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• 76 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 17, 2006 at 5:55 pm

  Updates from Israel at War
  
  This was received from IMRA, and address that Ehud Olmert made before the Knesset today. One only hopes that is not lying to us. He is a good speaker but...
  
  
  Address by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert
  The Knesset, July 17, 2006
  
  
  Madam Speaker,
  Ladies and gentlemen,
  Members of Knesset,
  
  
  At the outset, I offer condolences, on my behalf and on behalf of the government, the Knesset and the entire nation, to the families of the victims - both civilian and IDF. I also send best wishes for recovery to the wounded, and a
  huge embrace for the families of those kidnapped and the boys themselves.
  
  Over the past few weeks, our enemies have challenged the sovereignty of the State of Israel and the safety of its residents - first in the southern sector, then on the northern border, and deeper into the home front.
  
  Israel did not seek these confrontations. On the contrary. We have done a lot to prevent them. We returned to the borders of the State of Israel, recognized by the entire international community. There were those who misconstrued our desire for peace - for us and our neighbors - as a sign of frailty. Our enemies misinterpreted our willingness to
  exercise restraint as a sign of weakness.
  
  They were wrong!
  
  Madam Speaker, Members of Knesset,
  
  The State of Israel has no territorial conflict, neither on our southern border nor on our northern one.
  
  In these two areas, we are sitting on the recognized international border - both vis-à-vis the Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip, and in Lebanon.
  
  We have no intention of interfering in their internal affairs. On the contrary, stability and tranquility in Lebanon, free of the rule of foreign powers, and in the Palestinian Authority, are in Israel's interest.
  
  We yearn for the day when peace will prevail between us, for the mutual benefit of our peoples from both sides of our common border.
  
  The campaign we are engaged in these days is against the terror organizations operating from Lebanon and Gaza. These organizations are nothing but "sub-contractors" operating
  under the inspiration, permission, instigation and financing of the terror-sponsoring and peace-rejecting regimes, on the Axis of Evil which stretches from Tehran to Damascus.
  
  Lebanon has suffered heavily in the past, when it allowed foreign powers to gamble on its fate.
  
  Iran and Syria still continue to meddle, from afar, in the affairs of Lebanon and the Palestinian Authority, through Hizballah and the Hamas.
  
  Even if last Wednesday's criminal attack against an IDF patrol was carried out without the consent of the Lebanese government and without the assistance of its military, this does not absolve it of full responsibility for the attack
  which emanated from its sovereign territory. Just as the fact that the Chairman of the Palestinian Authority opposes terrorism against Israel does not relieve him and the
  Palestinian Authority of their responsibility for the attack carried out from their territory against our soldiers in Kerem Shalom. They are both fully responsible for the safety of our soldiers who were taken hostage.
  
  Radical, terrorist and violent elements are sabotaging the life of the entire region and placing its stability at risk. The region in which we live is threatened by these murderous
  terror groups. It is a regional - as well as global - interest to take control and terminate their activity.
  
  We can all see how the majority of the nternational community supports our battle against the terror organizations and our efforts to remove this threat of the Middle East.
  
  We intend to do this. We will continue to operate in full force until we achieve this. On the Palestinian front, we will conduct a tireless battle until terror ceases, Gilad
  Shalit is returned home safely and the shooting of Qassam missiles stops.
  
  And in Lebanon, we will insist on compliance with the terms stipulated long ago by the international community, as unequivocally expressed only yesterday in the resolution of
  the 8 leading countries of the world:
  - The return of the hostages, Ehud (Udi) Goldwasser and Eldad Regev;
  - A complete cease fire;
  - Deployment of the Lebanese army in all of Southern Lebanon;
  - Expulsion of Hizballah from the area, and fulfillment of United Nations Resolution 1559.
  
  We will not suspend our actions.
  
  On both fronts we are exercising self-defense in the most basic and essential sense. In both cases, it is a matter whose importance and significance go far beyond the size of the military units involved.
  
  We are at a national moment of truth. Will we consent to living under the threat of this Axis of Evil or will we mobilize our inner strength and show determination and equanimity?
  
  Our answer is clear to every Israeli, and it echoes today throughout the entire region.
  
  We will search every compound, target every terrorist who assists in attacking the citizens of Israel, and destroy every terrorist infrastructure, everywhere. We will persist
  until Hizballah and Hamas comply with those basic and decent things required of them by every civilized person. Israel will not agree to live in the shadow of missiles or rockets
  against its residents.
  
  Citizens of Israel,
  
  There are moments in the life of a nation, when it is compelled to look directly into the face of reality and say: no more!
  
  And I say to everyone: no more!
  
  Israel will not be held hostage - not by terror gangs or by a terrorist authority or by any sovereign state.
  
  In the life of a nation there are moments of transcendence, of purification, when political and sectarian disputes which separate us are replaced by a sense of mutual responsibility. I highly value and appreciate the way the
  Opposition has been conducting itself in the Knesset these days. The human competition and personal rivalries are dissolved and instead our feeling of mutual responsibility arises, our sense of partnership, and primarily, our eternal
  love for our people and our land.
  
  This is such a moment!
  
  All of us - Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze and Circassians - now stand as one person, as one nation, subject together to the same hatred and malice, and fighting against it in consensus and partnership. When missiles are launched at our residents and cities, our answer will be war
  with all the strength, determination, valor, sacrifice and dedication which characterize this nation.
  
  There is nothing we want more than peace and good neighborly relations - in the east, north and south. We seek peace, we pursue peace and we yearn for peace. At the same time, there is nothing we reject more than an attempt to harm us
  and make us give up our right to live here, in our land, in security and peace.
  
  On behalf of the people of Israel, on behalf of all the residents of the country, I came here today, Madam Speaker, to announce to the world: we seek neither war nor direct confrontation, but we will not be deterred from them when
  the need arises. Only a nation that can defend its freedom truly deserves it. We are entitled to our freedom, and when necessary, we know how to fight for it and defend it.
  
  My fellow Members of Knesset,
  
  The strength of the State of Israel relies on the strength and capability of the IDF. This strength is the main guarantee to preserving and defending our lives on this land. The best economic and human resources of Israeli
  society were invested in building this strength.
  
  I want to extend from here my heartfelt gratitude - and that of the Government and the people of Israel - to the IDF soldiers and commanders, the security services, the Israel
  Police, the rescue forces, the firefighters and the other security forces.
  
  I wish to read from the "Prayer for the Welfare of Soldiers in the Israel Defense Forces". Millions of Jews - in Israel and the world - pray for the safety and success of those who
  defend our nation, from the Lebanese border to the desert, and from the Great Sea unto the approach of the Arava, on the land, in the air and on the sea.
  
  "May the Almighty cause the enemies who rise up against us to be struck down before them.
  
  May the Holy One, blessed be He, preserve and rescue our fighters from every trouble and distress and from every plague and illness, and may He send blessing and success in their every endeavor.
  
  May He lead our enemies under our soldiers' sway and may He grant them salvation and crown them with victory".
  
  The strength of a nation is measured not only by its military capabilities. The strength of a nation is measured by its welfare and
  morality, its strong and solid economy, its modern and developing market, its export of technologies and products for the most advanced world markets and its ground-breaking
  academic research. In all these, each and every one of us has good reason to be proud.
  
  But above all, the strength of a nation is measured in times of trial, when the home front becomes the front, when the citizens of the country show admirable fortitude, patience
  and stamina and allow it to operate against its enemies.
  
  I had the privilege of witnessing these inner strengths in the years when I was Mayor of Jerusalem. For years, our capital was subject to the most murderous terror attacks. The resilience, patience and restraint of the residents of Jerusalem and the entire citizens of Israel are exemplary.
  
  I recall a conversation with Rudy Giuliani, who was Mayor of New York during the terror attacks of September 2001. I called to offer encouragement to him and the residents of New York following the collapse of the Twin Towers, and he replied: "Ehud, if the New Yorkers can withstand it like the Jerusalemites do, then we will defeat terrorism".
  
  Madam Speaker,
  Ladies and gentlemen Members of Knesset, Citizens of Israel,
  
  Even in these days, hundreds of thousands of Israelis stand at the front line of fire, like soldiers in the battlefield, fighting for our life and honor.
  
  It is clear to us that the circumstances imposed upon the residents compel us to address their special needs, in all aspects. The government will lend immediate assistance, everywhere.
  
  The government of Israel, under my leadership, derives strength from the stamina of the Israeli public. We are a brave and determined nation. I am proud today - perhaps more than ever before - to be an Israeli citizen.
  
  Thanks to you, our enemies come up against a united nation, which fights together, shoulder to shoulder. We do not surrender and we do not panic. We believe in the justice of our cause, because there is no battle more just or moral than ours - a battle for the right to a peaceful and normal life, like any other human being,
  any other nation and any other state.
  
  We fight for the right of children like Omer Pisachov, may his memory be blessed, a 7 year old from Nahariya, who wanted to visit his grandmother Yehudit Itzkovich, may her memory be blessed, and enjoy the Sabbath dinner she
  prepared;
  
  We fight for the right of citizens like Shmuel Ben-Shimon, may his memory be blessed, a 41 year old from Yokne'am who left every morning for work in the railway garage in Haifa to support his wife Natalie and their small children;
  
  We fight for the right of citizens like Monica Lerer, may her memory be blessed, a 50 year old from Nahariya, to drink coffee on the terrace in the country to which she immigrated from Argentina;
  
  We fight for the right of girls like Ella Abukasis, may her memory be blessed, a 13 year old from Sderot, to play the flute and read books, as Ella enjoyed doing.
  
  We fight for everything that everyone in the enlightened world takes for granted and never imagined that they would have to fight for - the right to a normal life.
  
  It is a difficult battle! It may become even more difficult. It is a painful test, and we may have to bear more suffering. Such a battle is never easy. It is strewn with pain and suffering, sacrifice, and casualties.
  
  But, we have no intention of giving up our desire to live a normal life. We will not apologize for this desire, and we do not need anyone's approval to defend ourselves.
  
  Citizens of Israel,
  
  This is a difficult time of trial for all of us.
  
  The State of Israel has withstood much more complex trials - and triumphed.
  
  We have always known how to mobilize our inner strength, equanimity, wisdom and patience, in order to overcome our enemies.
  
  Finally, I wish to speak on a more personal note to the families of Shalit, Goldwasser and Regev, the families of the soldiers who are held hostage by the Hamas and Hizballah.
  
  You, and mainly your children - our children - are always on my mind.
  
  Last Wednesday, only five days ago, at 10:00 am, Aviva and Noam Shalit sat in my office. They, and I, want Gilad home more than anything. While we were discussing the situation,
  I - and Aviva and Noam - received the painful news that Ehud (Udi) Goldwasser and Eldad Regev had been kidnapped.
  
  On their departure, Noam and Aviva left a picture of Gilad, taken close to the date of his kidnapping.
  
  Unfortunately, pictures of three boys now stand in my room. Many times during the day I look in their faces, into their eyes, and embrace them in my heart. I do not forget them for one minute. They were there on our behalf and for our sake. We will do everything and make every effort to bring them home. We will do this, but not in a pattern that will encourage more kidnappings.
  
  There is almost no one who can understand the place you are in. Even when we do not talk directly, I feel and hear what you want to say to me, and I embrace you with love, understanding and agreement.
  
  The place I am in compels me, ultimately, to make fateful decisions, for life, and sometimes even for death.
  
  I have no strength other than that which you have bestowed upon me.
  
  I have no courage other than that which G-d, my faith in the justice of our cause and my sense of supreme responsibility, have instilled in me and have prepared me for these fateful moments.
  
  Madam Speaker,
  
  I see before me the kidnapped boys, those standing in the front line and in the line of fire, those brave and determined ones who are fighting today and who could - G-d forbid - be the target of tomorrow's kidnapping.
  
  We will defend all of them, on behalf of all of them we will fight, and with all of them before our eyes - the civilians in the line of fire, the kidnapped fighters and their families - we will continue, without hesitating, without
  capitulating and without fretting, until our goals are achieved.
  
  I wish to conclude by reading an extract from Prophet Jeremiah:
  
  "Thus said Hashem: a voice is heard on high, wailing, bitter weeping, Rachel weeps for her children; she refuses to be consoled for her children, for they are gone.
  
  Thus said Hashem: restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears; for there is reward for your accomplishment - the word of Hashem - and they will return from the enemy's
  land.
  
  There is hope for your future - the word of Hashem;
  
  And your children will return to their land".
  
  
  We will triumph!
  
  
  

• 77 - David Ben-Ariel

  Jul 17, 2006 at 5:55 pm

  Germany asked to mediate in Middle East-magazine
  
  THAT IS THE BOTTOM LINE OF THIS MANUFACTURED CRISIS: GERMAN-EU INTERVENTION AND ENTANGLEMENT.
  
  EU to Conquer Anglo-Saxons and Jews
  
  
  

• 78 - David Ben-Ariel

  Jul 17, 2006 at 6:00 pm

  Paint Israel Black: Jews to Lose Jerusalem!
  
  
  
  UN Resolution 181: Blueprint of the Beast?
  

• 79 - David Ben-Ariel

  Jul 17, 2006 at 6:01 pm

  Europe Looks To Mediate In Raging Middle East Conflict

• 80 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 17, 2006 at 6:05 pm

  Updates from Israel at War
  Stratfor Red Alert - Breaking Intelligence
  SPECIAL REPORT 07.17.2006
  
  Red Alert: A Diplomatic Interlude
  
  There is increasing discussion of a cease-fire between Israel and Lebanon. French Prime Minister Dominic de Villepin is in Beirut to discuss it. The Israelis say they are talking to the Italians about it, and even the Iranians have said that they favor a cease-fire. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said today, "A reasonable and just solution must be found to end this crisis. A cease-fire and then a swap is achievable." That is quite a distance for the Iranians to have gone.
  
  Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert listed three demands for a cease-fire:
  first, the release of captured soldiers; second, an end to rocket attacks on Israel; and third, the deployment of Lebanese Army troops along the
  Israeli-Lebanese border. Other diplomats have been talking about an international force along the border.
  
  The first two demands can easily be met. It is the third one that will be the sticking point because it goes to the heart of the issue. When Israel talks of the Lebanese Army being deployed there, it is saying two things.
  
  The first is that it doesn't trust an international force containing troops from countries like Russia and France. It does not believe they will be neutral. Second, if a Lebanese force is deployed, it must be able to impose its will on Hezbollah, through military action if possible.
  
  The problem is that the Lebanese Army is not in a position, politically or militarily, to control Hezbollah. If it could do so, it would have. Moreover, if the army were able to impose its will, Hezbollah would cease to be an effective group. Hezbollah's power comes from its military capabilities and autonomy. Israel's demand would represent the end of Hezbollah in its current form. Israel does not trust a suspension of Hezbollah attacks; they believe the militants will strike again unless
  someone can guarantee otherwise. Israel's call for a Lebanese force that can impose its will on Hezbollah is a contradiction in terms. It is an offer of a cease-fire that can't be delivered.
  
  Israel is, however, interested in continuing the diplomatic process. Its reasoning can be seen from reports Stratfor has received from sources close to Hezbollah. They have said that Hezbollah is maintaining its attacks on Israel because the militants want Israel to attack them on the ground sooner rather than later. Over time, they fear, Hezbollah's ability to resist
  Israeli attack will be undermined by airstrikes. The militants' command and control, communications, weapons stockpiles and morale will be undermined. On the other hand, if Israel were to attack now, Hezbollah's leadership is
  confident that it could impose losses on Israeli troops that would be unacceptable. That is what the militants want to achieve -- they want to
  engage Israel as the first Arab force that, even if it can't win in the end, can severely damage the Israel Defense Forces.
  
  If that is actually Hezbollah's thinking -- and that would explain their behavior -- then we can also better understand Israeli thinking. If the
  airstrikes are hurting Hezbollah's morale and infrastructure, there is no reason to hurry in on the ground. It makes more sense to let the current situation continue even if it means further attacks on Israeli targets. In the meantime, Tel Aviv can engage in diplomatic initiatives that will reposition Israel in the international system. Rather than resisting
  diplomatic efforts, Israel is participating, setting demands that appear extremely reasonable while being unattainable. While that game goes on, so does the air war and the undermining of Hezbollah's core strength.
  
  The problem is that Hezbollah can see this happening. That means it must try to increase its attacks to create a political crisis in Israel. Olmert is under a microscope. There is suspicion that he will be sucked into a
  diplomatic solution that will not only not deal with the Hezbollah threat, but also make it impossible to attack the militants later if they resume attacks. In this scenario, an international presence is forced on Israel,
  Hezbollah resumes attacks without the international force taking decisive action, and Israel is forced to either do nothing or attack through the international force.
  
  In other words, there is a trap for Israel in all of this. If it gets too clever on the diplomatic side, it can wind up in trouble. On the other hand, a diplomatic process gives Israel time to do what Hezbollah wants least: an
  air war designed to impose attrition on them.
  
  We have not expected the Israelis to accept bombardment for as long as they have. However, if Hezbollah's view is correct, it is good military strategy and the Israeli public will accept that. It may force Hezbollah to make
  serious concessions under pressure to preserve the cohesiveness of its force. But if the diplomatic game results in extended attacks on Israel without action, or results in a cease-fire that does not preclude a resumption of attacks, then Olmert will come under dramatic pressure and will lose his room for maneuver.
  
  Olmert knows this, of course. He has managed the internal politics skillfully to this point. He can probably play diplomatic games for another 48 hours by implying military necessity to his Cabinet. But then it starts to become very dicey politically. And by then, Hezbollah's attacks will have become intolerable, and attacking -- whatever the condition of Hezbollah -- will become essential.
  
  Neither an international force nor the Lebanese Army (with its current capabilities) protecting Israel from Hezbollah attacks will fly in Israel.
  

• 81 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 17, 2006 at 6:39 pm

  Updates from Israel at War
  Late Breaking News
  
  From IMRA
  
  1.--3 reserves battalions to be drafted in upcoming days
  Hanan Greenberg YNET 07/17/2006 23:49
  
  
  Three reserves battalions - infantry, engineers, and artillery - will be
  drafted in upcoming days and will replace regular forces in Judea and
  Samaria.
  
  This is in order to allow the regular forces to tale part in IDF operations
  in the north.
  
  2.--IDF forces conquer area inside Lebanese territory
  Yaakov Katz, THE JERUSALEM POST Jul. 17, 2006
  
  
  IDF forces conquered Ghajar, an area inside Lebanese territory, it was
  released for publication on Monday.
  
  The troops remained in the area and built a barrier to fortify their
  position
  
  
  
  
  

• 82 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 17, 2006 at 6:44 pm

  Updates from Israel at War
  Late Breaking News
  
  From IMRA
  
  Syria opens Ports and Airports to Lebanese, Official Says
  Monday, July 17, 2006 - 10:25 PM
  Damascus, (SANA-Syrian News Agency)
  
  Secretary General of the Syrian-Lebanese Higher Council Nasri Khouri said
  Monday that President Bashar al-Assad instructed Syrian competent
  authorities to open ports, airports and land roads to help Lebanon face the
  Israeli aggression.
  
  "Syria had dropped fees of ports and airports for aid extended to Lebanon.
  it studies the possibility of supplying Lebanon with oil where it decreases
  there," Khouri told Reuters in a speech.
  
  He added that the Syrian aid has actually reached Lebanon as another
  shipment from Kuwait arrived in Damascus Airport.
  
  Mazen
  
  
  

• 83 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 17, 2006 at 7:13 pm

  Updates from Israel at War
  Analysis of Debka's Missile Range Map
  
  The Debkafiles Missile range map gives estimated ranges for missiles that might come flying over the country from the north. The assumption is that HizbAllah has missiles with a range of up to 150 kilometers (about 90 miles)
  
  A missile shot from South Lebanon with this range will reach the northern suburbs of Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, Bat Yam, possibly Modiin, and possibly the northern neighborhoods of Jerusalem. More to the point, these missiles will reach Rana'ana, K'far Sava and other towns where well off members of the country's elite live.
  
  Presently, we live in southern Jerusalem and have little to fear from these missiles. But if we have to move, and we have to in a few days, then moving to Modiin, for example, will put us in range of HizbAllah missiles.
  
  Looking beyond ourselves, missiles that can reach 110 kilometers (about 70 miles) will hit the northern suburbs of Netanya, Hadera, 'Afula and T'veria.
  
  HEADS UP!! INCOMING!!
  

• 84 - jack e. jett

  Jul 17, 2006 at 11:13 pm

  a few weeks ago, there was a cnn video that showed a little girl crying on a beach. her family had been destroyed in front of her. i will never forget this video. the fear in her eyes. the thought that a day at the beach and now her life is destroyed.
  
  did we ever find out who shot that missle. i think the family was muslim.
  
  does anyone else remember seeing this? if so, would you let me know what low life scum sucking pigs did this?
  
  jack jett

• 85 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 18, 2006 at 2:09 am

  If memory serves, the Arabs managed to do it to themselves and have been blaming Israel ever since...

• 86 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 18, 2006 at 2:40 am

  Updates from Israel at War
  Israeli jets blast terrorist strongholds in and around Beirut
  From Israel Insider and Reuven Koret
  
  Israel Insider Reports reports that Israeli warplanes launched waves of bombings on south Beirut, on a Lebanese army base and on a coastal road north of the Lebanese capital in the early hours Tuesday, witnesses and Lebanese media said.
  
  The first strikes caused a huge explosion that reverberated across Beirut.
  
  Black smoke billowed from the southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, which have been repeatedly bombed since Israel launched a military offensive on Lebanon last Wednesday after the terror group captured two Israeli soldiers.
  
  The planes returned 15 minutes later and fired three more missiles on the deserted neighborhood, devastated by almost daily Israeli attacks in the past few days. The new raid caused three major explosions to shake the capital.
  
  In a third overnight air raid on Beirut, warplanes again pounded the southern Shiite Muslim neighborhood, along with an area near Beirut's airport, witnesses and Lebanese media said. Four major blasts were heard.
  
  Israeli fighter-jets also struck a military base in Kfar Chima, a town just south of the capital, local television stations reported. There was no immediate confirmation from the Lebanese army.
  
  Shortly before daybreak, Israeli jets hit two trucks, one of them carrying concrete, on the coastal road in the port town of Byblos north of Beirut, local TV stations said. No casualties were reported.
  
  Apparently, the trucks were being targeted by the Israelis for fear they might be carrying arms or missiles for Hezbollah.
  
  The Byblos raid came after Israeli military officials said an airstrike Monday had destroyed at least one long-range Iranian missile capable of hitting Tel Aviv.
  
  Israeli officials said the destroyed missile was an Iranian-made "Zalzal," which has a range of about 120 kilometers (80 miles). Iranian media said such missiles had a range of 200 kilometers (125 miles). Originally Lebanese media had shown the missile flailing in the sky and reported that it was a downed Israeli fighter-jet.
  
  In eastern Lebanon, Israeli warplanes fired four missiles on residential areas in the city of Baalbek, witnesses said. There was no word on casualties. Baalbek, targeted by Israeli warplanes in the past few days, is also a Hezbollah stronghold.
  
  By nightfall Monday, 210 Lebanese had been reported killed in the six days of ferocious fighting between Israel and Hezbollah terrorists. The latest victims -- nine civilians, including two children -- died in an afternoon airstrike on a bridge near the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanese officials said. At least 24 Israelis have been killed so far.
  
  In their attacks on the southern suburbs, Israeli fighter-jets have targeted the teeming Haret Hreik neighborhood that formerly housed Hezbollah's security compound, a sealed-off block of buildings where Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah had an office and residence and where the group's Shura Council decision-making body was located. The compound and adjacent buildings have been reduced to rubble by successive Israeli airstrikes.
  
  The AP contributed to this report.
  
  
  

• 87 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 18, 2006 at 2:59 am

  Updates from Israel at War
  Jewish Traitors in America
  
  One of the biggest problems Jews have is with armchair traitors from overseas who wag their cowardly fingers at us as they betray and reject G-d's inheritance to them. Richard Cohen writes for the Washington Post. In Cohen's first paragraph, he reflects with startlng accuracy, the true views of most of the U.S. state department, the views of much otr the ïntelligentsia" of Europe and the United States, as well as the views of many traitorous Jews who think that Washington is their Jerusalem. These Jews are just like the Jews who two generations ago thought that Berlin was their Jerusalem. Will they suffer the same fate?
  
  Hunker Down With History
  
  By Richard Cohen
  Tuesday, July 18, 2006; Page A19
  
  The greatest mistake Israel could make at the moment is to forget that Israel itself is a mistake. It is an honest mistake, a well-intentioned mistake, a mistake for which no one is culpable, but the idea of creating a nation of European Jews in an area of Arab Muslims (and some Christians) has produced a century of warfare and terrorism of the sort we are seeing now. Israel fights Hezbollah in the north and Hamas in the south, but its most formidable enemy is history itself.
  
  This is why the Israeli-Arab war, now transformed into the Israeli-Muslim war (Iran is not an Arab state), persists and widens. It is why the conflict mutates and festers. It is why Israel is now fighting an organization, Hezbollah, that did not exist 30 years ago and why Hezbollah is being supported by a nation, Iran, that was once a tacit ally of Israel's. The underlying, subterranean hatred of the Jewish state in the Islamic world just keeps bubbling to the surface. The leaders of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan and some other Arab countries may condemn Hezbollah, but I doubt the proverbial man in their street shares that view.
  
  There is no point in condemning Hezbollah. Zealots are not amenable to reason. And there's not much point, either, in condemning Hamas. It is a fetid, anti-Semitic outfit whose organizing principle is hatred of Israel. There is, though, a point in cautioning Israel to exercise restraint -- not for the sake of its enemies but for itself. Whatever happens, Israel must not use its military might to win back what it has already chosen to lose: the buffer zone in southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip itself.
  
  Hard-line critics of Ariel Sharon, the now-comatose Israeli leader who initiated the pullout from Gaza, always said this would happen: Gaza would become a terrorist haven. They said that the moderate Palestinian Authority would not be able to control the militants and that Gaza would be used to fire rockets into Israel and to launch terrorist raids. This is precisely what has happened.
  
  It is also true, as some critics warned, that Israel's withdrawal from southern Lebanon was seen by its enemies -- and claimed by Hezbollah -- as a defeat for the mighty Jewish state. Hezbollah took credit for this, as well it should. Its persistent attacks bled Israel. In the end, Israel got out and the United Nations promised it a secure border. The Lebanese army would see to that. (And the check is in the mail.)
  
  All that the critics warned has come true. But worse than what is happening now would be a retaking of those territories. That would put Israel smack back to where it was, subjugating a restless, angry population and having the world look on as it committed the inevitable sins of an occupying power. The smart choice is to pull back to defensible -- but hardly impervious -- borders. That includes getting out of most of the West Bank -- and waiting (and hoping) that history will get distracted and move on to something else. This will take some time, and in the meantime terrorism and rocket attacks will continue.
  
  In his forthcoming book, "The War of the World," the admirably readable British historian Niall Ferguson devotes considerable space to the horrific history of the Jews in 19th- and 20th-century Europe. Never mind the Holocaust. In 1905 there were pogroms in 660 different places in Russia, and more than 800 Jews were killed -- all this in a period of less than two weeks. This was the reality of life for many of Europe's Jews.
  
  Little wonder so many of them emigrated to the United States, Canada, Argentina or South Africa. Little wonder others embraced the dream of Zionism and went to Palestine, first a colony of Turkey and later of Britain. They were in effect running for their lives. Most of those who remained -- 97.5 percent of Poland's Jews, for instance -- were murdered in the Holocaust.
  
  Another gifted British historian, Tony Judt, wraps up his recent book "Postwar" with an epilogue on how the sine qua non of the modern civilized state is recognition of the Holocaust. Much of the Islamic world, notably Iran under its Holocaust-denying president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, stands outside that circle, refusing to make even a little space for the Jews of Europe and, later, those from the Islamic world. They see Israel not as a mistake but as a crime. Until they change their view, the longest war of the 20th century will persist deep into the 21st. It is best for Israel to hunker down.
  
  
  
  

• 88 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 18, 2006 at 4:39 am

  Updates from Israel at War
  More Missiles come in from the North
  Ynetnews Reports Missile Strikes and Alarms Going Off
  
  Ynetnews reports renewed missile strikes. Rocket fire resumes.
  
  Rocket barrage on town of Shlomi in Western Galilee results in no injuries; meanwhile, residents of Haifa, Akko and vicinity ordered into shelters. Sirens also heard in Nahariya to alert of possible rocket attack
  Attila Somfalvi
  
  Sirens were heard in Haifa and Akko Tuesday morning, alerting residents of a possible Hizbullah rocket attack. The residents were ordered into shelters.
  
  Rocket Strikes
  
  Residents of the Maale Yosef and Mateh Asher regional councils were also ordered into shelters for fear of a rocket attack. In Nahariya, residents who were on a two-hour break aimed at allowing them to stock up on food staples, were instructed to return into shelters as well.
  
  Meanwhile, several rockets landed in open areas near the town of Shlomi in the Western Galilee. No injuries or damage were reported in the incident.
  
  
  

• 89 - jack e. jett

  Jul 18, 2006 at 2:43 pm

  ruvy
  
  who killed the family on the beach a few weeks ago? remember with the little girl crying as her family had just been blown to bits.
  wasn't that an isreali bomb? was that families life worth less than these two soilders?
  
  you know this is lopsided. it will create a backlash against isreal.
  
  the killing of innocent children, while it may be okay for our president, it is not okay for those who believe that god created all men equal.
  
  equal...dude....equal....
  
  jack jett

• 90 - sr

  Jul 18, 2006 at 4:06 pm

  Ruvy, One of my best friends wants to go and fight with Isreal. Thought I would ask you. Would appreciate any advice or suggestions from you that I may pass off to him. Thanks Ruvy. sr

• 91 - Mark Edward Manning

  Jul 18, 2006 at 4:16 pm

  The only reason Israel has to attack Lebanon again is because the stupid bastards there didn't learn anything from 1982. So here we go again. If Beirut becomes smouldering ruins once more, the Islamic militants have onlly themselves to blame. This is Israel's best chance - and best excuse - to smash Hezbollah once and for all - or so I dearly hope.

• 92 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 18, 2006 at 4:31 pm

  Sr, you know my e-mail address. I can discuss your friend's ideas better there and outline his options.
  
  Mark, there is more to this than meets the eye. Right now, many folks are fleeing south from Haifa to Modiin for example, out of fear of the rockets. People in Karmiel are being moved to Gush Etzion in the south.
  
  This all may be a huge blessing in disguise. But only time will tell that.

• 93 - shekadia

  Jul 18, 2006 at 7:43 pm

  Jack E. Jett,
  
  Ye be woefully behind in the times, news-wise.
  
  It was determined conclusively, based on shrapnel evidence and chronology of events, that the Arabs blew up their own people -- for the advantage of having false "evidence" against Israel.
  
  Incidently, your spelling reminds me of some Southern denominations. Are you a "plant"?

• 94 - jack e. jett

  Jul 18, 2006 at 9:28 pm

  why am i woefully behind? when were the isreali soilders kidnapped? that was a few weeks ago.
  
  yes i am a plant of the southern denominations.
  
  can you point me to a news link to proves that the family killed on the beach were killed by arabs?
  
  why does isreal continue to kill the innocent?
  can you answer that shekadia?
  trust me, this is not good news for public perception of isreal. i have never had an opinion one way or the other. now that i have seen the overkill by this country, my view has changed.
  
  am i to understand that this is really over a chunk of land? if so, them maybe they should all blow themselves to hell, cause that is where they will end up for being so fucking greedy.
  
  jack jett

• 95 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 19, 2006 at 4:07 am

  Shekadia,
  
  If you are who I think you are, then I'm relying on you to carry a bit of what I've been doing in this article for me over the next two weeks. That is to say, updating the news from here.
  
  This is of course, if you have the time. I realize you may not. If you dion't, don't worry. Who knows? You might want to join Blog Critics yourself? But you need to set up a blog first. But be warned. This can get addicting.
  
  If you decide bring news from our country, it means the following:
  
  Keep an eye on IMRA, Arutz Sheva, Ynetnews and other sources of news and general information that you and I are both familiar with, including lists that we both belong to, posting them to this article as you are able and as you see appropriate. If you post e-mails published to a Yahoo or Shamash list, make sure that the e-mail addresses and identities are not included:
  
  Example: "Im writing this from my laptop in the Miklat on Herzl street. Several large booms were heard in the last five minutes. Rumors that an oil refinery was blown up are racing through the Miklat. My cell phone (which operates through Haifa) is not connecting...Gotta get off now we're being evacuated...
  
  S"
  
  Sergio Tezza has his own list, but he will not complain if his stuff is republished. so long as he is given credit. The same for Judy Lash Balint. If either do complain, I'll deal with it. Zeh al Heshbón shelí v'lo shelákh. 'Al tidagí. Basóf hakol yiyhéh b'sdéder (famous last words).
  
  Don't worry about engaging in arguments, That is the purpose of the comment list.
  
  Stay away from personal attacks if you can. As soon as the comments editor sees them, he'll delete them, often making nonsense of whatever argument you were trying to make in the process. Imagine a kid erasing marks on a paper with an eraser that is TOO wide. For all this, though, he's a nice chap, a sharp fellow with a good head on his shoulders and a good heart. I argue with him a great deal, but not in his capacity as comments editor, but because we honestly disagree on a great many things.
  
  When you post from a news source, include the URL (if you do not know how to make a URL live on Moveable Type, the medium we are using right now, dial me up on e-mail and I'll send you an e-mail explaining it - but hurry, I'll be packing the computer in a day or two). Be careful with the html tags and always use the preview option before publishing anything on MT.
  
  B'ezrát Hashém, I should be back on line in less than two weeks.
  
  Blessings from Jerusalem, the city of gold, copper and light, and the home of our third and permanent Temple.
  
  May the L-rd be kind enough to allow me to return here soon.
  
  PS There is NO spll checker on this medium.

• 96 - Christopher Rose

  Jul 19, 2006 at 4:42 am

  Where are you going, Ruvy?

• 97 - Mark Edward Manning

  Jul 19, 2006 at 7:36 am

  I acknowledge Israeli casualties and wish it weren't so. I accept your argument that the IDF didn't plan for this. One thing's for sure, now that Israel has been drawn into this state, she must see that she finishes what Hezbollah and the Gaza Palestinians started. It's the only way forward now.

• 98 - jack e. jett

  Jul 19, 2006 at 1:08 pm

  is this still the ruvy in jersulem blog?
  
  i think bush is drinking again. he is slurring his words.
  however, i am sure all this killing of innocent children in syria and lebanon gives him an erection.
  
  jack jett

• 99 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 19, 2006 at 5:23 pm

  Chris,
  
  We will attempt to find a plce to live in a small Jewish town somewhat east of Jerusalem. I won't exactly be a Sumerian, but a Samarian. It should be somewhat quieter there.
  
  But given the fluidity of the siutuation, this may be a nail-biter to the very last minute.
  
  for Jack E. Jett;
  
  This is the comments section of an article i wrote that Eric Olsen, the publisher of Blog Critics, was kind enough to bring to light. This is not my blog zt all.
  
  I have hd trouble with the phone and the ISP for a while, as well as having had to pack, so I havent't posted the news that has come our way. If posting this comment turns out to be trouble free, I'll try to supply updates of today's news of the conflict here.

• 100 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 19, 2006 at 7:24 pm

  Updates from Israel at War
  Roundup of Events
  
  First from what I think is AFP
  
  Uri Dan reports:
  
  July 19, 2006 -- JERUSALEM - Hezbollah yesterday warned the United States: You're next on our hit list.
  
  The threat against U.S. interests came as the FBI revealed it is searching for Hezbollah terrorist agents operating on American soil.
  
  Iranian Hezbollah's spokesman, Mojtaba Bigdeli, boasted that the group has trained 2,000 volunteers who are ready to take aim at the United States.
  
  "They have been trained and they can become fully armed. We are ready to dispatch them to every corner of the world to jeopardize Israel and America's interests," Bigdeli said.
  
  "If America wants to ignite World War III . . . we welcome it," he added.
  
  Amid the escalating threats and the week-old war in the Middle East, federal law-enforcement officials have stepped up their efforts to root out sleeper agents in the United States.
  
  "Because of the heightened difficulties surrounding U.S.-Iranian relations, the FBI has increased its focus on Hezbollah," said FBI spokesman Paul Bresson in Washington. "Those investigations relate particularly to the potential presence of Hezbollah members on U.S. soil."
  
  There is no sign of an imminent attack, he added.
  
  -------------------------------------------------
  
  Continuing in this vein, Michele Halkin writes for Jewish World Review:
  
  
  Hezbollah is already here
  
  By Michelle Malkin
  
  Sheeple thought of the day: "Hezbollah is not my problem."
  
  Her article details why only sheeple think this way.
  -------------------------------------------------
  This came in by by email from Gamla newsletter.
  
  Arutz Sheva
  
  Ma'an: Nasrallah Will Give Tel Aviv Residents One Hour to Flee
  
  By Nissan Ratzlav-Katz
  
  Arab press sources close to the Hizbullah say that residents of Tel Aviv will be given one hour to flee before the terrorist group launches a barrage of missiles at the city.
  
  The unnamed sources are quoted by the Palestinian Authority-based news agency Ma'an as saying:
  
  "The Lebanese resistance is preparing a retaliation parallel to Israel's military actions. Hassan Nasrallah will address the people of Tel Aviv and warn them to evacuate the city within one hour. As soon as the delay ends, hundreds of heavy missiles will start landing in the city, which has been divided into squares in order to let damage reach every inch of the city. An estimated 500 missiles are expected to land in Tel Aviv in a short period of time."
  
  The Arab sources further said that the Hizbullah has been very careful in cultivating its public image, in order to increase the surprise effect of the planned barrage on Tel Aviv.
  
  The war, from the perspective of Nasrallah, has not yet begun, the sources said, adding that other "surprises" planned by the Hizbullah include more kidnappings of Israeli soldiers from along the Lebanese border.
  
  Also claiming to have "surprises" in store for Israel is the Gaza-based Islamic Jihad. On Tuesday night, the terrorist organization claimed to have fired a Katyusha rocket at Sderot. The Katyusha is a more deadly rocket than the Kassam, and is being deployed against Israel in the north of the country by the Hizbullah.
  
  My friend Aryeh Gallin, of Root & Branch, has been warning of an attack from the north for months. This from a bulletin in February:
  
  Excerpt from February 1, 2006 R&B Editor's Note:
  
  "Soon missiles from Hamas, Hizbollah, SYRIA and IRAN will devastate TEL AVIV, HAIFA and other centers of power of the current regime".
  
  Nobody has wanted to believe Aryeh's warnings. He's entitled to say "I told you so!"
  
  --------------------------------------------------
  
  I have to turn in and complete this tomorrow.

• 101 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 19, 2006 at 7:44 pm

  I can stay awake enough to pass on the comments of my friend Sergio Tezza. Try and understand that we figtht a three front war. The actual enemy on two fronts and an inernal enemy that plagues us with cowardice and defeatism
  
  ----------------------------------------------------
  
  Avivim, right there on the Lebanese border has been bombed heavily since the morning. And so has Tiberia, Naharya, etc.
  
  A few terrorists have been engaged by our troops for MANY hours.
  
  Air support, obviously, does not include incendiary devices thrown from the air: it would not be a "human way" to kill the enemy!... Or some other BALONEY of this kind.
  
  I was travelling in areas where Reshet Bet (the main station of the Voice of Israel, Kol Yisrael)cannot be heard. So, in spite of my better judgement, which was telling me to listen to some good music, I turned to Galéi Tzahal, Army Radio.
  
  There I got enough for the ears of anyone with sekhel yashar (common sense) and love of his People.
  
  The idiotic young spoiled laflaf (Nerd), probably the son or nephew of people sitting high up in the government (not Olmert's son: he has been in France to avoid the draft for years!), or anyway, someone who could nor recognise the enemy if they shot at him, was interviewing a few mayors from the North.
  
  He succeeded in upsetting one, because of his insistence with DEMORALISING QUESTIONS like: "But how come you are not leaving?" "why are you there if you are in so much distress?" "arent' you afraid?".... To which the mentsch, one you'd like to have next to you when it's time to pray and pass the ammo, responded TWICE, in a more and more upset tone: "WE ARE IN NO DISTRESS! It is not easy to be under missile fire, when you don't know when and where the next one is going to strike. But we are strong, our enemy will not bend us, the home front is very strong and our citizens are brave and just want the army to do its job and get rid of the terrorists who threaten our borders".
  
  The second time around I wonder how he resisted to the temptation of send theing young IDIOT to hell.
  
  Once again I had to experience how that radio, which ONCE was one of the best in Israel, has been transformed by years of pacifist leftist brainwashing from Galéi Tzahal, Army Waves, to GO'ALÉI TZAHAL, the Army's DISGUST.
  
  From many a leftist journalist on TV and Radio, since day one of this war, there has been a CONSTANT race to who is more worried, more calling for an end of the army work against our enemies, a push for a "way out", etcetera.
  
  This is a real FIFTH COLUMN.
  
  These people are trying to demoralise our GREAT NATION, since they are completely out of touch with it. THEY would sit down even with Hizbollah, but our People is much wiser and KNOWS that sworn enemies bent to annihilate us, cannot be appeased, but MUST be eliminated. Our Nation is standing by our army and government AS LONG AS they do their job: protecting our citizens and fighting against our enemy.
  
  The youth of spoiled élites from Tel Aviv, Hertzlia, Ramat Aviv, etc. think only about a life that is an ugly imitation of San Francisco, and prefer being drugged, literally and metaphorically, into the hallucination that one can live side by side with Hamas, Hizbollah, etc.
  
  Years of leftist brainwashing in the media by the Meretz talking heads, and in the universities by the tenured reds, have reduced most of the youth in Central Israel to morally handicapped people, detached from their past, their tradition, their own culture, and a pitiful imitation of anything foreign, running to find escape from reality in every possible way: from Goa, to Thailand, incapable of facing the situation we live in, except by IGNORING IT and deluding themselves of living in a reality that does not exist except in their leftist writers creations.
  

• 102 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 20, 2006 at 1:52 am

  Updates from Israel at War
  Thursday Morning Roundup of Events
  
  Good morning, or bóker tov, as we say in Hebrew.
  ==================================================
  
  The first item in this update is something I received last night but was just too tired to put up. Its map details the missile threat to the Jewish communities in "Green Line" Israel, the territory behind the lines of the 1967 "Auschwitz" borders that are pushed so hard by "thoughtful people" and "reasonable people" and "people of good will" who campaign against Israel in the chattering classes of the newspapers and, more importantly, in the chancellories of the world's capitals. The map in the link shows why the Arabs must never get conrol of Judea and Samaria and why it was a mistake to pull out of Lebanon and Gaza.
  
  Many mothers are crying now because of the mistake pushed on the Barak administration by the "mothers in black" in 2000; many more mothers and fathers, dispossessed from their own homes by their own government cry in their souls each night. Tel Avivians who sat by their poolsides while residents of Gush Qatif were driven out of their homes last year now look into the sky and say with bewilderment "we were wo naïve..."
  
  The Katyusha Rocket Threat
  ==============================================
  
  This next story details the nature of the declarations made against isrqel by Sheikh Nasrallah of the HizbAllah. There are some who would have us believe that "sane" Jews admire these people...
  
  This report came to me courtesy of IMRA and Dr. Aaron Lerner.
  
  HIZBALLAH REPEATS VOW OF DEATH TO ISRAELIS, AS PALESTINIAN AND SOME
  PAN-ARAB MEDIA ECHO HIZBALLAH'S VOICE
  
  By Michael Widlanski 19 July 2006
  
  Hizballah's propaganda machine continues to threaten death and destruction to all Israelis in its regular radio, television and internet
  shows, and this message is being echoed by some of the most important Arab media.
  
  "Al-Mawt le-Isra'il"-"Death to Israel" chants Sheikh Hassan Nasserallah repeatedly in a montage television film shown many times daily on Hizballah's Al-Manar television station.
  
  Pictures show the terrorist leader in his black turban and dark jalaba robe striking the air with his fist as a crowd answers his chant with their
  own chant of "Death to Israel."
  
  The films show Nasserallah's followers marching in uniforms, goose-stepping as they frequently give an open-palm salute that is identical
  to the Nazi "sieg-heil." (victory! salvation!)
  
  Nasserallah, the Iranian-educated and financed terror leader, has not been seen in public or on live television for several days, but his message
  of death and destruction for Israel-and for the United States and other Western "infidels"-is preserved by the miracles of video-tape, audio-tape and computer technology.
  
  Al-Manar television and Al-Nur radio rebroadcast Nasserallah's words several times a day-sometimes several times an hour, and other video and
  audio clips make it clear that this is not some abstract message but a promise.
  
  "Nastarjiu Khaybar"-"We will return to Khaybar" declares a sonorous narrator, recalling the oasis of Khaybar where Muhammad slaughtered all the
  local Jews who opposed his views and leadership 1400 years ago.
  
  Several times an hour, Al-Manar television places a bull-eye on the name of different Israeli cities on a map, followed by explosions signaling the
  fate in store for the people living there.
  
  Israel itself is almost never mentioned by name in Nasserallah's speeches. He and the Hizballah officials generally call Israel al-'udu
  al-sihyouni-"The Zionist Enemy" or "Al-kiyaan al-sihyouni"-The Zionist Entity.
  
  Israelis do not exist, only 'sahayyan'-Zionists, with a tone that indicates that they are some lower dangerous life form which endangers
  higher life forms, such as Arabs and Muslims.
  
  Hizballah's web-site is called Moqawama.net-Resistance Net-and its net
  message is rather gross: total destruction and annihilation for all Jews leaving in the "settlement" or "colonies" of Palestine: in other words all Israeli towns, villages and cities.
  
  "In the name of God the merciful, we have responded to the the enemy's targeting of regions in Lebanon, and we have brought and returned hell to the infidels with hundreds of katyusha rockets at the hour of 15:17 on the areas of Kafri and Dalton [places in the Galilee]."
  
  Hizballah's new slogan is "harb aftooha"-"open-ended war," and this message is now being echoed by Al-Jazeera, the popular Pan-Arab television station which uses a logo for its crisis coverage: Al-Muhajimma al-maftooha-The Open-Ended Confrontation.
  
  Al-Jazeera and Palestinian Authority media also echo Hizballah's treatment of other subjects: Hizballah fighters and Palestinian terrorists
  who die are all martyrs, and they are all part of "muqawwama"-resistance.
  
  Sometimes, they even promote fanciful, even outrageously ridiculous claims as if they were proven facts.
  
  "Polls show 81 percent of Israelis overwhelmingly support the war, and Israeli school children draw pictures and messages which are pasted on bombs that rain down and kill Lebanese civilians," intones a bespectacled Al-Jazeera interviewer as he questions Israeli Arab parliament member Azmi
  Bishara, who does not try to correct the preposterous second part of the assertion.
  
  [Actually, Arutz Sheva does show photos of kids writing messages on missiles that are Lebanon bound - so this claim is not as preposterous as Widlanski would make it out to be; Ruvy]
  
  A cartoon today (18 July 2006) in the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds shows a gun-toting
  Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert being hung out to dry-literally-on a laundry line, with one ear pinned by a lothes pin labeled "Lebanon" and the
  other ear pinned by a clothes pin labeled "Gaza."
  
  A cartoon today on the web site of Al-Ayyam, the Palestinian newspaper controlled by Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement shows an explosive mine shaped like Lebanon-and labeled '2006' about to destroy an Israeli missile boat.
  
  The footage of Al-Jazeera and Palestinian television also show graphic pictures of dead Palestinians and Lebanese, often with comments about Israeli "state terror" and "war crimes." No such comments are attached to pictures of Israeli dead.
  
  The Hizballah films also exhibit pictures of Israelis weeping at funerals, then showing Nasserallah and his followers with exultant smiles
  in the background or as follow-up.
  
  © 2006 Michael Widlanski Associates. Material may be quoted citing source.
  =======
  
  Dr. Michael Widlanski is a specialist in Arab politics and communication
  whose doctorate dealt with the Palestinian broadcast media. He is a former
  reporter, correspondent and editor, respectively, at The New York Times
  ,The Cox Newspapers-Atlanta Constitution, and The Jerusalem Post.
  

• 103 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

  Jul 20, 2006 at 6:44 am

  Updates from Israel at War
  WE'RE CIVILIANS TOO!!!
  
  The following e-mails were received over the last few days. These are a slice of life rather than news reports. The ID has been hidden a bit.
  This is received from an American who moved here a number of years ago who lives near Tzfat. I'm on a chat list of immigrants and would-be immigrants and she is continuing her coverage of the war from her tiny corner of the world. She makes one point that all of you should remember very well WE'RE CIVILIANS TOO!!!
  
  =================================================
  View from the Miklat 2
  
  So, when I heard all the booms this afternoon (Friday)and the announcement over the radio that Nahariya and Safed had been hit again, I hurried home, pretty sure that we were next. Just as I got back, a very loud and nearby explosion sent me back to the miklat.
  
  Incredible, how quickly the unimaginable can become routine! The sound of the whoosh overhead is unmistakeable. Then the boom. Of course, the good news is when you're still standing after the boom.
  
  This time, someone brought a t.v. into the miklat so that we could follow the news. I went back home and got a fan, a couple of folding chairs, my newspapers and a book and a few decks of cards. Noone knows how long it might take till we are told we can come out again. One guy fixed the venta, so the place wasn't quite as hot and stuffy. Went home about an hour later, made a late lunch, turned on the news and tried
  to relax. Before I knew it, there were more whooshes and more booms. Hellwithit. My friend called to tell me that the Keter factory in the azor t'asiah (manufacturing area) had been
  hit. One of her homies could see the smoke when she stood on the balcony. Stood on the balcony? People are standing on balconies???
  
  Well, I've made a policy decision. The army says to stay in an interior room without windows. I have a sort of interior room, even though it has a window that leads into another room-- not the out doors. It's my dining area and it looks like the big, heavy wooden
  table I bought a few months ago is going to do blitz duty. I have shlepped a mattress out of the spare room and tucked it under the table. These are old houses, among some of the first built in Karmiel, and I have no idea how much damage they can sustain without collapsing. I'm hoping that should the worst case scenario occur that the table will help to protect me against a falling roof or collapsed wall. I can see the t.v. from there, and I have a candle ready in case the power goes out.
  
  Tired of the news. Watched Strictly Come Dancing on BBC Prime.
  
  Sometime during the day, I remember thinking, well, if this is the price I have to pay for living in Israel and enjoying the best life ever, it's worth it.
  
  Denial, as they say, is not a river in Egypt!
  
  I really feel for the people in Safed. They are
  having the **(& pounded out of them. I assume I will be going to work in Safed on Sunday. Sure would be nice if this were all over by then...
  
  -------------------------------------------------
  
  View from the Miklat 3
  
  I've kinda lost track of days and such, but since I work at the Ziv Hospital in Safed, I decided to stay here for a couple of nights. I have everything I need and the miklat is much nicer than the one in the neighborhood. Sunday nite the hospital had a near-hit. A katyusha fell at the periphery of the main building. There was no structural damage to speak of, but tons of broken glass. 14 staff were treated for shock. I was either under my dining room table or in my local miklat in Karmiel at the time,
  but not everyone was so "lucky."
  
  The miracle is that the attack took place at about 10-11 p.m., so the public areas were empty, and the heads of departments had already taken the precaution of moving patients from the north to the south side of the building, and mommies and babies had been relocated to the day surgery center in the bowels of the main building. All but one window in the Peds
  dept was blown out by the force of the blast as were most of those in the surgical ward, the waiting rooms, and others.
  
  A 13 year old boy recovering from surgery for a
  ruptured spleen and internal bleeding was watching t.v. in the dining room when the blast took place and was hit in the head by flying glass, suffering a nasty, deep gash. No brain injuries, but lots of stitches. A patient in the orthopedics dept, recovering from shrapnel wounds and the subsequent surgeries, was
  thrown out of his bed. He said he could feel the whole building move.
  
  Sunday and yesterday (Tuesday) I heard loud booms and saw the aftermath of rockets which had fallen across the wadi, some hundreds of meters away, but scary enough to see out of your office window...
  
  I met with 4 groups of reporters yesterday (they've discovered us!) Most of them were really professional-- (From today's Daily Mail as reported by one of our visiting journalists yesterday.
  
  This is a live link to the Daily Mail
  
  Please ignore that bit about my being an
  executive...what a riot! An ozeret (helper) makes more than I do, but I guess he had to call me something!!!)
  
  --but when the chickie from CBS called to make an
  appointment for 8 PM and asked if there was any chance that they could interview a patient who had been hurt by this attack (yes), and wanted to know whether -- by chance he might be from New York (nooooo -- Safed by way of Morocco), she decided to come but not to interview. "I really wanted to talk to someone from NY, or at least an American," she said. I told her
  that I was sorry that I hadn't received more notice so that I could have arranged to have an American wounded for her... It went right over her head. BTW, they showed up at 10:30.
  
  Anyhow, I'm tired and testy. Slept in the cardiology 'benoni' (intermediate seriousness)room with 4 other women, one of whom sounded
  just like a diesel truck warming up on a cold winter's day. I don't do well on hospital mattresses (and who does?), so I was up at 3:30 again. But it was nice to have other people around whom I know. And since I have a vacation in the US scheduled for a few weeks, perhaps I will catch up on sleep there.
  
  Something I didn't anticipate was that my grandkids are watching the news on t.v. in America. A. just turned 12 and D. is 7. I had no idea they watched the news or that they had any understanding.
  
  Apparently they are very upset and D. just wants to hold his Bugs Bunny. And that's from yo-many
  thousands of miles away. The kids here are really suffering, as most of you parents must know. I know of two families among my acquaintence who had to go as far south as they could just so the children would stop having panic attacks.
  
  This is really (fill in your expletive), this massive, indiscriminate bombardment of innocents.
  
  Stay safe,
  
  S.
  -------------------------------------------------
  This came in this morning.
  
  View from the Miklat 4
  
  Oh, What a Beautiful Morning.... 3 choruses, please --
  I'm still alive, my friends and relatives are alive and well, their friends and relatives are alive and well. It gets a little dicey after that.
  
  First of all, I want to thank all the people on the list who have written to me for their support. As a SSC (single, senior citizen) who lives alone in a one storey structure in Karmiel b'li miklat or defended room, I am very lucky to have an alternative place to stay for as long as I want, apparently. The hospital bed wasn't so bad last nite and I actually slept through the snoring. Not only that, I get overtime for it!! (Yes, Virginia--there is a Santa Cohen.)
  
  Couple of days ago I spoke to the head of Internal Medicine. He is Druze and lives in Rami (what the maps call Rama) Village across the road from Karmiel, but his widowed sister and her children live in the next shvil (narrow road)from me. All the homeland security notices tell
  you to stay in an interior room w/o windows and on the bottomost floor. The doctor reminded me that I should stay on the bottom floor. His sister's house has 2 floors. I told him about the dining room table. But how many floors are there above you??? "None," I replied. "Oh. Well, maybe the table will protect you from glass..."
  
  Apparently the supermarket here in Safed may make
  grocery deliveries to the hospital, so I am trying to order some stuff. Boy, do I love Israel. Try to do THAT under fire in Owensboro, IL!! (Of course, the likelihood that you would be counting "booms" in Owensboro is somewhat less...) Come to think of it, I can't do that in N. Wales PA during peacetime!
  
  Anyhow, there was a "real" CBS crew here last nite--camera guy, mike guy, producer and presenter. Nice people, really professional. The on screen presenter looked to be about 25 and grew up in Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh. Me, too...talk about coincidences!
  
  Anyhow, she and her colleagues actually witnessed the death of that poor man in Nahariya, the one who suffered a direct hit by a kaytusha, the day before.
  
  "How do you live with that?" I asked her. Stupid
  question. She didn't answer.
  
  They interviewed the patient in orthopedics. This time he cried. I guess that's good for them, but I think I better find someone else for them to talk to. Enough is enough. I took them through pediatrics where the daughter of one of our service workers was hospitalized. Momma gave permission for her to speak to the reporter and for the filming, and she was interviewed in English. Her mother was so proud.
  "Talmida tova," she told me. "Kebalt teudat studentit
  mitztayenet b'beit sefer." [forgive my poor Hebrish).
  
  [Trans. Good student - she received an "excellent student certifcate in school. Ruvy]
  
  
  I hope these small efforts will make some impression on the American t.v. watchers. One of my friends said," S, tell them WE'RE civilians, too. All the newscasters and reporters talk about Lebanese civilian casualties. Apparently in Israel all there
  are are soldiers and 'people.'" Good point. I passed it on.
  
  My boss let me use his phone to call my younger son in the states. I asked him to record CBS news for me. I hope he got something. I took the opportunity to talk to 12 year old A. and assure him that his grandmother was okay. He seemed relieved. Somebody has leaked to him that I am coming to see him. I tried to be vague about the date because I wanted it to be a
  surprise. I discovered that I have a whole lot of work to do when I get there. Seems he's been told that the reason all this is going on is because the Jews hate Arabs. How far do I go back with a 12 year old, Catholic-schooled child, afilu[even], very bright? Does
  anybody have any on-line resources for explaining the historical truth to a kid of that age? If so, I would really appreciate the reference.
  
  The sense of solidarity among the staff and patients is incredible. One of the cleaning ladies provided me with some 'clor' [chlorine] so I can wash some clothes. One of the nurses has volunteered to take me to the supermarket if the delivery idea doesn't work. I know I will miss that terribly while I am visiting my biological family. I bought a ticket I can change, so if it gets too hard to be away, I can return early.
  
  Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, I can do a lot of my work via computer, even to writing letters for my boss! Must remember to email myself some stuff to pick up later.
  
  I have lived by myself for a goodly number of years. I guess I am pretty self-reliant. One of the most important lesses I have learned from my 'aliyah experience' is the importance of being willing to ask for and receive help from others. I remember how hard it was for me at the beginning. After all, I was a pretty successful person by American standards. I
  owned my own house, had an interesting and challenging job, made a decent living, drove a bright yellow Pontiac Firebird with a big, black sexy decal on the side. (selling the car was one of the hardest things I ever did. I LOVED that car.) Within a year, I had been reduced to a gibbering idiot who couldn't function without a guide, or so it felt. Thanks to the powers that be that I survived that (very common and very normal) phase of aliyah, but it involved
  LETTING GO OF EGO. I know I've said it before, but here I am again. Having to ask for help, and super grateful for it when it is available.
  
  Well, so much for fun & games. Gotta earn my daily salad!
  
  Stay safe,
  S

• 104 - jack e. jett

  Jul 20, 2006 at 12:08 pm

  kofi anan
  
  the first voice of reason.
  
  speaks the words that bush is too drunk and wussified to speak.
  a wuss never picks a fight with someone that they can't beat up.
  
  jackjett

• 105 - Gaurav Sood

  Jul 20, 2006 at 4:57 pm

  Lebanon:

  
  "The New York-based advocacy group Human Rights Watch called on the
  Israeli military to provide details about a bombing Saturday that
  killed 16 people in a convoy of civilians fleeing a Lebanese village
  near Israel's border." Washington Post: Toll Climbs In Mideast As Fighting Rages On
  

  
  "Fouad Siniora said more than 300 people had been killed and 500,000
  others displaced in a week of Israeli attacks." BBC
  
  
  "The United Nations says about 500,000 are displaced internally in the
  country, either by choice or under Israeli fire."BBC
  

  
  "PARKED outside the small general hospital in Tyre is a badly refrigerated lorry container in which are stacked the bodies of 91 Lebanese civilians, 55 of them children.
  
  
  The bodies have been placed inside black plastic rubbish bags and labelled in anticipation of the time, days or weeks from now, when their surviving relatives - if any - can come to collect them." Sydney Morning Herald
  

  
  "Over 30 civilians were killed in Israeli air strikes against Lebanon on Tuesday.
  
  
  Ten civilians who had taken refuge inside the Greek Orthodox Church in Rachaya al-Fokhar were wounded in an attack. Lebanese security sources said Israel had used phosphorous missiles in the attack, an internationally banned weapon." Daily Star
  

  
  "Israeli planes struck targets in the east, south and the capital
  Beirut, with a Christian district coming under fire for the first
  time." BBC
  

  
  An entire neighborhood of a southern Lebanese village is no more: All 15 houses were destroyed Wednesday in an airstrike by Israelis...
  Israel's onslaught, now in its second week, has wreaked its worst damage in the poor farming regions of southern Lebanon. Warplanes have blasted bridges and roads and turned villages into ghost towns as civilians flee, abandoning the area to Hezbollah guerrillas who continue to fire rockets on Israel and engage any ground force that advances from the border 12 miles to the south.
  Seattle
  

  
  Analysis:
  

  
  
  • In his last interview - after the 1967 six-day war - the historian
    Isaac Deutscher, whose next-of-kin had died in the Nazi camps and
    whose surviving relations lived in Israel, said: "To justify or
    condone Israel's wars against the Arabs is to render Israel a very bad
    service indeed and harm its own long-term interest." Guardian
    
  • 
    UN human rights chief Louise Arbour suggested Wednesday that the military operations being carried out in Lebanon, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories could be considered war crimes.
    
    
    The obligation to protect civilians during hostilities is entrenched in international law, "which defines war crimes and crimes against humanity," Arbour said in a statement.
    
    
    "The scale of the killings in the region, and their predictability, could engage the personal criminal responsibility of those involved, particularly those in a position of command and control," she added.
    
    Daily Star - Lebanon
    
  • 
    "The Fourth Geneva Convention, prohibits "collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism ..." (Article 33). According to Article 147 of the Convention, "extensive destruction ... not justified by military necessity and carried out unlawfully and wantonly," hostage-taking and "torture or inhuman treatment" are grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and constitute war crimes. All state parties to the Convention are required to search for and ensure the prosecution of perpetrators of grave breaches of the said Convention.
    
    
    Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions codifies the principle of distinction, a customary rule of international humanitarian law: "In order to ensure respect for and protection of the civilian population and civilian objects, the Parties to the conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and combatants and between civilian objects and military objectives and accordingly shall direct their operation only against military objectives." (Article 48 ). International Humanitarian Law strictly prohibits attacks against civilians and civilian objects. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) includes as war crimes: "Intentionally directing attacks against the civilian population as such or against individual civilians not taking direct part in hostilities", and "Intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects" (Article 8 2 (b) (i) and (ii))." '

  • 106 - Gaurav Sood

    Jul 20, 2006 at 5:11 pm

    People are occassionaly surprised why the Arab response has been so muted to the latest conflagaration - there is a very simple reason - Arab world is still colonized. It is the last colonial empire - crowded with puppet regimes akin to ones we saw in India and elsewhere. No more and no less. Arabs are merely leading waging a war of independence which as always has been labelled as terrorism.
    
    I am from India and we have suffered numerous terrorist attacks including the recent one where 200 people died. India's response wasn't to launch missile strikes and kill Pakistani civilians. Israel has become too vicious, racist and cruel to have a sensible foreign policy any more.

  • 107 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

    Jul 23, 2006 at 10:19 am

    Updates from Israel at War
    Notes from the Real Israel, II, Day Twelve.
    
    This will be my last comment updating news for a while. I have to shut the computer, pack it and move my family to a different abode. I strongly suggest that you go the following sites for news:
    
    IMRA
    
    Arutz Sheva
    
    Israel Insider
    
    This piece is from Naomi Ragen, a novelist who writes books about the lives of Orthodox Jewish women and the kinds of crises and difficulties they face.
    
    In terms of reality, A large number of Lebanese civilians have been killed due to the fact that HizbAllah, like other Arab terror groups, purposely locates its installations within civilian populations who are effectively human shields.
    
    Winds of change are crossing the country, and this article reflects this to a degree. A friend of mine whose son is in the Air Force tells me that the morale of the IDF is flying now that they are finally doing what they have trained for - defeating the Arab threat. The fact that Kofi Annan is crying for a ceasefire reflects the fact that we are winning. The bastards in the UN cant't handle it if we survive, much less win.
    
    If you look at the articles in Google, you see how the press always talks about our attacks on Lebanon first - around paragraph six you may get to the constant barrage of missiles on this country from the north.
    
    Another good sign that we are kicking ass.
    
    And now to Naomi...
    
    ==================================================
    
    Notes from the Real Israel, II, Day Twelve.
    
    Naomi Ragen (Copyright © 2006)
    
    1. Over a million Israeli children are spending their summer vacation listening to rockets falling, hearing horrifying sirens, watching their fathers put on their uniforms to go to the front, and experiencing the dispersion of their families, as fathers remain to care for farms and
    businesses while mothers and children go South. No one mentions this in all the "growing concern about the humanitarian crisis" that the war has created. Pretty one-sided coverage. A call-in children's program on Israeli tv featuring a child psychologist answered their questions.
    Meshi from Safad, who was afraid of the sirens and the falling rockets, was told to breathe deeply during an attack. In between, she was advised to call her friends, to make a joke contest with her Mom, to color or paint. Meital
    from Beersheva, whose father has left for the front and who was in tears, was advised by a girl her age - also on the program, the daughter of a career army officer - not to watch the news, to find games she enjoyed, to try to find
    someone in the neighborhood who needed help - a new immigrant, an elderly person, a child new to the neighborhood.
    
    2. A big demonstration of the lunatic left took place in Tel Aviv. In a revealing column in Ynet, distinguished Israeli novelist Yoram Kaniuk, who has been identified with the Left, and who once said: "The more Israel orients itself according to Judaism and its fundamental variant, the more irrational is its policy, i.e., the more dangerous a threat it poses to its neighbors," got an invitation to join. He
    declined. This is what he wrote in YNET: "About what are they demonstrating? That Israel doesn't want to agree to her annihilation? That she doesn't want have Kassams landing in Ashkelon and Sderot, Nahariya and Haifa? Is there any city in the world that would be willing to sit quietly while being bombed, looking for excuses to understand the enemy and support him? Some say I've become a right winger. It isn't true. What's wrong with them? Anyone who isn't in
    favor of the destruction of the State of Israel is a right-winger? This is a holy war of Islam against the infidel West...."
    
    My, my. A new wind is certainly blowing. During the demonstration, two women, a left and right-winger politically, dared to hold up a sign calling the demonstators traitors, and saying "More power to the IDF." They were manhandled and the flag they carried was ripped.
    Gotta love these "peace-lovers." "The Arab M.K.'s were the ones inciting the violence," the brave women told reporters.
    
    We are not holding our breath for arrests to be made.
    
    3. Thousands of residents of Northern Israel went home after the Sabbath, saying they couldn't take being guests anymore.
    
    4. For the first time, sirens sounded in Zichron Yaakov and Benyamina, but nothing happened.
    
    5.Thousands of Israelis are volunteering to help. The following organizations are using volunteers. Ruach Tova 1
    700 505 202, Latat, 1 700 504033. Abandoned animals in the north are being cared for by a group called Let Live - [go to Naomi Ragen's website for the e-mail addresses - Ruvy]
    and Hav-Hav, who are arranging for foster homes until things settle down.
    
    6. Since the war broke out, 2,200 rockets have been fired at Northern Israel into populated urban areas.
    
    Naomi
    
    
    ===================================================
    

  • 108 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

    Jul 23, 2006 at 11:03 am

    Gaurav,
    
    In all of your whining about war crimes, you have not once mentioned the fact the the "Lebanese Resistance," as it is referred to in the Arab press, has gotten all Israeli soldiers out of Lebanon. This happened 6 years ago.
    
    Therefore, there should have been peace talks in 2000 or 2001 about finalizing a peace ageement between the Lebanese Republic and the State of Israel, with the chief topic of discussion being the liberation of Lebanese held in Israeli jails.
    
    There were no peace talks. The goal of HizbAllah, the "Lebanese Resistance," was never the liberation of Lebanon and we all know it. The goal was always the extermination of the State of Israel and the Jewish people in it with the goal of hurrying along the Mahdi, the Shia version of the messiah. To this end it has acquired thousands of missiles which now have been used, purprosely targeting civilians in Israel. So far as international law goes, this is the acquisition and use of weapons with the intent of committing genocide.
    
    The proof of the pudding has always been the eating, and there is plenty of "Katyusha Pudding" for us to swallow, along with the grief and the pain.
    
    If there is no room to bring to justice the killers of two dead people in Haifa who died merely because they were Jews in that damned Geneva Convention and all the shitty appendices to it, and if there is no humanity in the hearts of those "people of good will" who incessantly demand that we restrain ourselves so that others will have the right to murder us - people like Pope Benedict XVI, for example, and Kofi Annan for another, then the Geneva Convention is worth nothing but toiket paper, and all these "people of good will" can drop dead and burn in hell. As for the HizbAllah, Hamas and Fatah, when they have been exterminated - when WE INFLICT UPON THEM THE FATE THEY HAVE IN MIND F0R US - then and only then will there be any kind of inkling of possibility of peace here...
    
    That is all there is to say on the matter Gaurav. If you don't like it, well, too bad. If I sound like I don't give a damn what the world thinks.
    
    I don't.
    
    The day is coming soon when we Jews will have to stand alone. And we will - and we will triumph.
    
    And with that thought I leave you. I will have to shut the computer soon and pack it.

  • 109 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

    Aug 03, 2006 at 11:14 am

    ISRAEL AT WAR
    BATTLING ON TISH'A B'AV
    
    Today is the day we commemorate the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, both by the Babylonians and then again by the Romans. It's a fast day, and I've been fasting - except for drinking fluids to take my medications. In a little over an hour, I have to show up at shul.
    
    HizbAllah has been busy today letting us know that today is a day of disaster for Jews. As of 17:56 on my computer, this is the main headline from Arutz Sheva.
    
    Katyusha Barrage, Battles in Lebanon - Nine Killed
    
    Nine Israelis were killed Thursday in the war with Hizbullah: two soldiers in the ground battles, and seven civilians in the terrorists' stepped-up Katyusha rocket attacks.
    
    There had been a story on Arutz Sheva - which I was unable to find later indicating that HizbAllah warned that if Israel attacked Beirut, HizbAllah would bomb Tel Aviv. This story seems to have disappeared...
    
    This interesting series of e-mails came into my inbox. The original is an article from Naomi Ragen, an author, writing about this war. The articlew is called "A Terrible War" The comment above it is from Yaacov Levi - noting his opinions at to a possible purposeful mismanagement of the war to push for Olmert's withdrawal plan. Levi's misspelling of Olmert's name - Olmerde - was purposeful. Anyone with a more than elementary knowledge of French will understand why.
    
    All this was published by the Root & Branch Information Service.
    
    Shalom Naomi,
    
    There are other mistakes being set up right now, intentionally.
    
    The war is being fought in a manner that guarantees that Hezbollah willnot be fractured and made ineffective, something they are already claiming is faling, while Olmerde claims success they increase the rate of missile fire into Israel, with longer range rockets. And Olmerde 'lulls' allowing rearming and regrouping of Hezbollah to fire further into Israel then before.
    
    We have the capability to track and destroy these launchers but it isnt happening for most of them. Meanwhile, against the advice of our Christian Lebanese friends Olmerde lets Halutz continue to bomb targets that further alienate Lebanese. It IS a fiction that the bulk of the Lebanese oppose Hezbollah, in truth it is only the Christian and Druze Lebanese who are opposed to Hezbollah, the Muslims almost unanimously support them.
    
    Where our airforce should be striking, and hard is the area to the Latini River, and Balbeck, literally flattening it so Hezbollah cannot operate from there. Instead we are letting Hezbollah pick off our soldiers as they try to clear the buildings left standing. This is criminally incompetence of the force commanders.
    
    So, we fight ineffectually against the enemy while our own casulties mount. Why ? To increase support for a planned UN "cease fire". The result of that will be renewed fire, from the Hezbollah side only. Also, dont forget renewed PA fire. So now, we have a war mismanaged to give our enemy all possible advantages.
    
    Meanwhile Olmerde, Bush and Rice work to have a UN sponsored 'international force' led by a true proven enemy of Israel in charge of two Muslim state forces, France, leading Turkish and Indonesian forces, all three not recognizing Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.They will look the other way when Hezbollah sets up next to them and again fires missiles, but this time, when Israel retaliates we are the outlaws.
    
    The only predictable result of this will be Israelis moving near enmasse out of our north. Abandoning the now deadly area to Hezbollah and Hamas.
    
    This is the war result that I am sure that Olmerde, Peres and Peretz ae working for.
    
    The only way for Israel to survive this plot is for as soon as the shooting subsides is for a no-confidence motion to be made that will be supported by all, knowing full well that the known political whores in the Knesset will be bought off by Olmerde and Kadima with if necessary cash from Peres's 'foundation'. This has to be seen ahead of time and prepared for.
    
    Failing that, an uncivil war. Make no mistake, Olmerde and his ilk are setting up a scenario in which his traitorious 'disengagement' plan is the only move seen by northern residents to be safe to them, when in fact what it will do is to bring every inch of Israel within range of Hezbollah and Hamas rockets.
    
    B'ahavat Israel
    Yaacov Levi
    
    
    
    
    Naomi Ragen wrote:
    Friends,
    
    
    This is a terrible war. It is a war aimed at Israel's heartland, it's civilian population. A war in which thousands of rockets filled with thousands of tiny metal ball bearings aim to rip apart the soft flesh of our people. A war aimed at our hospitals and summer camps and shopping centers and apartment buildings.
    
    
    Israel is a strange country. It is the only place where the people mourn the deaths of soldiers more than civilian deaths. Because the death of a soldier is the death of our children, our future fathers and mothers, our brightest hopes. Nothing tears at the heart of our people more. At this time, when our soldiers are being called up to the front in the thousands from all segments of the population, all parts of the nation, we as a nation embrace them collectively, as one, holding them close to our hearts, the way a mother embraces her beloved, only child.
    
    
    This is why Mr. Olmert's remarks to the press yesterday that victory in Lebanon will create "momentum for pullout from the West Bank" were so devastating to the unity of our people, and the morale of our soldiers, many of them from the townships slated for destruction according to the plans for the next insane pullback. How is a mother supposed to feel from such a town when she sends her son off to war? And what of the son? As he puts his life on the line, will images of the bulldozers that ripped through Gush Katif only a year ago go through his mind? The destroyed synagogues, the rubble of homes and industries? And all for, what? The renewed fighting in Gaza? The rockets that now fall in Ashkelon and Ashdod?
    
    
    Already, the response from the front has been alarming. Reservists are calling for putting down their arms, asking if a Hezbollah victory is needed to save their communities from Mr. Olmert's plan....
    
    
    Thankfully, Mr. Olmert seems to recognize how tremendously destructive his words have been to the national morale. He contacted Effie Eitam, identified with the settlers' struggle, to apologize and to assure him that there is no such link between the war effort and future political moves. Mr. Eitam, a former general in the IDF who lives in the Golan Heights, has been consulted by the administration often concerning the war effort. As one would expect, Mr. Eitam has made every effort to help the administration calm fears and assuage the anger of Mr. Olmert's ill chosen words.
    
    
    As I sit here fasting and praying, on this, the 9th of Av, the most fearful day in the Jewish calendar, a date when horrible disasters have befallen the Jewish people because of disunity and causeless hatred, I can only pray that this terrible mistake will not crush the spirit of the nation or its resolve to prevent the kind of disaster which has destroyed our nation in the past. We have come such a long way. Only sixty years ago, our nation was helpless. Anyone could strip a Jew of his rights of citizenship. Anyone could throw us into cattle cars, starve us, torture us, murder us, plunder us, throw our children into ovens. There was no one to intervene on our behalf. Even those who fought against the Nazis and their collaborators, did so not for us, but for themselves. They could not spare a single bomb to derail the trains to Auschwitz. Only a little while ago, the planes of the Israeli air force flew over Auschwitz, a stirring symbol of empowerment for the Jewish people. We must not forget that. We must never forget that as we fight now, for our beautiful little country, our beautiful, priceless miracle, the Land of Israel.
    
    
    May God forgive us our sins against Him and against each other. May He protect our soldiers, our people, our land.
    
    
    
    
    

  • 110 - Ruvy in Jerusalem

    Aug 03, 2006 at 12:58 pm

    ISRAEL AT WAR
    BATTLING ON TISH'A B'AV
    RELIGIOUS JEWS RECONSIDERING THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE WAR
    
    This article comes from Arutz Sheva.
    
    Olmert Says War Will Advance Realignment, Refusals Result
    11:23 Aug 03, '06 / 9 Av 5766
    by Yechiel Spira and Ezra HaLevi
    
    
    As a result of Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's declaration that victory in the Lebanese war would advance his withdrawal plan, ten reserve soldiers have announced their refusal to fight.
    
    The article ends with this telling statistic:
    
    More than 10% of soldiers killed in combat in Lebanon hail from towns in Judea and Samaria - three times their proportion in the general population.
    
    
    In short, this article deals with the fact that the regime in power has no appreciation for strategic depth or for the outsized contribution that the religious community makes to this country's well being and prosperity. It would repeat the errors or pulling out of Lebanon and pulling out of Gush Qatif without the blink orf an eyelash. The secular bastards in the élite think we'll die for their war. They have a surprise coming.
    
    If Arab missiles fall on Tel Aviv, that's okay with me. Let the secular fools learn the hard way.
    

  • 111 - valerie baum

    May 15, 2008 at 10:35 am

    DearSir.Madam
    
    We would like to come to Israel to stay with an orthodox family for Yom Kippur and Succot in Jerusalem, Kfar Sava, Rana, any of these places will be ok for us.
    
    

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