War Musings #72: Was Mao Right About the USA Being A "Paper Tiger?"

Honestly, I'm not surprised and definitely not happy. News is that Trump is trying to "negotiate a deal." I was planning on blogging about US President Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Bibi as too weak to win, especially because they think it's enough to bomb Iran. Also, or especially since Trump keeps promising the Americans "no boots on the ground." I really wonder why the American have and train and invest in "ground forces" when the only ground they cover is when on parade.

It reminds me of Communist China's Mao Tse-Tung saying that the United States is a "paper tiger." I was a young girl in elementary school when I first heard it, and barely a decade after World War Two it seemed so bombastic and false. But now close to seventy years later, when 1960 hippies and the even worse younger generations are running the USA, it's definitely on target. Think about it. If the American Army doesn't fight, they're no better than toy soldiers. It's a game, a sham.

I've been in Israel since 1970; it was my choice, my ideology. Our army the IDF is no game. Our soldiers, mostly reservists, students, teachers, businessmen, craftsmen, taxi drivers, shop owners, salesmen, repairmen, writers, singers, actors, doctors, nurses, therapists... fathers, sons, grandparents, neighbors and don't forget all the women... Israeli soldiers aren't just Jewish; there are even Arabs, Bedouin, yes, a totally representative group of Israelis and even others. We're a small country, and we need help from all to defend it. We also need victory, a true, total absolute victory... not some sort of deal negotiated by some foreigners who won't pay for their failure.

I've been studying Tanach, the Bible for quite a few years already, though I'm far from being an expert. One message that repeats in Navi Prophets, Isaiah Chapter 31 יְשַׁעְיָהוּ:

"1 Woe to them that go down to Egypt for help, and rely on horses, and trust in chariots, because they are many, and in horsemen, because they are exceeding mighty; but they look not unto the Holy One of Israel, neither seek the LORD!"

That should be remembered and followed. If Binyamin Netanyahu doesn't have the emotional and spiritual strength to lead us to lead us to victory, then he should resign. US President Donald Trump is not our savior; he's more the "paper tiger" Mao belittled seventy years ago. The American military is not the same as those who fought in World War Two, and remember that even then America didn't "enter the war" until attacked. They didn't fight for justice; they fought to save their honor. And they didn't blow up the rail lines that took European Jewry to the Death Camps. That wasn't a priority for them. Only after Nazi Germany surrendered did they show any interest... 

Gd is waiting for us, and in the meantime, He has saved so many, by controlling most of the missiles to miss civilians, not all, but most. Thank Gd. It's time we fight as strong Jews sovereign in our own Holy Land.

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."

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.

The Déjà Vu War- Let's Destroy The Terrorists So There Won't Be Déjà Vu 2

Israel's security is like a broken record. We keep having the same sort of crises, or wars, or whatever you want to call them. Of course the government doesn't call it a "war," since a war would not only require real fighting, but there's certain expenses and compensations that people must receive during wars, while "operations" or whatever euphemisms are chose cost the government less.

So far, I don't think the government has come up with a "snappy" marketing name for this one. Since Israel's citizens, especially those in the south of the country, have been suffering through these massive military terror attacks but the government never calls it a war every year or so I'll just refer to it as "The Déjà Vu War."

It's a vicious cycle. Israeli citizens are ordered to "shelters" and told to wait it out. How long should they wait it out? Until there's quiet aka until the Gazan terrorists use up all their missiles.

"Don't worry," our suffering citizens are told by the Israeli Government. "The Iron Dome prevents most missiles from hitting you. Statistics are in your favor."

I think the Gazan terrorists aimed about a thousand deadly missiles at Israel during the last Don't Call It a War.

Periodically, Israeli "forces" succeed in a movie-worthy attack on the Gazans, or more accurately a Gazan "command center," missile launcher or terror leader. But our government wouldn't dare destroy Gaza.

"What would the world say?"

Yes, I'm angry. Just because my house isn't under attack doesn't mean I don't care. My country and fellow citizens are under attack, and our government isn't protecting us. The only real protection would be to destroy the Gazan terror base, the entire enclave.

Following are pictures and videos sent to me by Gedalia Bloom. I'm using them with his permission.

Israeli Southerners to the Government: "Put Your Money/Children Where Your Mouth Is!"

There's one very consistent message I've been hearing on Israeli television. Israelis who reside in the parts of Israel, the south, the Eshkol Region, any place within range of the daily barrages of terror missiles being launched by the Gazan Arab terrorists, want the top government officials, the ministers, including Bibi himself to move to their neck of the woods.

There have been lots of announcements by the government to those who are on "vacations" far from home to "return home. All is well." They don't even have to call the 20-30% of their neighbors who haven't left to find out how safe it is. There are "pings" during news reports on tv with information of where there were alerts to quickly scramble to a "safe room."

Imagine that you are just trying to live your life. However, terrorists constantly fire rockets at your hometown. Now imagine that you are in your kitchen cooking dinner. When the siren goes off, you only have 15 seconds to get to the shelter. Even if the shelter is in the basement and you are on the second -- or third or fourth -- floor, you still have only 15 seconds. 15 seconds that separate life from death.
This is the reality that men and women living in Israel (and not only in the south) face every day, sometimes ten times a day.

I agree with them. I'm sure that the situation would look a lot different to the government ministers who give the IDF their orders if their wives, children, parents and more were being subjected to intolerable terrorism that hundreds of thousands of Israelis have been facing. And yes, they should live in ordinary homes with inconvenient if any attached safe-room/shelter.

The Iron Dome, Pros and Cons

This would be a very different war if we didn't have the Iron Dome. Someone I know who is very involved with its development told me once that he rushed to get it ready for operation so his sons wouldn't have to fight. He knows what war is and has no delusions about military heroism. At time of war his sons may be called to the front-line.

Much has been written in praise of the Iron Dome. There are slews of pictures showing how it intercepts potentially deadly missiles before they can land in Israel, kill, destroy and maim. Without the Iron Dome there would be more damage, death and injuries in Israeli population centers and the rural areas, too. This statement doesn't contradict what I blogged yesterday about G-d being on our side. G-d's protection is very much like "matching funds," or as we say in Hebrew, "hishtadlut," making an effort. For G-d to help us, we must make all sorts of efforts. Prayer is one, but also there is inventing protective "shields" such as the Iron Dome and entering bomb shelters.

Counterstrike: Smoke trails are seen as a the Iron Dome missile defence system intercepts a rocket launched from Gaza, near the southern town of Sderot

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2233483/Iron-Dome-action-Israeli-missile-defence-blasts-rockets-sky-troops-moved-Gaza-border.html#ixzz37PdGTYvL
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Iron Dome is an effective, truck-towed mobile air defence system developed by Rafael Advanced Defence Systems. The system has been developed to counter very short range rockets and artillery shell (155mm) threats with ranges of up to 70km. It can be operated in all weather conditions including fog, dust storm, low clouds and rain.
Selected by the Israel Defence Ministry, Iron Dome provides defence against short-range missiles and rockets which pose a threat to the civilian population of Israel's northern and southern border. The system was deployed by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) in March 2011. Read more...

The Iron Dome does protect Israelis, frequently prevents death, injury and destruction, but it isn't a solution to our security problem! That's the downside. It promotes a false sense of safety and security, while facilitating the Gazan Arab terrorists' missile and launching military development.

Just because only a small percentage of missiles land in Israel causing harm, injury or death does not mean that the enemy is getting weaker. It's just the opposite. The fact that there are so few "successful landings," death, damage and gory pictures of dead and injured Israelis makes the world, international media and diplomats believe that Israel is not in danger, that the Gazans do not have potentially damaging weapons. Most of the world and even some Israelis believe the delusion that Israel is not in danger.

The Israeli Government should do everything to totally destroy the enemy and not pay attention to what the world may say, because push comes to shove and the world doesn't really care what happens to us. We shouldn't care what happens to Gazan civilians, and we must cut off the supply of all aid to Gaza and their electricity which they get from Israel. Even when the dust settles, and the war is over, Gaza must have their own independent electric supply/structure. I have no doubt that European countries and NGO's will fight for the opportunity to fund it. And we shouldn't treat Arab wounded in our hospitals. The rights of Israelis to get medical care must be primary.

Now to destroy our enemies!

Stop The Disproportionate War! Cease Warning Gazans!!!

Nobody from Gaza warned us in Sha'ar Binyamin before they shot a missile into the area. With G-d supervising the landings, afterwards smoke was seen coming from an Arab village.

In Yafiz, Sha'ar Binyamin, the industrial zone cum shopping center just north of Jerusalem we were in the midst of heavy crowds shopping for Thursday bargains when suddenly we could just about hear an alarm go off. There's no shelter in Yafiz. The closest one is in the Rami Levy Discount Supermarket just next to us, but it's small and set up as their synagogue.

 Shelter cum synagogue in Rami Levy, Sha'ar Binyamin (photo by Batya Medad)

Shelter cum synagogue in Rami Levy, Sha'ar Binyamin (photo by Batya Medad)

Just a tiny fraction of the shoppers and staff in the supermarket can fit in it. There's no way that there would be room for the Yafiz customers and workers could get in if people were to take the alarm seriously. We took our cue from our customers who barely missed a beat."

"What was that?"
"An alert/alarm?"
"Oh, so what's the price of ...?"
"It couldn't be near here.'
"Did you hear anything?"
"No"
"Let them bomb all the Arabs on Har Habayit!"
"I hope they hit the gold dome."
"Do you have -- in size --?"

Those were typical reactions I heard. Actually a large portions of the reactions were wishes that the Gazan missiles would destroy the mosques on the Temple Mount. I didn't notice anyone walking out of the store, certainly nobody ran out looking for shelter.

This photo was taken about the same time the Gazan missile came close.

An Israeli Iron Dome missile intercepts a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip over Jerusalem on July 10, 2014. (photo credit: Nati Shohat/Flash90)

Read more: Rockets targeting Jerusalem hit West Bank | The Times of Israel http://www.timesofisrael.com/rockets-targeting-jerusalem-hit-west-bank/#ixzz377xN8uN0
Follow us: @timesofisrael on Twitter | timesofisrael on Facebook

Close doesn't count, as the saying goes. We heard reports of smoke coming out of a nearby Arab village.

At present an Arab (terrorist Gaza) surrender doesn't seem close. They certainly haven't suffered enough. Israel has this fokokt principle of warning the Gazans before shooting. That's not how you win a war! In Gaza the civilians are the enemies.

IDF Blog

May G-d give wisdom to our leaders, those wimpy politicians in power.

Shabbat Shalom u'Mevorach
May we all have a Peaceful and Blessed Shabbat

Terrifying! Israel's South Under Attack, Alerts Near Jerusalem

Dozens of missiles, weapons of destruction have been launched into Southern Israel in the past couple of hours. Besides that, Arabs (and/or Bedouin) have been attacking cars and property in the south. For many Israelis it's life under siege. The Israeli television news was horrifying. Arabs are throwing bricks at cars; people are being injured.

Why do the pictures of the damage look so cold and antiseptic?  Where are the injured people I saw on tv? (photo Jerusalem Post)

When are we actually going to call this a war? And when are we going to fight to the finish and make our enemies admit to total surrender?

Innocent Israelis are suffering! Friends of mine wrote:

We had multiple sirens and heard many booms. The iron dome took out 3 missile in front of my house. A small fire started in the yishuv. We are okay, but our poor dog is still shaking.. I have 7 grandchildren living on the yishuv...Since the day they were born..all they know is terror. Why?

OM Gosh! We just had one In BEIT SHEMESH! My daughter heard they had it also in Efrat. ynet is reporting it was a false alarm but do false alarms go boom? 

Over 100 missiles today..no serious physical injures and no death B"H. But many residents are suffering from emotional stress..this is a real injury. May Hashem continue to protect us. 

Why can't we act like any other country and fight our enemies without always wondering what other people will say?

Is the State of Israel an independent country or an orphaned protectorate?