War Musings #71 Real Life Under Attack

 

My simple battery alarm clock

I first posted this as a "rant" on my Facebook page and then realized that it needs wider exposure. I know that some people won't agree with me. I want to make it clear that we don't have a "safe room" certified shelter in our house, but our house was built relatively well, double outer walls and a ceiling prepared for a second floor. My husband and I are both "elderly" and don't run out of the house when there's a siren. We go to inner walls away from windows, but when sleeping in bed... we rarely do more than cover ourselves. Sorry that's the truth and the situation with many people I know, even if their homes are more fragile than ours.

Another important point is that the alerts, which come by cellphone, are 5-10 minutes before a missile may reach our area. Most of the time, even when followed by a siren 5-10 minutes later, the missile was destroyed by the Iron Dome. And many of the missiles would have landed miles and miles away. 

"Last night's "alerts" were the last straw for me. I had gone to sleep early because of total physical and emotional exhaustion, but a couple of hours later I was awaken by a serial of alerts via my cellphone. Except for Shabbat and Jewish holidays, it's kept on -not just during the war- and within grabbing distance of my bed. It's also set with an alarm for those super rare nights I sleep late.

The alerts we get are supposed to give us time to get to a "safe" location, just in case the "sighted" missile may land nearby; if there actually is a missile close by the siren will shrill. A very high percentage of the warnings are NEVER followed by a siren. So last night I was woken for no reason at all. None of the sensed missiles ended up near Shiloh. We weren't actually in danger.

That's it for me. I plan on turning off my phone at night and turning on my simple battery alarm clock. When I wake in the morning, I'll turn on my phone."

War Musings #70 When Will Israel Wake Up?

 

Honestly, I'm just so terribly tired of these endless wars, ending in various versions of "ceasefires," far removed from victories. We beg for a ceasefire, and then Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu makes a bombastic speech about having mowed them down so they won't attack again. But SURPRISE SURPRISE SURPRISE!  They do attack again, from the north, from the south, from Iran.... You know I'm right. I've totally lost track of the amount of wars/attacks on us in the almost twenty years of Bibi's rule. 

Don't you remember that less than a year ago we had a "thing" with Iran to rid them of their nuclear capabilities, and then suddenly it was over, and we heard Bibi's usual proud bragging promises... and now?  Come on... they've never surrendered. They were just planning the next one, and that's what we're suffering from right now. For the past two plus weeks, day and night, we have no idea when we have to make a run for it, whether down stairs, a few blocks away or in a "safe corner" in our home. Innocent Israelis, young and old, have been murdered, injured, orphaned by the country that we had been told by our Prime Minister was no longer a danger to us. In addition Hizbolla is now attacking Israel from the north... 

Do you think that our neighbors fear us, even while the USA has joined in, especially when U.S. President Trump and Bibi have said over and over and over that they won't take over Iran. 

"No boots on the ground..."

So our enemies are biding their time and planning their next moves... meaning aggressions, even if they take a break aka ceasefire. Do you know what the Arabs call a "ceasefire?" Rearming, yup, we've known that for a long time.

Yup, I'm finding this very upsetting, very frustrating. I'm disgusted with the government, and the opposition is even worse. Sorry, but I can't think of one politician, in or out of the coalition, who seems capable of winning a war. The good or better ones in the coalition are terrified to say anything that would anger Netanyahu who can't abide any criticism.

Gd willing a miracle will happen, and there will be someone with the guts of Arik Sharon in 1973. He won the Yom Kippur War by refusing to obey government orders. The Americans were very angry... 

Rosh Chodesh Nissan-- Pesach Can't Be Avoided

This year, even before the first Iranian missile was launched at Israel, I kept thinking that "a month after Purim will be Pesach, and I had better start preparing." 

Purim and Pesach are a month apart... On Rosh Chodesh Adar we had a nice group of women praying together on  Ancient Tel Shiloh, and obviously we hadn't a clue what would noisily herald the joyous holiday... missiles from Modern Persia aka Iran.

None of us can accurately predict the future, even less than a month from now. Nor can we predict what will be on Rosh Chodesh Nissan in less than two weeks. We've prayed together during other wars and COVID restrictions, so we're planning on our usual prayers on Rosh Chodesh Nissan. Any "adjustments" will be announced immediately before, so please plan on joining us for Women's Rosh Chodesh Prayers in Ancient Shiloh. If you have any questions, email shilohmuse@gmail.com 

Tel Shiloh is an amazing archeological site with activities for all. For more information 02-578-9111 or  visit@telshilo.org.il.

Please pray for a total, indisputable VICTORY

War Musings #69: "Operation Roaring Lion"-- All Noise But No Teeth

Honestly, I hope I'm wrong... I pray I'm wrong... Gd willing, that for once my pessimism about Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu's leadership won't be on target. 

Deja vu, a few months ago we bombed Iran, while innocent Israeli citizens ran to shelter from Iranian missiles. Israeli homes were destroyed, Israelis were injured and killed. The government called it Operation Rising Lion, and this new "operation" is "Operation Roaring Lion." Yup, still no teeth... 

According to Alma Research and Education Center, Operation Rising Lion caused the following deaths, injury and damage:

As a result of the missile fire at Israel, 28 civilians were killed and 1,472 were injured: 15 in serious condition, 58 in moderate condition, and 1,399 with light injuries. 2,305 apartments were damaged in 240 different buildings. 13,197 Israelis were left without a roof over their heads.

When the things quieted*, we were assured by Bibi, Trump and crew, that Iran was no longer a threat... Do you remember that? I do do remember some statements in the press and podcasts which voiced suspicion about the destruction touted by Bibi and Trump. At that point, I foolishly believed that a good job had been done. Considering the amount of alerts/sirens and violent rumblings today, it's very clear that we can't really rely on Netanyahu and Donald Trump to win a war. 

Davka this new war/operation began on a very important Shabbat, Shabbat Zachor, when we read a section of the Torah about a vicious enemy and what we're supposed to do:

Art Scroll, The Stone Edition

Zachor is so important to hear each year that many synagogues have extra readings of it for those who can't be at the regular morning prayers. I wish our Israeli government, all the ministers and army officers would listen to it and take the message seriously. It should be our policy.

*There was no surrender by the Iranians, just lots of bragging by Bibi and US President Trump that they had done a great job.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #68: Trump's Deals, Deja Vu 1960s "Give Peace a Chance"

 

I'm going to be very blunt. US President Donald Trump's "deals" with perverse, vicious, violent countries and especially terrorists remind me of the totally unrealistic, wacky 1960's slogan and Lennon-Ono song/philosophy Give Peace A Chance. 

I thought it was stupid when all the rage in the time of the "hippies," and life in the past close to six decades has only reinforced my doubts. 

Trump, Bibi Netanyahu and I are all about the same age. We came to age in the 1960s. I rejected the philosophic fads of the time adopting a Torah Observant life and Zionism. None of the popular philosophies attracted me. It didn't bother me that my fellow students in Great Neck North thought I was really strange. I thought they were. I'm not a follower, but most people are-- including the popular ones like Trump and Bibi... obviously. That's how it seems to me.

This post is short. I'm not wasting words. Vicious terrorist enemies must be defeated, destroyed. They won't change if you're nice to them; they'll just think you're a sucker.

What do you think, really think? Do you think that Trump's deals can bring peace?

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #67: The War's Not Over- How Many More Israelis Will Be Killed?

Sorry, but I can't join in with the celebrations concerning the return of our hostages, dead and alive. Of course I'm glad that the last body to date has been recovered in Gaza and brought to a dignified Israeli Jewish burial, but remember that it was the State of Israel that found St.-Sgt.-Maj. Ran Gvili. He wasn't returned by Hamas, which was the "deal." 

In addition, Amir Zini has revealed that not all of his son Nirel was in the coffin. Davka, his head is still missing. If you remember, many of those murdered by Hamas suffered brutal dismemberment, when still alive and after death. It's probable that other bodies aren't whole either.

The State of Israel wasn't victorious, not at all. True we won many battles, but unfortunately we turned it into defeat. The Jewish People has a long history connected to Gaza, living in it and more. The obvious move of victors who have such a history/connection would be to resettle the land. Many soldiers and civilians naively expected to return to Gaza, and signs were seen saying "Return to Gush Katif," but the government had them taken down.

In addition, even worse, our hapless Prime Minister, Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu, has accepted American President Donald Trump's deals and plans for Gaza. It's very obvious that Bibi is not a true leader; he's a weak follower. Yes, Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu has relinquished sovereignty over crucial security decisions to Trump, and businessman Trump isn't an expert in security and terrorism. Even the top military people in the states have no real experience with the Israeli security situation. Israel, unlike the USA, is a tiny country surrounded by enemies who've shown the world that their expertise is perverse, murderous violence and cruelty. I'm not exaggerating; remember how they attacked us October 7, 2023, rape, beheading, burning etc. 

At present, there's a weak ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Hizbolla plus the other terrorist groups. I have no doubt that they're doing their usual, rearming plus. The next war, possibly only after Trump's final term, will be much, much worse for Israel than this last attack. Think of how weeds sprout after a mowing, versus when you pull them out by their roots. No country wants Gazans. They're not going anyplace. Countries that have accepted them in the past are sorry, because of the violence and crime they've brought with them to their new countries.

Yishai Fleischer explains things well. I agree with what he says here.

 

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #66: Why Do Likud MKs and Voters Still Have Faith in Bibi?

Gaza: Must SURRENDER NOW

Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results...  

    source unknown, not Albert Einstein

Maybe I've blogged this before, I've certainly said to friends. Expecting a victory, a total absolute VICTORY, over our enemies with Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu at the wheel aka Prime Minister, isn't going to happen. 

Please read carefully. I wrote VICTORY, not ceasefire. An absolute total victory requires that the enemy SURRENDERS. They raise their empty hands and offer to do anything so we stop fighting. They must fear us.

Netanyahu is very proud to say that he's the longest serving Prime Minister of Israel, but another record of his he ignores. Israel has been attacked more times under his rule than under anyone else... and it's not because he has ruled so long. Every couple of years we're attacked. I call it target practice, because I see it as preparation for a much bigger war, Gd forbid. Honestly, I hope that I'm wrong, but facts are proving me right.

These attacks don't end with the terrorist/enemy surrendering. We just "wear them down" until they're willing to stop... until the next time. That's not anything like peace or victory. That doesn't increase Israel's security; it just increases the dangers. Gd has been very generous in protecting civilians, because the attacks could easily cause lots more dead and injured Israelis. 

The "October 7th War" had been planned as a two front war, but luckily Hezbollah saw that the north would be more challenging than the south. Hamas had an easy time against Israel's southern communities for two main reasons. First of all they had a great espionage system on that front. Gazans worked in many homes and communities. They not only knew who had weapons; they knew where they were kept. Also they knew that there were communities that so believed that Gazans were their friends, they didn't even have a weaponized self-defense group. Gazans wandered freely around southern Israel and knew even better than most Israelis that the IDF wasn't present in sufficient numbers and force to defend Israeli civilians. 

Now, who was responsible for this situation? Follow the ladder of responsibility and policy. As the late US President Harry Truman used to say:

THE BUCK STOPS HERE

Whoever is the top government official, President or Prime Minister, is the one who must take full responsibility for foul-ups. In Israel, October, 2023, that would be Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu. 

Bibi hasn't governed with strong viable defense policy, one that will give us total absolute peace, not shaky ceasefires. Even when he sends the IDF to attack the enemy, he insists on warning the enemy, so all we do is bomb empty buildings. Yes, he claims he's only warning innocent sic civilians, but there were civilian who attacked, raped, murdered, incinerated Israelis October 7, 2023. And they were Gazan civilians who cheered them on and praised what they did to Israelis, foreign workers, guests and even some Israeli Arabs. 

When speaking at the UN and American Congress, Netanyahu proudly bragged about his moral way of conducting a war... duh? Our enemy thinks we are weak jokes because of him. They aren't afraid. They're just planning the next war. I'm a realist, a pragmatist.

Why do people keep voting Likud with Bibi at the helm? And why are Likud MKs and hopefuls afraid to oppose him? We're not going to have a victory, peace and security with Bibi at the helm

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #65: I'm Terrified of The Next Round of The War

 

I guess this is a continuation of the previous Hamas/Gaza War Musings post, #64: Nu? Where's The Victory? Has It Flown Away?

The "ceasefire" is endangering Israel. All it's doing is giving more time and opportunities for our enemies, all over, to rearm and train to attack even more of Israel. Here's a recent headline In One Day: Hamas Terrorists Violate Ceasefire Three Times.

Please remember:

CEASEFIRE ISN'T PEACE

Any study of world history will make it clear, that a total, absolute undeniable VICTORY, meaning that the enemy has surrendered, there won't be peace. The aim of Hamas, Fatah, Hizbolla and their international backers is the total destruction, Gd forbid, of the State of Israel. If you think that I'm exaggerating, then what do you think they mean by "from the river to the sea..." They've fantasized and invented a totally false perverse history and narrative of this part of the world. 

Unfortunately, most Israelis, including the government, are plagued with what's called "Ghetto Mentality." They fear complete Jewish sovereignty here in Israel. Close to sixty, yes 60, years ago when we miraculously defeated three neighboring countries, Egypt, Syria and Jordan, in the 1967 Six Days War, we didn't react as strong proud, sovereign victors. 

Instead of happily and proudly expanding our borders to the very defensive ceasefire lines, as any normal country would do, the government of the time sent messages to the defeated enemies that we'd be willing to return the vast majority of the Land for peace. Immediately after the Six Days War, the Arabs recognized us as strong victors, but those messages made Egypt and Syria think they had a chance to destroy us and attacked on Yom Kippur, 1973. The United States was involved, knew about it and lied to Israel about suspicious activity on the Egyptian border. Read Bruce Brill's Deceit of an Ally. It was only because Arik Sharon refused to obey government orders that we were victorious in 1973. Yes, he saved the State of Israel. 

When Menachem Begin of the Cherut Party, of the pre-state Etzel, became Prime Minister they feared a stronger Israel. After Begin's enthusiastic embrace of American leadership and the Camp David Accords. Yup. Menachem Begin made a deal with Egypt's Sadat, destroyed the nascent Jewish communities in the Sinai and handed it over to Egypt. The Arabs saw how weak aka Ghetto Mentality, we are, and things have just gotten progressively worse. Long time serving Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu is even weaker than any other prime minister. He likes talking tough, but he has never won a war. There have been many attacks on Israel since he took office, and all he does is get things to quiet down a bit, until the next attack. I don't understand how people can trust him.

Also, Israel still hasn't declared full Israeli Sovereignty on the Land liberated in that very just, defensive war, the 1967 Six Days War.

I'm disgusted and frightened. To me this isn't history. I remember all of this happening. I graduated high school in June, 1967. I was already and Zionist and mentally packing my bags. We made aliyah only three years later.

In recent years, especially since retiring, I've been studying Tanach/Bible. One thing repeated many times is that we're not to trust foreign leaders. Only trust Gd. 

Gd gave us Free Will, and we're not puppets. When we do the right thing, Gd helps.