Polish edition of the speech was provided to the Israeli embassy in [[Warsaw]] by the boyfriend of the secretary of a Polish communist official. The Shabak's Polish liaison officer conveyed the copy to Israel. The Israeli government then decided to share the information with the United States, who published it with Israeli approval.

===Compilation of Final Fantasy VII===

====Before Crisis====

[[Image:FF7 Before Crisis Aeris1.jpg|thumb|120px|left|Aerith from [[Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII]].]]

[[Shinra|Shin-Ra]], in hopes of advancing methods to harvest the earth's energy (see [[Mako (Final Fantasy VII)#The Lifestream|"Lifestream"]]), seek the last remaining survivors of the [[Races of Final Fantasy#Cetra|Cetra]], an ancient race rumored to have the remarkable ability to communicate with the planet itself. Their search leads to Ifalna, the sole survivor (at the time). She is apprehended by Shin-Ra forces and subjected to many horrific experiments.

Up until the [[Six Day War]], the Shin Bet continued to focus on [[counter-espionage]] and monitoring political activity among the Israeli Arabs. Shabak's most notable achievement in counter-espionage was the capture of Dr. [[Israel Bar]] in [[1961]] who was revealed to be a [[Soviet]] [[spy]]. Bar was a [[Lieutenant Colonel]] in the reserves, a senior security commentator and close friend of Ben-Gurion, and reached high Israeli circles. Bar was tried and sentenced to ten years in prison (which was later extended by the Supreme Court to fifteen years, following his appeal), where he died. In the same year, [[Kurt Sita]], a [[Christian]] [[Germany|German]] from the [[Sudetenland]] and a [[professor]] in the [[Technion]], was revealed as a [[Czech people|Czech]] [[spy]].

Ifalna, in captivity of Shin-Ra forces, becomes romantically involved with one of the more humane researchers, Professor Gast. Gast breaks her free and together, they escape to a remote mountain village and live (momentarily) in peace.

=== After the Six Day War ===

Following twenty days after the birth of their daughter, Aerith, Shin-Ra soldiers, led by [[List of Final Fantasy VII characters#Researchers|Hojo]], raid their home. Gast is slain and Ifalna is again abducted along with baby Aerith for further torture in Shin-Ra's labs.

After the [[Six Day War]], Shabak efforts to monitor terrorist activity in the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]] become a more and more dominant part of the organization activity, and today it is considered to be the major part of Shabak's mission. [[Yeshayahu Leibowitz]] warned that the control over the territories will turn Israel into a "Shabak state". However, Shabak imposed restrictions on itself in order to not harm democratic values, separation of authorities and to prevent the risk that Shabak will be used in a totalitarian manner.

=== Years of crisis ===

Seven long years pass. The two, mother and child, flee from Shin-Ra's clutches to the municipal [[Midgar]]. Ifalna, wounded in the attempt and on the verge of death, begs a woman to take care of Aerith. The kindly widow, Elmyra Gainsborough, accepts and raises Aerith as her own. With the death of her mother Ifalna, Aerith is now the last survivor of the ancient [[Races of Final Fantasy#Cetra|Cetra]] (or simply, Ancients).

During [[1984]]-[[1986]] Shabak went into a major crisis following the [[Kav 300 affair]] in which two terrorists who hijacked a bus and took hostages were executed without trial by Shabak officers, who later covered up the event and gave false testimonies. Following this affair, [[Avraam Shalom]] (then the head of Shabak) was forced to resign.

The event resulted in the Landau committee, which regulated Shabak interrogation methods.

In adopting the title, she is burdened with its cursed circumstances. As the sole Cetra, her role as an envoy to the planet's cries (see "[[Materia|Lifestream]]") impose a responsibility far too overwhelming for a child to bear. To make matters worse, she has become the key target of the empirical [[Shinra|Shin-Ra]] which is based in central [[Midgar]]--their hold completely enshrouding the city in economic and social disparity. Shin-Ra, inching closer to the Ancient's ___location, dispatches the [[Turks (Final Fantasy VII)|Turks]] to finally recapture her.

In [[1995]] a crisis followed the [[assassination]] of [[Israeli Prime Minister]] [[Itzhak Rabin]] by [[Yigal Amir]]. Following the Shabak's failure to protect Rabin, [[Carmi Gillon]] was forced to resign. Later, the [[Meir Shamgar|Shamgar]] investigation committee learned of serious flaws in the personal security unit and the provocative and inciting behavior of [[Avishai Raviv]] - an [[Agent provocateur]] of the Shin Bet Jewish Unit. Raviv obtained a "[[photoshop]]ped" picture of Rabin in an [[SS]] uniform, and presented it in the infamous [[Zion Square]] demonstration in Jerusalem prior to Rabin's murder.

====Final Fantasy VII====

[[Image:Ff7-flowers.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Aerith selling flowers on the streets of Midgar, meeting [[Cloud Strife|Cloud]] for the first time.]]

Aerith, now a flower seller, tries her best to lead a normal life despite numerous kidnapping attempts by the Turks. She retreats routinely to a local run-down church which serves as an ideal hideaway from the insanity of the outside world. According to her, it is the only place where flowers seem to grow, a symbol of hope that is followed many times throughout the game.

Gillon was replaced by outside "import", [[Israeli Navy]] [[admiral]] [[Ami Ayalon]]. Ayalon rehabilitated Shabak after Rabin's murder and worked hard to restore its reputation with the general public.

Chronologically, the game begins here, ten years after her initial arrival in Midgar. While on a seemingly typical flower route, she bumps into a frantic [[Cloud Strife|Cloud]] who flees from the scene of Avalanche's successful bombing of a Mako Reactor.

In [[1996]], a unit of the Shabak assassinated [[Hamas]] chief bombmaker [[Yahya Ayyash]] by planting an explosive device in his [[cellular phone]]. The operation was carried out after an instruction by then Prime Minister [[Shimon Peres]].

The two would later reunite in Aerith's church, this time, under more tense circumstances. Faced with the possibility of being captured by [[Shinra]], Aerith asks the mercenary to be her [[bodyguard]] against the [[Turks (Final Fantasy VII)|Turks]] for the cost of one date. She is eventually kidnapped but once again saved by Cloud and company. Aerith joins them in the pursuit of the malevolent [[Sephiroth (Final Fantasy VII)|Sephiroth]], as well as a journey of self-discovery.

=== During the al-Aqsa Intifada ===

Although Aerith makes a point of putting on an image of innocence, she is in reality much less naive than she lets on and takes the opportunity to showcase her coyer side around Cloud, with whom she is openly flirtatious. She generally remains optimistic throughout the journey though her shady and somewhat mysterious actions leads others to believe she knows more about Sephiroth's conquest than she lets on.

{{SectOR}}

In 2000, Ayalon ended his 5-years term and he was replaced by veteran Shabak official, [[Avi Dichter]]. Dichter, an ex-[[Sayeret Matkal]] [[commando]] and an experienced Shabak [[espionage|agent]], tightened the working relationship with the [[Israeli Defence Forces]] and the [[Israeli police]]. Foreign press hinted that Shabak is working tightly with the elite Israeli counter-terror unit, [[YAMAM]].

Dichter was in charge when the [[al-Aqsa Intifada]] erupted. He managed to react quickly to changes and turn Shabak into a prominent player in Israel's war against [[Palestinians]] after the collapse of the [[2000 Camp David Summit]].

[[Image:Final Fantasy VII - Cloud's Farewell To Aeris.jpg|thumb|left|Aerith's death in ''Final Fantasy VII''.]] After a failed attempt to foil Sephiroth's stealing of a dangerous [[Materia|materia]], Aerith recklessly ventures alone into the City of Ancients. Cloud gives chase and eventually finds Aerith just in time to see her impaled on Sephiroth's sword. Cloud and gang ensue a fight against a form of Jenova and secure a quick victory. But, shaken, hurt, and saddened, they mourn the loss of a dear friend. Cloud takes Aerith's body, wades out into the middle of the lake of Ancient Capital, and gives her body back to the planet by releasing her into the depths of the water.

The Shin Bet is most known for its role in the conflict with [[Palestinians]]. The Shin Bet produces intelligence which enables the [[Israeli Defence Forces]] (IDF) to prevent [[suicide bombing]]s before they reach their destinations. This is usually done by preventive arrests and deploying road blocks when there is a serious alert.

The party learns that, through her White [[Materia]] (handed down from Ifalna), Aerith summoned "Holy," the only force capable of repelling Sephiroth's cataclysmic summon, Meteor. In order to initiate its effect, however, Sephiroth would have to be defeated. Inspired by Aerith's ultimate sacrifice, the party sets out on a final showdown. Cloud succeeds in killing Sephiroth, however Holy is activated too close to the planet. While Holy clashes with Meteor to prevent impact, their powers are augmented by each other and create an even more destructive force. In a climactic [[FMV]], the earth's Lifestream spews from the planet and bands together to diffuse the monstrous structure. This magnificent showing is followed by a vision of Aerith--an indication of her final efforts to save the planet (this is discussed more in "The Maiden that Travels the Planet").

In addition to preventing [[suicide bombing]]s from the West Bank by arrests and special operations, Shabak is working tightly with the [[Israeli Air Force]] in order to pinpoint and kill terror masterminds and terrorist leaders by precision [[air strike]]. The targets are field commanders and senior leaders of Palestinian militant factions (which Israel consider as terrorists), mainly those of [[Hamas]], but also of the [[Palestinian Islamic Jihad|Islamic Jihad]], the [[Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades]], the [[Fatah]] and even one [[Al-Qaeda]] linkman ([[Iad Al-Bik]]). These assassinations, called "[[targeted killings]]", are usually done by [[helicopter gunship]]s, where both IAF commanders and Shabak agents sit together in the command center monitoring the operation. Shabak's task is giving intelligence when and where the target will be available for a strike and then reacting to IAF [[UAV|drone]] feedback and ensuring the men on the sight are indeed the wanted terrorists (this part is called "identification and incrimination").

====Maiden Who Travels The Planet====

''[[The Maiden Who Travels the Planet]]'' is a novelization written by Benny Matsuyama that appears in the ''Ultimania Omega Guide'' for ''[[Final Fantasy VII]]''. It is the story of Aerith during ''Final Fantasy VII'' once she has returned to the Lifestream after her death at the hands of Sephiroth.

Shabak's effective activity during the second Intifada boosted its reputation both among the Israeli public and [[counter-terror]] experts. [http://www.fas.org/irp/world/israel/shin_bet/m052504.html]

The story revealed that a Cetra's strength of will and understanding of the Planet allows their consciousness to exist within the Lifestream without being diluted. Aerith begins a journey through the Lifestream, encountering people who have died over the course of the game, including [[Biggs and Wedge|Biggs]], [[Biggs and Wedge|Wedge]] and Jessie of [[AVALANCHE (Final Fantasy VII)|AVALANCHE]], as well as [[List of Final Fantasy VII characters#Other supporting cast|Dyne]], [[List of Final Fantasy VII characters#Executives|President Shin-Ra]], Zack and Hojo.

=== 2003 to 2006 ===

Her true feelings for Cloud are revealed during the course of the story, and it is also confirmed that it was she who called the Lifesteam into action to aid Holy in defeating Meteor. It is further revealed that the deceased members of AVALANCHE, as well as Dyne and Zack, assisted her in this final defense of the Planet.

In November 2003, four former heads of Shin Bet ([[Avraham Shalom]], [[Yaakov Peri]], [[Carmi Gillon]] and [[Ami Ayalon]]) called upon the Government of Israel to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians. [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,6903,1096286,00.html].

[[Ami Ayalon]], along with Palestinian professor [[Sari Nusseibeh]], launched the ''[[National Census]]'' peace initiative.

====Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children====

[[Image:FFVIIAC-Aerith_Gainsborough.JPG|150px|thumb|right|Aerith in Advent Children]]

Aerith's appearances in Advent Children run few and far between, but her actions profoundly affect the outcome of events once again.

[[Avi Dichter]] is one of the chief supporters of building a defence barrier against Palestinians in the [[West Bank]]. The Israeli government began building the [[Israeli West Bank Barrier]] in [[2003]]. Dichter has since said that the barrier 'is working' and helps to prevent and reduce [[terror]] attacks. [http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=397404&displayTypeCd=1&sideCd=1&contrassID=2], [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2003/12/17/wmid17.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/12/17/ixportal.html&secureRefresh=true&_requestid=229966]

Since Sephiroth's defeat, the party has had no time to rejoice. Though the planet has been saved by Aerith and the others' actions, a fatal illness known as "Geostigma" plagues many. Cloud, now infected with the disease as well, isolates himself from his friends. Though resolute, he is maddened by his failure to prevent the deaths of Zack and Aerith, and believes himself unable to help anyone. Not wishing to be a burden on the family of sorts he has made with Tifa, Marlene, and Denzel (an orphan they've taken in), he secludes himself from them in Aerith's church.

In February [[2005]], [[Ariel Sharon]] announced that [[Yuval Diskin]], a veteran Shabak field agent, senior negotiator with Palestinian officers and mastermind of the "targeted killings", will replace Dichter after he ends his five-year term. On [[May 15]], [[2005]] Diskin entered into office after Dichter left with great applause from the press, the politicians, and the public. Dichter has joined the political arena and is now a member of the [[Kadima]] party, founded by the former [[Israeli]] prime minister [[Ariel Sharon]].

Aerith makes several appearances throughout the course of the movie as Cloud's spiritual guide, urging him to move on in life and to forgive himself for the tragedies that were beyond his control. During their spiritual reunion, Aerith speaks to Cloud in an open meadow laden with flowers, cheerfully poking fun at how he needlessly burdens himself with the past, but acknowledging his suffering and offering kind words of support.

In September 2006, the Shin Bet, launched its first-ever public recruitment drive with the creation of a [http://www.shabak.gov.il Web site]. The employment campaign, coming on the heels of a newly approved defense budget, is targeting computer programmers.

[[Image:Ac-aeris-02.png|250px|thumb|left|Aerith in the credits of ''Advent Children''.]]

===Rising Profile===

One of Aerith's greatest boons to Cloud during the film comes when each member of the original game's party lends their respective strength to Cloud's final attack against Bahamut SIN, an act symbolizing one of the film's primary themes of comraderie (summed up by Cloud's final line in the film: "I'm not alone"). Aerith makes an appearance as the last of the party members to lend a helping hand, giving him one final reassuring boost of his friends' faith in him.

Once considered a commitment to lifelong anonymity and even invisibility in Israeli society, today a Shabak agent who achieves high rank in the service, especially the director, is considered a candidate for membership in the top brass of the Israeli government and business community. This process follows a trend started by ex-generals and colonels of the Israel Defense Forces, the trailblazers including [[Moshe Dayan]], [[Ariel Sharon]], and [[Yitzhak Rabin]]. In the Shabak and the foreign intelligence [[Mossad]] service, the trend showed up much later (During mid-[[1990s]]), even though Isser Harel (who served as head of both services) and Meir Amit of the Mossad both served as lawmakers.

Ex-Shabak directors today are increasingly visible as candidates for higher office. Yaakov Peri became the chairman of Bank HaMizrahi in 2002, and also became a highly visible guest on television programs. Carmi Gillon serves as Chairman of the Local Council of [[Mevaseret Zion]], Jerusalem's most affluent suburb, while Avi Dichter and Ami Ayalon were at one time leading candidates for defense minister (Dichter for the Kadima party formed by prime minister Ariel Sharon, Ayalon on the Labour party ticket). Dichter eventually became Minister of Internal Security in the current government led by [[Ehud Olmert]]. Ayalon has attracted widespread following as a co-initiator with Palestinian dignitary Sari Nusseibeh of the non-governmental Peoples' Voice initiative to petition the governments in Israel and the Palestinian Authority for a permanent settlement.

Near the end of the film, it is discovered that the [[Lifestream]] flows beneath the flowerbed in Aerith's church, this revelation coming after an explosion caused by Kadaj leaves a large hole in the soil, thus explaining how flowers were able to bloom in a place as desolate as Midgar. It is here that a cure for Geostigma is discovered: the water mixed with Lifestream that had been beneath the church (the developers also acknowledge that the water is a symbolic representation of "Great Gospel", Aerith's final limit break from the original game).

== Criticism ==

Until the movie was released, the upper half of Aerith's face had been kept hidden by [[Square Enix]]. This tactic left many fans speculating on how she would look in her ''Advent Children'' incarnation, and resulted in others producing fabricated images that they claimed were official. Aerith's full face is revealed in ''Advent Children'''s final scene, and is shown again during the credits.

The so-called "[[Shabak technique]]" is an extreme [[interrogation]] technique that is used by the Shin Bet on [[Palestinian]] suspects. It has never officially been confirmed by the secretive Shin Bet as acceptable for use. Informal accounts by prisoners indicate it may involve forcing the subject to sit on a short stool or chair which is angled forward (so it's impossible to sit in a comfortable, stable position) and then tying their arms and legs behind them to the chair, while also covering their head with a bag and possibly subjecting them to extremely loud noise, such as music. The subject is then left in this condition for extended periods of time. Sleep is not allowed for the duration.

==Other Appearances==

===Kingdom Hearts===

[[Image:KHaerith.jpg|thumb|left|110px|Aerith in ''[[Kingdom Hearts]]''.]]

[[Image: Aerithkh2.PNG|right|120px|thumb|Aerith as seen in ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'']]

Due to it being an alternate universe, Aerith also makes a notable appearance in the [[Kingdom Hearts]] series. She is a member of a group dedicated to defeating the Heartless, which also includes [[Cid Highwind]] and [[Yuffie Kisaragi]] of Final Fantasy VII, and [[Squall Leonhart]] of [[Final Fantasy VIII]] (aka, Leon). Her attire is mostly unchanged; the only changes were the short red jacket she wore over her pink dress is gone, the ribbon on her hair is now red instead of pink, her gold bangles were replaced with silver bracelets on her left wrist, and she now wears a purple belt. You can now see her [[shoulder]]s and [[underarm]]s.

This method was considered by the Israeli Supreme Court on September 6, 1999, which prohibited this method, along with all other forms of torture and physical pressure. In 2000 an official Israeli government report was released, after being kept secret for five years, in which the government admitted torturing Palestinian detainees between 1988 and 1992.

Aerith encounters [[Donald Duck]] and [[Goofy]] in the streets of [[Traverse Town]] and escorts them to the Traverse Town hotel. It is there that she suggests recovering the scattered pages of Ansem's Report to find a way to destroy the Heartless.

On May 6, 2007 two human rights organizations released a report in which they charge the Shin Bet of continuing its torture techniques despite a court ruling in 1999 prohibiting such techniques. The report is based on testimony from 73 prisoners who were in Shin Bet custody between March 2005 and July 2006. The report continues with descriptions of these techniques, all of which are classified as torture under international law: physical beatings, painful binding, back bending, and body stretching and prolonged sleep deprivation.

In the Kingdom Hearts manga, she appears to [[Sora (Kingdom Hearts)|Sora]], Donald, and Goofy when the trio go to look for Leon, who is training in the sewers. Aerith is seen serving sweet beverages, like barley tea and soda with milk, drinks that Leon dislikes because they are sweetened.

Furthermore, the report criticizes the lack of accountability within the Shin Bet stating that despite over 500 complaints of abuse made to the attorney's office since 2001, no criminal investigation was launched as complaints are investigated by a member of the Shin Bet.

After the locking of the Hollow Bastion keyhole, Aerith returns to her home where she is reunited with Cloud in the Hollow Bastion library.

[http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/856142.html]

== Lists and tables ==

After making a brief appearance in [[Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories]] as a perceptive figment of Sora's memories, Aerith returns in ''[[Kingdom Hearts II]]'', wearing a modified version of the white dress she donned in ''[[Before Crisis: Final Fantasy VII]]''. In her hair, instead of pink, she wears red (or pink with a red hue) ribbons. She, along with fellow ''Final Fantasy VII'' characters Cloud, Cid, Yuffie, and (new to the [[Kingdom Hearts series|KH series]]) Tifa, help [[Sora (Kingdom Hearts)|Sora]] fight against the Heartless.

=== Important events in Shabak history ===

* [[1948]]: the Shabak is founded as the ''Shin Bet'' and is one of the three secret services in Israel along with the Military Intelligence and the Foreign Intelligence (later, the [[Mossad]]).

* [[1956]]: the Shabak obtains a copy of Khrushchev's speech denouncing Stalin.

* [[1961]]: the Shabak expose Doctor [[Israel Bar]] as a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] [[Espionage|spy]].

* [[1984]]: the [[Kav 300 Affair]], two terrorists hijacked a [[bus]] and after IDF SF and Shabak regained control over the bus, [[Avraam Shalom]] ordered the killing of the two terrorists who were captured alive, and [[Danny Yatom]] knocked their skulls in with a brick. The officers involved tried to cover this up.

* [[1987]]: the Izat Nafsu affair, when an officer was cleared from spy charges, and Shabak was highly criticized for his methods and norms.

* [[1995]]: the [[assassination]] of [[Yitzhak Rabin]] by [[Yigal Amir]] and the failure of Shabak to prevent it.

* [[1996]]: the Shabak assassinates [[Hamas]] top bombmaker [[Yahya Ayyash]].

* [[2000]]-[[2005]]: the [[al-Aqsa Intifada]] and Shabak main role in intelligence gathering and [[counter-terror]] efforts. [[Avraam Dichter]] received high credit for Shabak part in thwarting hundreds of [[suicide attack]]s and the [[assassination|targeted assassination]] of terrorist leaders.

===Final FantasyHeads of the Shabak Tactics===

* [[Isser Harel]] (1948&ndash;1952)

Aerith also somehow manages to make her presence known in [[Final Fantasy Tactics]] (as Aeris). During the course of the game, Aeris shows up offering to sell the characters a flower for one gil.

* [[Izi Dorot]] (1952&ndash;1953)

* [[Amos Manor]] (1953&ndash;1963)

* [[Yossef Harmelin]] (1964&ndash;1974)

* [[Avraam Ahitov]] (1974&ndash;1981)

* [[Avraam Shalom]] (1981&ndash;1986)

* [[Yossef Harmelin]] (1986&ndash;1988)

* [[Yaakov Peri]] (1988&ndash;1994)

* [[Carmi Gillon]] (1995&ndash;1996)

* [[Ami Ayalon]] (1996&ndash;2000)

* [[Avi Dichter]] (2000&ndash;2005)

* [[Yuval Diskin]] (2005&ndash;)

==Shabak in Popular Culture==

Later, after [[Cloud Strife]] is pulled through time and wanders around the streets of Zarghidas, he encounters Aeris, who offers him a flower for one gil, similar to his first encounter with her in ''Final Fantasy VII''. Cloud doesn't respond but instead stares at her, probably due to her resemblance to the Aerith he knew. Aeris asks Cloud if she reminded him of somebody. He denies it and walks away, leaving her to wonder if something is wrong with him.

* [[Shin Bet]] operative Dahlia Tal appears in the [[Ubisoft]] video game [[Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow]]. As a jest, when Lambert brings up the Shin Bet, Fisher replies with "Spooky. Who are we torturing?"

[[Image:Tactics_Cloud&Aerith.jpg|thumb|160px|left|Cloud & Aerith in ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]''.]]

Shortly after Cloud left, a group of thugs appear from the shadows and start harassing Aeris for the 30,000 gil that she and her mother owes them. After pleading with them to give her a week to come up with the money, the thugs then examine her and tell her that she's "pretty good looking!" and suggest that she sells her body instead of flowers.

* [[Shin Bet]] agents appear several times in Joel Rosenberg's book The Copper Scroll.

Cloud, angered by what he's seen, tells the thugs to get their hands off her then tells Aeris to run away. Aeris does as she's told and runs off-screen, leaving Cloud to fight off the thugs.

== See also ==

The flower girl is identified as being Aeris: She has her job, her basic personality, and her looks, yet she's somehow not in her actual time nor does she know Cloud. No explanation has been given to her presence in this game.

* [[Israel Security Forces]]

* [[Israel Defence Forces]]

* [[MAGAV]]

* [[Mossad]]

* [[YAMAM]]

* [[Security agency]]

== External links ==

===Itadaki Street===

* [http://www.shabak.gov.il/ Shabak Official website (Hebrew)]

[[Image:Aerithitadakistreetportable.PNG|thumb|100px|right|Aerith in ''Itadaki Street Portable'']]

* [http://www.fas.org/irp/world/israel/shin_bet/ Shin Bet] ([[Federation of American Scientists|FAS]])

Aerith also appears as a playable character in ''[[Itadaki Street Special]]'' and the upcoming ''[[Itadaki Street Portable]]'', along with many other characters from Final Fantasy VII including Tifa, Cloud and Sephiroth.

* [http://www.fas.org/irp/world/israel/shin_bet/m052504.html "Return of the Shin Bet" By Omri Essenheim] ([[Maariv]], [[25 May]] [[2004]] - reprint at FAS)

* [http://www.btselem.org/english/legal_documents/HC5100_94_19990906_Torture_Ruling.PDF Text of the 1999 High Court of Justice ruling] (PDF)

* [http://www.btselem.org/english/torture/background.asp B'tselem report on Shabak's use of torture]

* [http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3230365,00.html Knesset said "No" to Shabak]

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/637293.stm BBC - Israel admits torture]

[[Category:Intelligence agencies]]

===Tales Of Symphonia===

[[Category:Israeli Security Forces]]

Although she is not actually shown in the game, Aerith is referenced in [[Namco]]'s [[Tales of Symphonia]]. In the slums of Tethe'alla's capital city, Meltokio, when you initiate conversation with a [[NPC]] near the back of the slums, he says "I heard there was a cute flower-seller in here, but... I guess it was just a false rumor." This is a reference to both Aerith and [[Midgar]], as the city is divided into both an upper-class level, and the slums.

[[ar:شاباك]]

==Personality==

[[cs:Šin Bet]]

Aerith is a friendly, upbeat and cheerful young woman, and often seems a rather simplistic character. Throughout the game, however, she reveals the deeper aspects of her personality (and its temper), displaying her complexities. She is constantly mindful of the fate of the Planet, and concerns herself with issues dealing with her heritage as the sole survivor of the Cetra.

[[da:Shin Bet]]

[[de:Schin Bet]]

Despite her feelings of loneliness as the last of her race, Aerith puts on a positive and optimistic front. Though she is physically weak, she displays emotional strength, especially in carrying the responsibility of saving the Planet. Despite the dangers she has faced her whole life not only as an object of Shin-Ra's greed, but also from the dangers of growing up in the slums, she is gives hope, support and encouragement to her friends. She also shows her bravery and strength when she decides to handle Sephiroth on her own.

[[es:Shabak]]

[[fa:شاباک]]

Elmyra tells Cloud of Aerith’s stubborn determination and habit of stating what’s on her mind, and, indeed, once her mind is made up, it is hard to change it. She also tends to be a bit frank, but always tries to add joy to life and displays a stark understanding of others. This was exemplified in ''Advent Children'', when she told Cloud that he should seek forgiveness from himself instead of her.

[[fr:Shabak]]

[[id:Shin Bet]]

Aerith often puts on a naïve persona, but in reality, is a wise and understanding person who knows what’s going on with the Planet and its people&mdash;healing people and giving them encouragement and hope even after her death.

[[he:שירות ביטחון כללי]]

[[nl:Shin Bet]]

==Fandom==

[[ja:シャバック]]

[[Image:AerisTechDemo.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Aerith in the ''[[Final Fantasy VII technical demo]]''.]]Aerith is one of the most beloved characters in the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series, and is also music composer Nobuo Uematsu's personal favorite. Her death was unexpected and shocking to most players when the game first came out; her demise has been lamented so widely that some even consider spoiler warnings completely unneeded when discussing it, as it has become such a widely known fact.

[[pl:Szin Bet]]

[[fi:Shin Bet]]

A persistent rumor maintains that Aerith either could be resurrected in some versions of the game or that she was meant to be resurrected but the feature either could not be completed or was dropped at a relatively late stage of development. The production staff have repeatedly stated that this is not the case. By their admission, Aerith's death was always intended to be a permanent and tragic event, a response to the dramatic [[cliché]]s of heroic sacrifice and resurrection.

[[sv:SHABAK]]

Even after years of extensive search, no in-game way of resurrecting Aerith has been discovered. Nothing in the actual game data seems to contain any substantial evidence of resurrection methods ever existing, and none of the game FMVs have any indication of inaccessible scenes or alternate endings. Various cheat programs can put Aerith back to the party, though, but there are very few specific lines or weapons for her afterwards, and this may make the game hang in various parts. Nevertheless, rumors of Aerith's resurrection are some of the most widely known rumors in the history of video games.

The Aerith Revival rumor has similarities to the urban legend of the older Squaresoft game ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'' in regard to a character named [[Schala]]. Ironically, this game also contains a scene where the player can resurrect a dead character.

Another source of debate is the "spirit" of Aerith. If the player backtracks to the church in the Midgar slums, a "spirit" of Aerith can be seen in the church tending to the flowers or standing in the aisle, and will vanish if approached. This can be seen any time from the addition of Aerith to the party onwards, including immediately after she and Cloud escape from Reno and after her capture by the Turks. Whether this is an [[easter egg (virtual)#video game Easter eggs|easter egg]] created by the developers or a glitch in the game remains subject of much debate. However, it would seem that it is an easter egg by the developers, as an actual glitch in that part will allow the player to run up to Aerith, and if one talks to the children there, they will say something completely different from when Aerith's "ghost" is gone. Interestingly, a similar scene appears in the ''Advent Children'' movie.

One of the earliest and most notorious of these rumors was put out by Ben Lansing [http://www.ff7citadel.com/efiction/viewstory.php?sid=1] who unsuccessfully tried to retract it later [http://www.ff7citadel.com/efiction/viewstory.php?sid=2] after his "authoritative" article had snowballed into a big debate.

Aerith makes an appearance in both ''[[Final Fantasy Tactics]]'' (as "Aeris") and the ''Kingdom Hearts'' series. While her name was translated in the US version of ''Final Fantasy VII'' as "Aeris", her name was officially changed to Aerith after her cameo in ''Kingdom Hearts''. Aerith also makes an appearance in ''[[Itadaki Street|Itadaki Street Special]]''.

==Romantic issues==

The subject of Aerith's love life is in great debate among those who play [[Final Fantasy VII]].

Prior to the events at [[Nibelheim (Final Fantasy VII)|Nibelheim]], Aerith was apparently romantically involved with Zack, although she claims it wasn't serious. Regardless, she seems to be over him by the time the game begins, as she mentions that he probably just found somebody else. At this point, it has been five years (at least) since she heard from him. Zack, on the other hand only mentions Aerith in passing and never actually says her name. He just says he has "a place" he can go.

During the course of the game, it is mentioned that one of the [[Turks (Final Fantasy VII)|Turks]], Tseng, was interested in Aerith. While they did have a past history together, nothing in game was seen to directly support this (there's a translation error that suggests that they've known each other since both were young; in actuality, the statement Aerith makes on this matter is that she has known Tseng since ''she'' was young). While in Gongaga for the first time, Reno and Rude are seen talking about who they like. While Rude admits that he likes Tifa, Reno mentions that Tseng "likes that Ancient", meaning Aerith. If anything, Tseng's relationship with Aerith was more antagonistic than romantic. Even the mention that Tseng liked Aerith comes as gossip. Still, Aerith appears to harbor some slight feelings for Tseng, whether romantic or not, as evidenced by her words in the Temple of the Ancients, after they found him being wounded by Sephiroth.

Aerith and Cloud meet during the game, and she appears to be very flirtatious with him. It is said that she only liked Cloud because of Zack, as she directly mentions that it bothered her how much they were alike.

In [[Benny Matsuyama]]'s novel ''Maiden Who Travels The Planet'', it has been revealed that she loved Cloud more than Zack and thought that she loved him for who he truly was, as said early in the novella:

<blockquote>

''"At first, she thought he somehow had some similarities to her first love. Even so, his looks, voice and personality weren't similar, and he also made her think of him as a mysterious person... But it soon didn't matter. She loved him much more than her first love."''

</blockquote>

Later in the work, it is revealed that most of what she saw in Cloud had actually been emulated from Zack:

<blockquote>

''"But she couldn't figure out the truth. Her thoughts just went in circles. Aerith delved into her memories again. Memories that showed Cloud's individuality. The way he walked. She remembered all his actions one by one...''

</blockquote>

<blockquote>

''Most of those thoughts merged into the Sea of Mako and awakened a character. The character recognized the image she recalled and "he" woke up.''"

</blockquote>

Aerith doesn't learn who Cloud really is until some time later when Tifa helps Cloud reconstruct his memories. It is then that she knows him for who he truly is. Further, despite not having known the real him before, she continues to love him once he's regained his memories and she's come to know him for who he really is:

<blockquote>

''"She was happy. She was happy that she now knew the real Cloud and was able to watch over him, even though it was just for a short while."''

</blockquote>

==Aerith's Theme==

A musical "theme," or [[leitmotif]], associated with Aerith is played several times throughout the game. It is first heard during the flashback scenes with Aerith's mother at her house, and is repeated as she is struck down by Sephiroth. The piece "Flowers Blooming in the Church" is based on this theme. This piece is extremely popular among ''Final Fantasy'' fans, and has inspired an orchestral version, a piano version, and a vocal version performed by the artist [[Rikki]] (who also performed "[[Suteki Da Ne]]" for ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'').

Also, [[Stefan Schram]][http://myspace.com/stefanschram] of the unsigned rock group [[Opus Podunk]] has recorded a solo bass version of the song. A piano arrangement of the theme appears twice in Advent Children, and the track "Water" also echoes shades of the theme. The opening phrase of Aerith's theme appears just prior to the climax of the track "Divinity II" which, shortly after, arguably referring to her, includes as its final line the Latin phrase ''Sola Dea fatum novit,'' or "Only the Goddess knows fate." Aerith's Theme is also featured during the End Credits of the movie.

==External links==

<!--

Please do not add links to fansites etc. here, at least not without a really, really good reason. Wikipedia is NOT a web directory or a link farm. If unsure, discuss applicability of the links at this article's Discussion page.

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{{FFVII character external links

| name = Aerith Gainsborough

| ffwiki = Aerith Gainsborough

| secharpage = aeris

| fanlisting = Ancient Memories

| fanlisting_link = http://aeris.sohryu.nu/

}}

*[http://earisu.org Fated], Aerith Gainsborough character shrine

*[http://www.ff7citadel.com/compilation/ac_smile.shtml FFVII Citadel], FFVII fansite page that includes links to the "Maiden Who Travels the Planet" translation.

{{FFVII}}

[[Category:Fictional street merchants|Gainsborough, Aerith]]

[[Category:Final Fantasy VII characters|Gainsborough, Aerith]]

[[Category:Kingdom Hearts characters|Gainsborough, Aerith]]

[[es:Aerith Gainsborough]]

[[fr:Aeris]]

[[it:Aerith Gainsborough]]