War Musings #73 The Con of Ceasefire or The Calm Before The Storm

 

In most of Israel, there has been quiet since the U.S. brokered "ceasefire" with the terror state Iran. Schools and stores have reopened, public transportation has returned to its previous schedules, neighborhood shelters are getting cleared and cleaned... but behind the scenes there's a different conversation. 

Remember that a ceasefire leaves both sides viable. The weaker or "evil" one may be "damaged," but it's not dead. It can and usually will rise up again, sometimes much stronger than ever. It's not a victory/defeat. It's a postponement of the inevitable, especially when one of the parties swears/promises/aims to destroy the other one, politicians, military and innocent civilians. 

In conversations between friends, I keep hearing:

"We just have a few days, since the war will resume..."

The following is what I written in my nightly "Gnite" post on Facebook. What do you think? Please reply in the comments, and share if you agree, thanks.

Gnite... confusing, frightening times. The Bibi government is trying to fool the people, saying "back to regular life, schools as usual, public transportation on regular schedule... no war..." But there isn't peace. Israelis in the north of the country are being attacked. Our enemies are obviously re-arming and planning their next attacks... but in Israel people have been told to take their mattresses out of the shelters, so activities can return. My mosaics class takes place in a neighborhood shelter, which is officially the senior citizen club house, or moadon as it's called in Hebrew. Today we discovered that some of our tables are missing, and luckily we lock up the equipment we use...

Iran doesn't want peace, and no "deal" will change its mind. Did the Allies make a "deal" with Hitler? Trump doesn't understand the mentality of war and terrorism. He's a businessman, not a historian-military man. The only American politicians worse are the Democrats. And here in Israel... we have we have weak bombastic Bibi. Similar to the situation in the states, the only politicians who are worse are in the opposition. It's time for some brave intelligent people to stand up and tell the truth. We've had almost annual wars since Bibi became Prime Minister. Each time, they quiet down and Bibi says: "They'll never try that again. We showed them... " but they do attack again and again and again... That last major attack on October 7, 2023 was a doozy for sure. Pictures and the terrorists' own selfies showed that they are civilians, the same faux "innocent civilians" that Bibi warns to leave their houses, so he can waste our bullets. Bibi calls them "innocent civilians," but they're the ones who raped and murdered our people, our truly innocent people two and a half years ago.

OK, I had to vent... Bedtime, so Gd willing a better tomorrow.

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... 

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 #48: Deja Vu: Amalek = Hamas

Our sages all say that Amalek began attacking when it perceived weakness in the People of Israel and its leadership.... 

Every generation has its Amalek, but it's quiet because it's afraid of us. It attacks when we fight amongst each other or go around begging foreigners for help. Yup. That's the truth.

That's why in 1967, Egypt, Syria and Jordan conspired to attack on three fronts and destroy the State of Israel. It "checked the water" with threats and demands on us, our supposed allies and the United Nations which had "peacekeeping forces" which were supposed to protect us. The UN quickly removed its forces to facilitate easy attack, our supposed allies waited in safety and our Israeli government ordered the digging of graves. The State of Israel was all alone, but Jews in Israel and all over the world prayed to Gd. Simply put, that's how we won so decisively.

When instead of declaring all of the Land we liberated sovereign Israel, the government refused to settle all but the most agriculturally promising areas, our enemies attacked again six years later. Yes, the Yom Kippur War. This time they didn't threaten, they just attacked with the hidden support of the United States, while Israel was kept in the dark. As the war went on, the USA tried to keep Israel from  having a decisive win, yup-- nothing's new. Thank Gd Arik Sharon refused to follow orders and crossed the Suez Canal with his forces, and Egypt surrendered.

Unfortunately, that was the last show of true strength anyone saw from Israel. In the past decade plus, every couple of years, we're attacked, Bibi refuses to call it a war, refuses to defeat the enemy, just offers a ceasefire, claiming that "now we've shown who's stronger," and most of the country falls for it. I haven't.

Israel tries to compromise, act "gracious," do clever high-tech "tricks," make deals, ceasefires etc. And again the internal fighting definitely encourages our enemies.

For me it's so clear, so obvious. That's why with every "deal" offer, comprise, fokokt "moral fighting," "compassionate" "humanitarian" food to the Gazans, the demands of the terrorists get larger and more dangerous for us.

If you study the Tanach/Bible, you should see that it's classic Amalek... Remember what important instructions Gd told the Prophet Samuel to say to King Saul in 1 Samuel Chapter 15:

Now go, attack Amalek, and proscribe all that belongs to him. Spare no one, but kill alike men and women, infants and sucklings, oxen and sheep, camels and asses!”

Did King Saul obey? No! He kept the Amalek king alive, plus some of the animals. which he used for sacrifices contradicting Jewish Law. Yes, just like Bibi has been doing with his "moral fighting" and "humanitarian aid." How was King Saul punished? He and his sons were killed in battle. That was the end of his rule, no dynasty.

Today there are two very strong parallels with the Biblical Amalek.

• Amalek fights us when we appear weak.
• The only way to have a true lasting victory is to destroy our enemy without mercy.

Need I say more?

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #43: VICTORY Not Oratory

 

Day after day, lives lost to terror-- this war doesn't seem even close to the end. For me the end of the war must be our victory. If Bibi serves us another one of his ceasefires, I truly dread the next war. I also dread the increased Arab terrorism from the released convicted Arab terrorists and their increased confidence.

I can't lie. With Netanyahu in the drivers seat, I'm not optimistic. Please prove me wrong.

Here's last night's "Gnite:" 

The war is dragging on...

Poor leadership...

Bibi's a brilliant orator, but...

... being a Prime Minister demands other talents. If he had the other talents his orating skills would be the "cream on the cake," but without them, it's like getting sick because you just ate a bowl of sweet fatty cream...

Our country is sick now, and some people are yearning for a leader with the confidence and bargaining talents of a Donald Trump. They see that Bibi is weak in those categories, but Trump is American, not Israeli. His job isn't to save us. We Israelis must save ourselves. He won't stop and threaten us like Biden managed to do.

How is it that Biden, in his weakened state, still succeeded in terrifying and controlling Bibi Netanyahu? It doesn't say much for Bibi.

Hamas acts victorious, proud of its accomplishments, in control of the situation. They tested us by sending the body of a Gazan rather than Shiri Bibas. It's obvious that it was a test, because the minute Israel made a forceful complaint about it, the correct body was sent.

They're calling the shots...

I'm praying for a miracle. Either Bibi has a sudden personality change and becomes a brave, strong, confident leader taking us to #TotalVictory, or he resigns and someone else becomes Prime Minister, someone capable of leading us to VICTORY.

We're a small country and can't go on like this forever...

Gd willing, tomorrow...

What do you think? Don't be shy. Please comment and share, thanks.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #35- Bibi's Foolishly Playing to the Democrats

We've all heard the saying that trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results is a definition of insanity and the most accurate way of describing Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu's security policies --how he ends wars--

That's why we're in the mess we've been in the past year plus. The mess is the war. We've been attacked every year or two since early into Bibi's reign as Israel's Prime Minister. I don't understand why so many, otherwise brilliant, people vote for him, trust him and politically worship him. Netanyahu has been giving us a 21st century appeasement policy.

We haven't won any of these wars; we just end them, first cousin to surrender. Bibi claims that "we showed the Arabs that we're stronger, can't push us around." Duh?!? It has never worked. If it's the right policy there wouldn't be fighting a dangerous war for Israel's survival since October 7, 2023. It's clear. I'm a CPA's daughter and 1+1=2. This isn't even Second Grade Arithmetic. Why are so many people dumb when it comes to politics?

And now I keep hearing that we're letting the Americans, those deceitful allies, sic, negotiate a deal/ceasefire with Hizbolla. Beyond insanity, these are the Democrats, the party of Obama, AOC, Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris and Biden, who's no better than any of the others. 

The tough war savvy crew Donald Trump has been nominating is certainly horrified. Horrified because we're not showing any war smarts, none of the heroism Trump is old enough to remember well from 1967.

If I sound depressed, it's because I am depressed. IMHO Bibi is only making things worse. When Trump tells Israel to finish the war, he means WIN IT! 

I know what you want to ask me. "Who should replace Bibi?" Right? Honestly, I want to postpone elections as long as legally possible, because Israel can't afford raising the level of competition/disagreement/debate among citizens. If Netanyahu would only resign from all public offices, then the next in line in Likud would become Prime Minister. No elections needed.

Our soldiers are fighting hard, not only against Arab terrorists but also against some bad policies of the higher ups, those above the glass ceiling. Elections would cause too many internal fights.

I know that some people are certainly upset that I've written this. But I can't stay quiet, sorry. If you agree with me, please share this post, thanks. I'm looking forward to your comments, too.

Deja Vu, Yes, Again

The State of Israel, various governments including Bibi Netanyahu have established a dangerous custom of stopping wars before we've won them.

The State of Israel, various governments including Bibi Netanyahu have established a dangerous custom of warning our enemy civilians before we attack their buildings.

The State of Israel, various governments including Bibi Netanyahu have established a dangerous custom of telling our enemies when we're ready for a ceasefire.

That's why:

• our civilians suffer rocket attacks from the Gaza terrorists pretty much every year
• our enemies aren't afraid of us
• we never manage to actually win. It's the loser who's supposed to ask for a ceasefire, but we keep rushing to do it.

I'm sick of this. Aren't you?  This is so deja vu.

ANGRY! Again Israel Gave in To Terror

Deja vu, been there; done that.

Israel Just The Facts

Again, Israel took an easy, though terribly temporary, way out from the barrage of deadly rockets and gave the Gazan Arab terrorists another chance to reload.

A quick google search of

ceasefire reload Gaza

And one for the first links if for:

Published: 11.27.06

There's anger here in Israel. I'm not exaggerating when I write "deja vu."

Close to a thousand rockets were launched at Israel in barely twenty four hours, and that's after over a year of deadly incendiary balloons and kites, which have caused awful damage. If the Gazan Arab terrorists have such an enormous amount of rockets and the capabilities of launching them at Israel, there's no reason why Israel can't bomb them to smithereens.

Who care about what "the world" may say?

Did "the world" protest and condemn the attacks on Israel? No

For those of us who grew up post-Holocaust, this certainly clarifies how Nazi Germany succeeded in murdering six million Jews and a few million others. Nobody aka "the world" actually cares.

Bibi, Bogie and Ganz, The Look of Defeat

None of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's fancy words and flawless delivery can hide the fact that he, Defense Minister Moshe (Bogie) Ya'alon and COS Benny Gantz have allowed the Gazan Arab Hamas terrorists to defeat us by  Just look at their posture and faces; body language says it all.

Jewish Press Photo Credit: Flash 90

Yes, they should be embarrassed.

The Israeli public had given them overwhelming support to defeat the Gazan Hamas Arab terrorists and take over if necessary, and instead instead, like the Biblical Judah's son Onan who refused to have a child with his brother's widow Tamar they withdrew our IDF troops too early to do the job. The Bible tells of that Onan was punished by G-d, killed, for this sin, and no doubt G-d will find a way to effectively punish these failed leaders.

Right now there isn't a Rightist party in the Knesset, but if elections were to be held now, a party like former MK's Arye Eldad and Michael Ben-Ari's Otzma li'Yisrael would do well. Bibi's support has dropped under one third of the population and even fewer feel that we won this war. Poll on IMRA:

Did Israel win?
Yes 29% No 59%
How would you term the performance of PM Netanyahu in the last week?
Good 32% Bad 59% Don't know/refuse reply 9%
Percent good by polling date:
25 August 38%
21 August 55%
5 August 63%
23 July 82% 

Israel is a very small country with a large percentage of the population army veterans or connected to veterans, so you can't con us about war and defense.

In blatant hypocrisy, Netanyahu after preaching to Obama that ISIS and Hamas are two sides of the same coin, recognized Hamas and made an agreement with them. Read Evelyn Gordon's analysis of the connection between the two, ISIS and Hamas: Spot the Differences.

It is hard to see what Israel is getting out of this ceasefire except a stronger enemy the next time Hamas begins attacking us.

“In order to preserve the lives of innocent people and prevent bloodshed, and in accordance with the Egyptian Initiative of 2014 and the Cairo 2012 memorandums of understanding, Egypt has invited the Israeli and Palestinian sides to a comprehensive and mutual ceasefire with the opening of the crossings between the Gaza Strip and Israel to allow a speedy entry of humanitarian aid and relief, reconstruction supplies and fishing permissions from six nautical miles. Indirect negotiations over other topics are to start in a month. As both sides accepted the ceasefire, it shall start at 7pm Cairo time on 26 August 2014." from official MFA statement

Am I imagining it?

Here's the Jerusalem Post summary of the agreement:

Immediate steps: 
• Hamas and the other terrorist groups in Gaza halt all rocket and mortar fire into Israel.
• Israel stops all military action, including air strikes, ground operations and targeted killings.
• The Palestinian Authority will lead coordination of the reconstruction effort in Gaza with international donors, including the European Union, Qatar, Turkey and Norway. Saudi Arabia is also likely to be a major donor, with the expectation in Jerusalem being that unlike Qatar, it will take pains to ensure that its funds will not be directed to Hamas, but rather to build up the PA.
• Israel is expected to narrow the security buffer – a no-go area for Palestinians that runs along the inside of the Gaza border – reducing it from 300 meters to 100 meters if the truce holds. The move will allow Palestinians more access to farmland close to the border.
• Israel will extend the fishing limit off Gaza’s coast from 3 miles to 6 miles, with the possibility of widening it gradually if the truce holds. Ultimately, the Palestinians want to return to a full 12-mile international allowance.
• Israel agrees to open the Erez and Kerem Shalom crossings to the supervised transfer of goods, including humanitarian aid and reconstruction equipment, into the Gaza Strip.

Palestinians in Gaza celebrate cease-fire Photo: REUTERS

Honestly, I'm not alone in feeling positively ill about it. Please don't forget that Israel is now being attacked from the north. Anyone who thinks that it's just an unrelated coincidence is crazy.

Faux Peace and Deceptive Euphemisms Won't Stop a Real War

We're being suckered again! This latest ad nauseum ceasefire will not lead to true peace or a safer Israel. Aspirin is useless against cancer, too.

HAMAS SPOKESMAN Fawzi Barhoum is carried by Gazans as they celebrate what they called a victory over Israel during the cease-fire in Gaza City yesterday. Photo: REUTERS

There is absolutely nothing in this latest ceasefire and proposed deal that is good for Israel.

The following statement by Secretary of State John Kerry has NOTHING CLOSE TO THE EU call. 
Mr. Kerry talks of reconstruction but “peace and security, without terrorist attacks, without rockets, without tunnels” is relegated to “the next phase”…”future of the region”…”long term solution for Gaza”.  (IMRA's Dr. Aaron Lerner, Israel Behind the News)We strongly support today’s cease-fire agreement, and call on all parties to fully and completely comply with its terms. We hope very much that this cease-fire will prove to be durable and sustainable, that it will put an end to rocket and mortar attacks, and that it will help to bring about an enduring end to the conflict in Gaza. 
As soon as calm is restored, the delivery of urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the people in Gaza must be accelerated, and the United States and the international community are fully committed to supporting this effort. We are also prepared to work with our international partners on a major reconstruction initiative, with appropriate measures in place to ensure that this is for the benefit of the civilian population in Gaza, not Hamas and other terrorist organizations. We look forward to coordinating closely with President Abbas and the Palestinian Authority on these critical efforts... (U.S. Press statement)

There is absolutely nothing for Israel's security in this American document. The opening paragraph states the U.S.'s priorities and understanding of what has been happening all summer. The fact that this Arab Hamas anti-Israel terror campaign of rocket and mortar attacks which have killed Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers is called "the conflict in Gaza" makes it super clear that according to Obama and Kerry, we Israelis are at fault. For that alone, Israel should have ripped the papers and walked out.

I'm far from the front-lines or targeted areas here in Shiloh, but I know that with every "ceasefire" the terrorists improve their deadly weaponry and targeting accuracy and distance. One doesn't need to be a top general or security expert to understand that the Hamas Arab terrorists based in Gaza and fully supported by their Fatah allies in Ramalla are out to destroy, decimate the State of Israel and murder all of us Israeli Jews and any Arab they think has supported us. Making any sort of "deal" with them is only going to endanger Israel even more.

Yesterday, as Shiloh's Chief Rabbi Elchanan Bin-Nun finished his talk he left us with what he considers to be an important message. The misreading of the pre-Yom Kippur 1973 situation and our lack of preparedness caused many Israelis to lose faith in the government. That was forty-one years ago, and the process has continued. I think that this summer's war, which hasn't yet ended, is continuing and spread that lack of trust in government decisions and policies.

Many people have pointed out that, davka, the populations now being targeted by Hamas are those that had supported Disengagement most strongly and had jeered those of us who were protesting it. The big question is whether they are willing to admit their terrible mistake, apologize, repent and now change their politics.  G-d willing...

With Every Ceasefire, Bibi Loses Support

There's an excellent advertising campaign by the Golan Telecom company:

"Stop being a Sucker"
Maspik lihiyot friyer"

They offer a much better deal, in terms of price and service than most every other cellphone service, and more and more people, including me and my husband have joined up and left the big veteran companies like Pelephone, Cellcom and Orange.

I look at the Likud and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu as those old cellphone service companies. Just like they once seemed so important and crucial to getting the job done, now it looks like we Israelis have been suckered.

Early in this war the Israeli public was pretty much 100% behind Bibi. That's when it looked like he was going to send in the troops and destroy the Hamas Arab terror infrastructure in Gaza. I still get all choked up when I quote the mother of a wounded IDF soldier who when asked what message to send to her other son who was fighting in Gaza.

Finish the job!
Sayyem et a missima

!סיים את המסימה!

At that time, polls gave Netanyahu 82%; now he is down to 39%.  Hat tip IMRA:

Panels Poll: Netanyahu rating today 38% Good, down from 82% on 23 July
Dr. Aaron Lerner 25 August 2014
Internet based polling of Panels Politics for Israel Television Channel 2 carried out today and broadcast on the evening news.
How would you term the performance of PM Netanyahu in the last week?
Good 38%
Bad 50%
Don't know/refuse reply 12%
Percent good by polling date:
21 August 55%
5 August 63%
23 July 82%
How do you rate the Government's handling of the residents of the South?
Good 24%
Bad 68%
Should the schools open?
Entire country 18%
Not in South 63%
Not to open anywhere 15% 

G-d willing, next elections the Israeli voting public will vote using the knowledge it has picked up these last few weeks. Instead of voting Likud, headed by Binyamin Netanyahu who has campaigned as a Centrist or NRP aka Jewish Home, headed by Naftali Bennett whose campaign promise was that he would be a member of Bibi's cabinet, Israelis should vote for the unabashedly Jewish Right, like Otzma l'Yisrael, Power to Israel which in the last elections was headed by Aryeh Eldad and Michael Ben-Ari.

We've been suckers long enough.

• It's time to have a government that cares more for the Jewish State of Israel than anything else! 
• It's time to have a government that doesn't take orders from foreign leaders!
• And it's time to have a government that isn't afraid to fight our enemies!

Insane Statements on the Israeli News and a "Secret"

This has to be short. I just got back from a very long day at work. I then turned on the television and didn't know whether it was good or bad that the news was on. During the past week or so, as the ceasefire held, there were regular programs instead of the constant news updates and interviews with so-called experts, politicians etc.

Remember I work in Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin with lots of Arabs. Some are fellow workers and others are customers. Though far fewer Arab customers the past month and a half...

We don't hear the news at work, barely rumors, and I heard nothing all day from when I left home at 1pm until I got home after 11pm.

So I was surprised to see the television crew so animated, as if on "war footing." After listening for a few minutes or less I caught on. They were waiting to hear if the ceasefire would be extended or end with a "bang."

I have no idea who was talking, and honestly, I don't know what channel my husband had left on. When I heard someone say:

"Nobody wants war, not us nor the Gazans."

Duh!!??!!

Why do they let lying crackpots on TV?

There has never been any sign that Gazans don't want war. Your ordinary Gazan may want to get out of the way of our rockets and not want to be human shields, but they have shown no sign that they don't want Hamas to attack Israel.

For the gazillionth time I beg my fellow Israelis to stop projecting. It's very dangerous. The Arabs don't have the same culture that will do anything to preserve life that we have.  I'm going to let you in a a secret... Arabs also make the dumb mistake of projecting. Do you know why they haven't been shopping much in Jewish stores of late? Their leaders tell them that we will attack and murder them. And they believe those lies. Why do they believe the lies? It's simple. They are projecting what they would do to us.

Sick Feeling in Israel, Dreading Gaza Hamas Plans

Most Israelis have no delusions about the reliability/peaceful intentions of the Gazan Hamas terrorists and their plans for "after the ceasefire."

It's worse than a John Grisham novel, which can be put down and never finished. We will have to face the music, and it won't be pleasant. Anyone who thinks that Hamas is using the ceasefire to upgrade their hospitals and bring in bomb shelters for civilians should rush off their letters to Santa Claus before busy season.

Most of us Israelis are sick with worry about the "day after" this ceasefire.

We all know what ceasefire means in Arabic!

And if they are doing any construction nears schools, it's more like this:

Last night there was a large demonstration, davka, in Tel Aviv begging the government to fight the Gazan Hamas Arab terrorists to the finish and stop these dangerous games. It seems that nobody has much faith in the government's policy for providing peace and security for Israel's south.

Children from southern communities, tonight Photography: Channel 2 News

Thousands are gathering in Rabin Square in support and solidarity with the people of the South: At this time a mass demonstration intent to express solidarity with residents of Sderot and other southern communities is being held in Tel Aviv. Thousands of residents from communities bordering with the Gaza Strips have gathered in the square, and with them many others who came to show support. (Jerusalem online)

And polls show an overwhelming push to the Right.

The latest Knesset Channel poll indicates that the nationalist and religious bloc would surge if elections were held today.
The poll gives Likud 28 seats (up from 19), the Jewish Home 19 (up from 12), Yisrael Beytenu 9 (down from 12), Shas 7 (down from 11), United Torah Judaism (UTJ) is unchanged at 7.
All in all, the nationalist-religious bloc is at 70 seats – up 9 from its current 61 seats, which gives it a bare majority in the Knesset.
Also in the poll, Yesh Atid is clipped down to 11 seats from the current 19, Hatnua is at 4 seats, down from the current six, Meretz has 10 (up from 6) and Labor remains at 15. Kadima is wiped off the political map.
Israelis continue to favor Binyamin Netanyahu for prime minister. Thirty percent see him as the politician best suited for the role. Jewish Homeleader Naftali Bennett is in second place with 16%. Labor head Yitzchak Herzog has 11%, whereas ministers Avigdor Liberman and Tzipi Livni each enjoy 6% support. Yair Lapid is at a meager 3%, along with Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon.
The Jewish Home party has finished in second place in five of the six polls conducted since the start of Operation Protective Edge (Dialog, Smith, Midgam and Panels). (Arutz 7)

Is this the "calm before the storm?" G-d willing we will survive. May G-d give wisdom and bravery to our government leaders.

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach

May We have a Peaceful and Blessed Sabbath

Pseudo Peace and Real War

I'm finding the news very depressing.

• You'd think I'd be happy since Israel isn't being attacked right now. 
• You'd think I'd be happy since the Israeli television stations are back to normal programming.
• You'd think I'd be happy since the reserve soldiers are back home at their normal routines.
• You'd think I'd be happy since Israelis in the south can finally enjoy summer vacation.
• You'd think I'd be happy since Israel is negotiating some sort of "deal" with Hamas... Do you think I'm crazy?!!??

We all know that Hamas has one aim only and that is the destruction of Israel!! Why should I or anybody with half a brain think we can make life in Israel safer by negotiating with psychopaths?!!?

Dry Bones

Maybe I'm just stupid, but I just don't get the point in negotiating with those who are so clear and honest about wanting us all dead and gone. Another of my dumb questions is:

What is Israel supposed to get out of these negotiations?

According to the details about the truce conditions Israel has reportedly agreed to in order to stop the terror war launched by Hamas, Israel would pay the salaries of Hamas officials through a third-party country, and the siege on the terrorist enclave of Gaza would be lightened, reports Yedioth Aharonoth.
The fishing zone for Gaza would be expanded by six nautical miles, and building materials would be sent in under supervision, despite the fact that cement transported to Gaza helped Hamas build a massive network of terror tunnels used in the operation to kill IDF soldiers.
Israel is also reportedly close to agreeing to double the amount of trucks bringing materials to Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing to 600 per day, as well as increasing the monthly amount of entry permits to Israel from the Erez Crossing, and expanding criterion for Gaza residents to enter Israel, Judea and Samaria.
As for what Israel gets in return for the numerous concessions, reports have yet to specify what exactly is being offered. One thing they do suggest is that the truce deal does not include a demilitarization of Gaza, despite calls to do so. (Arutz 7)

It's not peace. All the Gazan Hamas terrorists want is international approval and assistance to annihilate us.

A Fajr-5 missile on display in Beirut. Photo: YouTube / Screenshot.

Palestinian Authority Envoy to Tehran Salah al-Zawawi told supporters of Gaza on Tuesday that “Israel’s annihilation has begun and the new generation in Iran will certainly witness our victory over Israel,”according to Iranian semi-official state news agency Fars.” (algemeiner) 

So, again:

What's the point of negotiating with them, whether directly or indirectly?

Maybe I'm crazy, but I think that the State of Israel is making a very humongous, possibly fatal, mistake.

Instead of playing "business as usual" or "let's make a deal," we should be preparing to destroy our enemies!

Read their lips!!

As three-day truce nears end, Hamas senior official says group preparing for 'long battle'As Netanyahu briefs coalition on cease-fire efforts, Palestinian sources say Israel has accepted few demands, and no progress has been made on key issues.Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat (L) talks with Arab League Chief Nabil el-Araby during their meeting at the Arab League in Cairo August 11, 2014. Photo: REUTERS

Israel's "Yo-Yo Peace"

photo credit: Abed Abed/Flash90

The State of Israel is actually in a state of war with the Arab terrorists whose aim is our destruction. For the past few years, basically ever since the horrendous disasterly mistake of Disengagement, we keep yo-yoing between suffering from terror and rocket attacks, a period of retaliation, ceasefire and then it starts all over again.  It's like a yo yo dieter who gets the weight off and then puts it back on. Each time the "slim" period gets shorter, and that is very similar to what Israel has been suffering through. All of the experts say that yo-yo dieting is the least healthy thing to do. That sort of weight fluctuation puts terrible strain on the body. It's better to keep a steady weight which is a bit more than the yo-yo's lowest than yo-yo.

Sederot Media Center

I know of people who have regained their weight even after having weight-loss surgery. And that is so much like the cycle  we're going through with Hamas.

I lost over 15 kilo, over thirty pounds a number of years ago, and I've kept it off. It's an effort, but to succeed you have to understand why and how you put the weight on. I've also done some diet couching and I've discovered that most people aren't willing to work out their own personal method. That's why they fail.

The big problem Israel has has been defining the problem with Hamas, Fatah and the others against us. It's a terrible mistake to use the word "sichsuch," "disagreement" or "squabble." We and the Arabs aren't squabbling over some land that should be shared, equally divided or whatever playground-type solution people keep recommending.

The problem between us and the Arabs and Arab terrorists is a lot more serious. They want to destroy us, to supplant, replace us. It's that simple and that impossible to solve with simple mediation or negotiations. The Arabs don't want a State of Israel any place in the world.

So the solution is "simple." Either we cooperate with out own destruction, such as facilitating the establishment of a new country called "Palestine," or we fight them until they surrender.

Dumb Questions: 1- Americans Killing Innocent Civilian Iraqis? 2- Anti-Democratic to Ban Hamas in Gaza? 3- What Ceasefire if Hamas Attacking Israel?

Here's some food for thought aka my "dumb questions:"

1- Americans Killing Innocent Civilian Iraqis? 
I can't wait to see how the Americans will "pinpoint" their attacks to prevent the killing of innocent Iraqi civilians.

The US has prepared "targeted" strikes against ISIS as it bears down on the city, should its convoys advance, the White House said.
ISIS now controls large swaths of the country's north and Syria's east, issuing license plates and collecting taxes from people under its domain. ISIS has called for the enslavement and genital mutilation of women, and the murder of all men who are not Sunni, and who will not convert.
At least 4 million women live in the region currently under ISIS control. (Jerusalem Post)

Of course, the easiest way is just to count differently.

Weapons and ammunition
 found by the IDF in the bedroom
of a Gaza home, July 2014.
(Image source: IDF)

It's a mystery why so many in the media accept as gospel Hamas-supplied figures on the number of civilians killed in the recent war. Hamas claims that of the more than 1800 Palestinians killed close to 90% were civilians. Israel, on the other hand, says that close to half of them were combatants. The objective facts support a number much closer to Israel's than to Hamas'.
Even human rights group antagonistic to Israel acknowledge, according to a New York Times report, that Hamas probably counts among the "civilians killed by Israel" the following groups: Palestinians killed by Hamas as collaborators; Palestinians killed through domestic violence; Palestinians killed by errant Hamas rockets or mortars; and Palestinians who died naturally during the conflict. I wonder if Hamas also included the reported 162 children who died while performing child slave labor in building their terror tunnels. Hamas also defines combatants to include only armed fighters who were killed while fighting Israelis. They exclude Hamas supporters who build tunnels, who allow their homes to be used to store and fire rockets, Hamas policemen, members of the Hamas political wing and others who work hand in hand with the armed terrorists. (Alan Dershowitz, Gatestone Institute)

2- Anti-Democratic to Ban Hamas in Gaza? 
Since Gazans did elect Hamas to rule them and democratically rejected Fatah then wouldn't it be "undemocratic" for outsiders to try to enforce a change?

Trying to push Fatah and Abbas on the Gazans is useless and undemocratic.

In contrast to Kerry’s previous adoption of all of Hamas’s demands as official US positions, Ignatius wrote that “Over the past week, [Kerry] has been crafting a cease-fire plan that seeks to stabilize Gaza under the leadership of Abbas and the moderate Palestinian Authority….[The PA] (with the support of the international community) would have overall responsibility for the rehabilitation of Gaza.” (Caroline Glick, read more...)

American ad campaign

And IMHO it's rather idiotic to think that the beach-side living Gazans, are as peaceful by nature and ideology as those of Florida or New Zealand. There's no way to "sweet-talk" Gazans out of their support of Hamas. Only if they see Israel as stronger than the Arab terrorist Hamas would they changer their tune. Israel's conduct in this war just strengthened the terrorists' hold on the people.

3- What Ceasefire if Hamas is Again Attacking Israel?
The honeymoon is over. No surprise that Hamas has already resumed firing potentially deadly rockets at Israel.

Cease-fire set to end within hours with no long-term solution in place; Hamas calls for Palestinian negotiators to leave Cairo talks.Hamas Photo: REUTERS

Two rockets have apparently landed in southern Israel after being fired from Gaza, the IDF reported on Friday morning.
The rockets violate the current cease-fire in place, which stands to expire at 8:00 a.m. Delegations negotiated in Cairo for a long-term solution throughout the night Thursday and into Friday morning. (Jerusalem Post)

Here We Go Again, and This Time Against a More Energized Hamas

It's late at night and I've had a long day. I just checked the news and can't say I'm surprised by this Arutz 7 headline:

Hamas Ultimatum: Open Gaza Sea Port or We Start Firing on Friday

Terrorists from Hamas' Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza
Flash 90
A spokesman for Hamas's "military wing", the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, warned Thursday of renewed fighting with Israel if talks in Cairo to extend a 72-truce in Gaza collapsed.
"We appeal to the Palestinian delegation to not accept a ceasefire, unless it satisfies the demands of our people," a spokesman using the nom-de-guerre Abu Obeida said in a televised address, adding that Hamasfighters were "ready to return to battle."
The three-day truce ending four weeks of bloodshed between Israel and Hamas is due to end at 0500 GMT Friday.
The sides have so far failed to negotiate an agreement to extend the truce, with the Palestinians accusing Israel of "procrastinating". But Israel has insisted it will not give up on its key demand for the demilitarization of Gaza in order to end any future threats against the Jewish state. continue...

Nu, are you surprised? I'm not!

Dumb Question: If We Just Have a Ceasefire and Then Return to "Status Quo," Won't the Gazan Arab Hamas Terrorists Just Build More Tunnels?

Maybe I'm crazy, but it seems to me that if there aren't some very radical changes in Gaza, they will just resume their terrorist activities against us.  We know that the United Nations and all sorts of "peacekeeping forces" never do anything that would endanger themselves, like stopping terrorists from building missiles, underground bunkers, networks of tunnels etc.

Most countries that contribute forces are more sympathetic to the Arab terrorist than to Israel.

People of my generation and older will never forget how the United Nations peacekeeping forces fled the minute Nasser said that he wanted to destroy Israel in 1967.

Why would Israel want a ceasefire. It would just signify our weakness that we blinked first. Kerry is even claiming that Bibi requested it.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has asked for fresh US help in trying to broker a ceasefire in Gaza, top US diplomat John Kerry said Tuesday.
"Last night we talked, and the prime minister talked to me about an idea and a possibility of a ceasefire. He raised it with me, as he has consistently," Kerry said.
Netanyahu had said he "would embrace a ceasefire that permits Israel to protect itself against the tunnels and obviously not be disadvantaged for the great sacrifice they have made thus far." (Arutz 7)

Where's the truth and where's the logic? Why should we have to go thought this again and again? Each time we pay with more lives.

An Israeli army officer gives explanations to journalists on July 25, 2014 during an army organised tour in a tunnel said to be used by Palestinian militants for cross-border attacks. Israel launched its military offensive aiming at destroying tunnels used by militants. AFP Photo

Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/israeli-military-give-media-tour-of-gaza-tunnels#ixzz38sfPSw8g
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If The USA was a Good Friend of Israel, It Would Make Our Needs THE PRIORITY

IMRA has made an interesting comparison of American versus European statements about Hamas.
Compare and contrast:

"1....The EU calls on Hamas to immediately put an end to these acts and to renounce violence. All terrorist groups in Gaza must disarm. The EU strongly condemns calls on the civilian population of Gaza to provide themselves as human shields." EU Council conclusions on the Middle East Peace Process Summary: 22 July 2014, Brussels - Council of the European Union Foreign Affairs
"The President stressed the U.S. view that, ultimately, any lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must ensure the disarmament of terrorist groups and the demilitarization of Gaza."
That's right: The European Union insists that "All terrorist groups in Gaza must disarm". Period. But President "we have Israel's back" Obama see disarming of the terrorists as something that will happen "ultimately" and within the context of a "lasting solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ."
Put in plain English: if those damn Israelis don't sit down and sign a final status agreement with the Palestinians then as far as President Obama is concerned Hamas can keep its entire armory intact.
Take note also that while the EU condemns Hamas for its role in causing Palestinian civilians deaths Mr. Obama is silent on the matter.

Before you claim that America supports Israel financially, I'd like to remind you that you're wrong. The so-called aid is just a way for the USA to prop up its military industries and dispose of all sorts of surplus supplies. American aid isn't money. It's shop in the USA gift certificates. That is good for the ailing American economy, but it's awful for Israel. It means that instead of being more self-sufficient there are products we don't produce, which we are capable of producing. And when, which happens frequently, Israeli engineers suggest improvements on the military products, it's the United States, and not Israel that benefits from those improved items.

Another important fact to note is that the Israeli public is overwhelmingly in favor of finally destroying the Hamas terrorist capabilities. The army's morale is high, and the public is sick and tired of these ceasefires that just give the terrorists an opportunity to rearm and improve their position. Once and for all, Israelis want a change in basic policy and refuse to be pacified by fancy words and ceremonies. IMRA published a poll showing the numbers.

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Poll: 87%:7% Continue operation, 69%17% Destroy Hamas

Poll: 87%:7% Continue operation, 69%17% Destroy Hamas Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA 27 July 2014 Poll commissioned by Channel 10 news carried out by the Sarid Institute and reported today: Do you support continuing the operation or a complete ceasefire? Continue 87% Ceasefire 7% Don't know 6% Should the operation in the Gaza Strip conclude with bringing down the Hamas regime? Yes 69% No 17% Don't know 14%

This cartoon is old but hasn't changed its relevance. Thanks, Hadassa.

"How do you say ceasefire in Arabic?"
"Reload"

The Only American Guarantee I Would Accept!

Let them "put their money where their mouth is" as the saying goes.

By the way where is Kerry right now?

I would love to see the American Government place American families of American Consulate and Embassy staff in ordinary, non-fortified apartments in Ashkelon, Netivot, Sederot etc and then tell us how easy it is to trust Hamas and negotiate for peace.

A home in Ashkelon was severely damaged by a rocket fired from Gaza.
  Copyright: IDF Spokesperson

That's it. We all know that those Hamas rockets from Gaza would seem a lot more dangerous if they were aimed at official Americans, not just the expats  and ordinary Israelis who do live there, in the "affected areas." The American Government should send the staff from Hertzliya to vacation on the pastoral border kibbutzim which have the tunnel exits for some R&R. They should be joined by the families of the heads of the NGO's which support "Palestinian rights" and "humanitarian needs."

No doubt they wouldn't agree to come, because...

.... you can't trust the Hamas's word when it comes to peace.