The city is quiet. Too quiet. It is eerie. Many stores are still open but few venture out to purchase anything but the most basic items. Some have left town but it is ridiculous, for where does safety lie?
My husband's first cousin spent the last two days in Beer Sheva. One of the grad rockets fell this evening not far from her "retreat" so she is returning to her own home tomorrow here in Netivot. We are continuing to receive heartwarming invitations by phone to stay by friends and relatives, but prefer to stay here. At home.
My morning was spent at a brainstorming session at Ulpanat Tzvia Sedot Negev. Many of our pupils are from Sederot and we are trying to show our girls morale support through regular phone calls; sms texting; e-mailing; etc. Ideas were aired for sending school work via the Internet and perhaps organizing a two day trip to Jerusalem next week.
Additionally, although far less important on the grand scale of affairs is the fact that Math and English Winter Bagrut exams are rapidly approaching and a very small number of our weakest seniors may endanger their chance of achieving a bagrut certificate if this war continues. That would be a shame. What was utterly shameful, however, was the phone call received by our principal during the meeting. The call came from some nameless Ministry of Education bureaucrat in Tel Aviv, as if nothing unusual is going on. No inquiries about our safety; simply business as usual! We were shocked at this lack of brotherhood and sensitivity.
Academic issues at present are, of course, secondary. What is primarily important is maintaining contact with our many dear "daughters" spread far and wide from moshavim near Ofakim all the way out past Yehini, Yoshivia up to T'lamim. In days past we had pupils from Gush Katif at our school. **sigh** Those were the days! At present we are still blessed with many staff members residing in Nitzan, Ein Tzurim and Har Chevron instead of places like Neve Dekalim, Morag, and Kfar Darom in Gush Katif.
Having a strep throat, I made my way home from the pharmacy at nightfall on foot (no car and no public transport in this direction!) Out of the blue, without warning BOOOOOOOOOOOM! No siren had sounded. This was the first time I heard a rocket land while outside. I was startled, but more angered than scared.
My anger only increased when listening to the news tonight. A 48 hour humanitarian cease-fire is being proposed by our "staunch ally," the French. Ooh la la. Give the poor guys a couple of days prepare a welcoming committee for our incoming forces! Add a few booby traps and perhaps another mine or two. Darn it all-- keep up the momentum! Strike while the iron is hot! If we stop now, the same old untenable situation will only be repeated a little bit further down the line!
No, I am not looking forward to losses that may be incurred by our IDF infantry entering Gaza, should such a move be deemed necessary. However, to end the campaign now would be like my stopping to take antibiotics in two days time. The germs will only become stronger, and I'll need to take an even heavier dosage in the end to get rid of them. The germs. Streptococcus- type A. The Chamas should only be that easy to eliminate.
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