090130
30th January 2009.
Shabbat Shalom
Today I am not starting with niceties. I am sick and tired of the entire hypocritical world deciding whether Israel has the right to respond to eight years of rockets fired relentlessly from Gaza and then whether our response was "responsible". There is not one single country in the world which would not have beaten the **** out of any neighbour which acted with such unqualified aggression and openly declared its only objective as your demise and your country's annihilation!
Spain, of all countries, is about to try us for war crimes! Spain, which sided with Hitler during World War 2 while declaring herself neutral and which has constantly treated its Basques with a cruelly hard hand and sponsored death squads. http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-785601.html The background is ably explained by Prof. Gerald Steinberg in today's Jerusalem Post www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1233050212794&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
Many newspapers published that Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan stormed off the stage in disgust at President Peres during the Davos World Economic Conference having been told he could not speak. The truth is that Prime Minister Erdogan spoke at length against Israel's invasion of Gaza and the subsequent suffering and then President Peres spoke eloquently and emotionally about Israel's right to self defence and care in pinpointing Hamas targets. President Peres received a rousing round of applause at which the Turkish PM demanded a right of response which was refused, thus causing his angry departure. Erdogan apologized for his behaviour yet when he got back to Istanbul he was greeted as a hero for his "victory".
Our current party political broadcasts are somewhat aggressive toward the opposition, not my favourite manner of politicking. While very aware that politicians are not all sweetness and light, we do not kill the opposition parties by tying their hands and feet and throwing them off a 40 foot wall as in a video I received this morning from Gaza of Hamas dealing with its opposition - Fatah. I am not passing on the link unless you insist because it is so odious that it made me weep at man's inhumanity to man. Any comparison between the cruelty inflicted by Hamas upon the people of Gaza and the sad outcome of defensive warfare is beyond the pale.
What was not reported is that 48 Palestinian orphans from Gaza were invited to Israel by the Kibbutz movement, to Arabic speaking homes, in the hope of giving them respite from Hamas but Hamas prevented their exit from Gaza for fear that these children may tell the truth.
What was not reported is that Dr Elazzadin Abu El Aish, who tragically lost 3 of his daughters "on Air" during Operation Cast Lead, went back to Gaza to mourn his daughters and then brought his remaining children to Israel where friends and good people help him find a home so that he can continue his work as a gynaecologist and research into infertility in Israel. He did not choose to stay in Gaza.
Many American friends express deep concern for our safety in Israel and for the lack of control of Islamic Fundamentalism in the UK and Europe. Steve Emerson tried to tell you what was happening in the USA during the '90's in "Jihad in America" but was labeled a racist scaremonger – until 9/11 of course; now Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, a devout Moslem, a physician who served in the US army, formerly physician to the Supreme Court has produced a video called "The Third Jihad". This is the 30 minute abridged version of a 90 minute video. It is difficult to watch but all Americans; indeed all of us should watch it. http://europenews.dk/en/node/15041
I apologise for venting my anger on you, but as always I promise to end with something sweet to leave a good taste in your mouth.
Zvi and I knew of Jay Rawlings, broadcaster and excellent human being, but we didn't know it all, not by any means. Jay and his wife Meridel left good careers and came to Israel from Canada, beautiful Vancouver Island, and decided to "grow" their four sons here. The boys went to local schools and to the IDF; they speak Hebrew and are wonderful emissaries on behalf of Israel, and help their parents in their work to promote a true vision of Israel to the Christian community worldwide. http://www.jerusalemvistas.com/ and http://www.israelvision.tv/ Yesterday we went to their home for an interview. Zvi spoke of his amazing history and I spoke of how I got started on my Shabbat Shalom project, and we both spoke of the "power of one". What we have done is not so exceptional, and I include Jay and Meridel in the "we". All we do is take up the challenge that presents itself, whether as a Christian, Jew or Moslem. We don't make history we record it; we don't re-create situations - we tell it as it is, even if sometimes it is hard to see the other point of view; we do not wish harm to anyone, we just yearn for the day when they will not wish us harm.
In other words, the only weapons one needs in this particular war are a pen, a voice, a strong constitution and a kind heart. Those who are angry and abusive, whatever the situation, have lost the war of words. When you write letters, be it to the media or the legislature, use firm, positive words, not obnoxious ones. We don't have to prove ourselves right, we do not need to excuse our behaviour; we do not need to react with anger when our point of view is ignored, we simply need to express it quietly over and over again.
Today is glorious. The weather is crisp, cool and sadly still rainless. The shekdiot (almond blossom) are now in full blossom on the sides of road number one which winds its hilly way up to Jerusalem. Jerusalem is just beginning to slow down, to lead up to Erev Shabbat (Sabbath eve) and the national grid is at its peak as ovens fill up with food which represents the temporary nationality of the owner, hamin and cholent; kugel, jachnun and quiche; chicken paprika or babaganoush and a myriad of vegetables stuffed with lamb, beef and rice in spicy sauces. Imagine all those amazing aromas melding into a truly wonderful redolent cloud over the Golden City!
Did you notice that I said their temporary nationality? We all came from here, all Jews, we spread and formed the Diaspora but our origin before the dispersion was here. We may choose to remain in our adopted homeland, as long as they will let us, but I came home.
Shabbat Shalom from vibrant, warm, multiracial, multicultural Jerusalem, centre of our world.
With love,
Sheila
Friday, 30 January 2009
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
090127 International Holocaust Day
27th January 2009.
World Holocaust Remembrance Day
It is 63 years since the day the world began understand the full meaning of evil as Allied soldiers entered the sheer and unadulterated hell of Auschwitz. Those solders saw what no man should see as the emaciated bodies dressed in striped pyjamas came toward them in disbelief that they had survived.
There are a million stories of survival and rebuilding of lives but there is one which caught my heart in its message of hope. A dear friend in Toronto, Andrea Koven, sent it to me. It is the story of a young survivor, born to an observant family, who wanted a white wedding as the symbol of her normal life in the past. Her husband-to-be took on the task lovingly and her dress was made – from an old parachute. The dress now stands in the museum at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as testament to the hope and ingenuity of the survivors. http://www.thejewishpress.com/pageroute.do/37658
Today, there are still those who deny, or resent our very survival; there are even intellectuals who deny the Holocaust in learned tomes. If we do not recount the stories of those terrible times and take our children, however young, to meet some of these incredible old people to hear first hand of their experiences then there is no hope that our children will believe that such horror could ever have happened. They will accept the Holocaust deniers because it seems more believable that our generation lies than an entire army was built with the sole purpose of eliminating Jews. Of course it was not only Jews, although the prime target, it was all "defective" peoples, such as aristocrats, Catholics, homosexuals, the disabled and those who did not conform to the Nazi image – today we call them Infidels.
Yad Vashem is here in Jerusalem. Through this august institution an entire world of people learned the history of the Holocaust; through this dignified institution we are taken through the experiences of those who lived the Holocaust and shown their stories of heroism and suffering through THEIR eyes, through THEIR stories, through THEIR mementoes. There are many brilliantly designed Holocaust museums, in the USA, Australia, Canada, UK and of course the unambiguous confession of the vestiges of the death camps in Europe, but only in Jerusalem, does one arrive at the end of a heart-rending walk through our history into the dream of Jerusalem which rose as a Phoenix out of the ashes of our ancestors – the panorama of Jerusalem, capital city of the State of Israel will stand before you as proof of our resilience. http://www1.yadvashem.org/exhibitions/27_Jan_2009/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/user/yadvashem?blend=1
I promised that I would no write further on Operation Cast Lead since I believe that BICOM http://www.bicom.org.uk/news is doing an excellent job of updating us - making personal opinions superfluous.
The Israeli government has put forward a plan to defend soldiers of the IDF who took part in Operation Cast Lead in Gaza because there are places in this world where they could be stopped and charged with war crimes. I believe it is time we insisted that our legal systems consider proportionate responses to such criminal idiocy. Remember the BBC Interview with Major Richard Kemp? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WssrKJ3Iqcw and now both the BBC and Sky News have refused to air charity appeals for the people of Gaza since they are beginning to recognize a distinct lack of proportion in the accounts. I use this as prelude to a short video from Aish haTorah of an interview with a young IDF soldier and how he put his thoughts into action with www.thankisraelisoldiers.com
http://www.aish.com/heroesOfIsrael/heroesOfIsraelDefault/Thank_Israeli_Soldiers.asp
International Holocaust Remembrance Day was introduced into the United Nations by Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Danny Gillerman and thanks to his untiring efforts and lobbying the resolution passed, never to be denied by many of the Moslem UN member nations who commit the terrible crime of likening the actions of Israel to those of Nazi Germany. Such accusations make the gall rise in my throat and a rare and blistering anger emerge at the ultimate insult to my inherited memory.
It is up to YOU, yes, you and me, to ensure that these memories are not sullied by cruel denial and comparisons by pledging here and now to actively stand up and be counted without fear of standing out because like it or not, we do. The world is in grave danger of another holocaust, the dehumanization has started and even our own believe the lies spread about Israeli actions, or even Israeli existence because the disinformation is now overt rather than the subliminal accusations of former years.
For the first time since the Holocaust, State promoted anti-Semitism has raised its ugly head, not in a Moslem country, in Venezuela. The zealous bile comes from the top, from the low born, uneducated, megalomanic leader of that country, Hugo Chavez. If those we do not act soon, or sooner, then I fear for the lives of the 13,000 Jews left in Venezuela. We cannot ignore it any longer.
Yesterday I took Zvi to see one of my favourite places – Shouk Ramle. Now held each Monday in the car park of the Malha train station it is testament to the multi-cultural society of Israel; Jews and Arabs walking together, enjoying the bargains as the most natural thing in the world. Today I was in the Mall and as I sat with my daughter drinking my regular "hafuch, chazak v'gadol" a big, strong café latte, I watched the parade of Moslem women with their children beside the many levels of Jewish and Christian folk and I prayed silently that one day I would be allowed to take my daughter to drink coffee in a Moslem country in the same freedom that is offered to those Arab women. As a Jew who never met anyone who went to the ovens of the Holocaust but met many who came out the other side of the camps and formed the most amazing country in the world, I will never hate anyone, any "other" and religion as others hated and still hate me.
Praying for "Never Again" and trying to do something positive to prevent it.
With love
Sheila
World Holocaust Remembrance Day
It is 63 years since the day the world began understand the full meaning of evil as Allied soldiers entered the sheer and unadulterated hell of Auschwitz. Those solders saw what no man should see as the emaciated bodies dressed in striped pyjamas came toward them in disbelief that they had survived.
There are a million stories of survival and rebuilding of lives but there is one which caught my heart in its message of hope. A dear friend in Toronto, Andrea Koven, sent it to me. It is the story of a young survivor, born to an observant family, who wanted a white wedding as the symbol of her normal life in the past. Her husband-to-be took on the task lovingly and her dress was made – from an old parachute. The dress now stands in the museum at Bergen-Belsen concentration camp as testament to the hope and ingenuity of the survivors. http://www.thejewishpress.com/pageroute.do/37658
Today, there are still those who deny, or resent our very survival; there are even intellectuals who deny the Holocaust in learned tomes. If we do not recount the stories of those terrible times and take our children, however young, to meet some of these incredible old people to hear first hand of their experiences then there is no hope that our children will believe that such horror could ever have happened. They will accept the Holocaust deniers because it seems more believable that our generation lies than an entire army was built with the sole purpose of eliminating Jews. Of course it was not only Jews, although the prime target, it was all "defective" peoples, such as aristocrats, Catholics, homosexuals, the disabled and those who did not conform to the Nazi image – today we call them Infidels.
Yad Vashem is here in Jerusalem. Through this august institution an entire world of people learned the history of the Holocaust; through this dignified institution we are taken through the experiences of those who lived the Holocaust and shown their stories of heroism and suffering through THEIR eyes, through THEIR stories, through THEIR mementoes. There are many brilliantly designed Holocaust museums, in the USA, Australia, Canada, UK and of course the unambiguous confession of the vestiges of the death camps in Europe, but only in Jerusalem, does one arrive at the end of a heart-rending walk through our history into the dream of Jerusalem which rose as a Phoenix out of the ashes of our ancestors – the panorama of Jerusalem, capital city of the State of Israel will stand before you as proof of our resilience. http://www1.yadvashem.org/exhibitions/27_Jan_2009/index.html
http://www.youtube.com/user/yadvashem?blend=1
I promised that I would no write further on Operation Cast Lead since I believe that BICOM http://www.bicom.org.uk/news is doing an excellent job of updating us - making personal opinions superfluous.
The Israeli government has put forward a plan to defend soldiers of the IDF who took part in Operation Cast Lead in Gaza because there are places in this world where they could be stopped and charged with war crimes. I believe it is time we insisted that our legal systems consider proportionate responses to such criminal idiocy. Remember the BBC Interview with Major Richard Kemp? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WssrKJ3Iqcw and now both the BBC and Sky News have refused to air charity appeals for the people of Gaza since they are beginning to recognize a distinct lack of proportion in the accounts. I use this as prelude to a short video from Aish haTorah of an interview with a young IDF soldier and how he put his thoughts into action with www.thankisraelisoldiers.com
http://www.aish.com/heroesOfIsrael/heroesOfIsraelDefault/Thank_Israeli_Soldiers.asp
International Holocaust Remembrance Day was introduced into the United Nations by Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Danny Gillerman and thanks to his untiring efforts and lobbying the resolution passed, never to be denied by many of the Moslem UN member nations who commit the terrible crime of likening the actions of Israel to those of Nazi Germany. Such accusations make the gall rise in my throat and a rare and blistering anger emerge at the ultimate insult to my inherited memory.
It is up to YOU, yes, you and me, to ensure that these memories are not sullied by cruel denial and comparisons by pledging here and now to actively stand up and be counted without fear of standing out because like it or not, we do. The world is in grave danger of another holocaust, the dehumanization has started and even our own believe the lies spread about Israeli actions, or even Israeli existence because the disinformation is now overt rather than the subliminal accusations of former years.
For the first time since the Holocaust, State promoted anti-Semitism has raised its ugly head, not in a Moslem country, in Venezuela. The zealous bile comes from the top, from the low born, uneducated, megalomanic leader of that country, Hugo Chavez. If those we do not act soon, or sooner, then I fear for the lives of the 13,000 Jews left in Venezuela. We cannot ignore it any longer.
Yesterday I took Zvi to see one of my favourite places – Shouk Ramle. Now held each Monday in the car park of the Malha train station it is testament to the multi-cultural society of Israel; Jews and Arabs walking together, enjoying the bargains as the most natural thing in the world. Today I was in the Mall and as I sat with my daughter drinking my regular "hafuch, chazak v'gadol" a big, strong café latte, I watched the parade of Moslem women with their children beside the many levels of Jewish and Christian folk and I prayed silently that one day I would be allowed to take my daughter to drink coffee in a Moslem country in the same freedom that is offered to those Arab women. As a Jew who never met anyone who went to the ovens of the Holocaust but met many who came out the other side of the camps and formed the most amazing country in the world, I will never hate anyone, any "other" and religion as others hated and still hate me.
Praying for "Never Again" and trying to do something positive to prevent it.
With love
Sheila
Friday, 23 January 2009
Shabbat Shalom letter
22nd January 2009.
Shabbat Shalom
I want to begin this letter by extending our love and condolences to a very special family who though far away in Melbourne, Australia are very close to our hearts. Saul and Lucy, Lucy and Saul they were always together like the song "Love and marriage". They complemented each other totally and when Lucy became ill, Saul faithfully arrived every morning to take care of her in the home; and every morning she would run to his arms and tell him she loved him. We are not talking of young lovers, or maybe we are, but Saul is over 90, a highly decorated citizen of Australian and untiring worker for Israel, Australia, family and love in equal proportions – Saul is what the Prime Minister of Australia called a mensch, a mensch who loved his Lucy who sadly passed away this week. Everyone who knew this couple understood what true love was, from Prime Ministers to shop girls. Saul, we love you, we wish we could be with you and we can never forget Lucy's face as she looked at you with adoration.
This will hopefully be the last letter dealing with bias concerning the Israeli operation in Gaza.
The article "Images of bloodshed obscure truth" by Albert Dadon, in The Australian was sent to me by Prof. Paul Zimmet. It is an accurate assessment of our greatest hasbara problem. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24945114-7583,00.html
In another article, Tim Butcher, Middle East correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph returned to Gaza City for the first time since the war and while accepting that much damage had been incurred outside the towns he had this to say:
I knew Gaza well before the attacks…….One thing was clear. Gaza City 2009 is not Stalingrad 1944. There had been no carpet bombing of large areas, no firebombing of complete suburbs. Targets had been selected and then hit, often several times, but almost always with precision munitions. Buildings nearby had been damaged and there had been some clear mistakes, like the firebombing of the UN aid headquarters. But, in most the cases, I saw the primary target had borne the brunt. But, for the most part, I was struck by how cosmetically unchanged Gaza appeared to be. It has been a tatty, poorly-maintained mess for decades and the presence of fresh bombsites on streets already lined with broken kerbstones and jerry-built buildings did not make any great difference.
The Arab world is already miffed by President Obama for having the gall to imply that Hamas should stop launching rockets at Israeli citizens. How could he take such aggressive action when it could strain diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia?
If you still doubt Israel's claim that the IDF only fired at buildings from which missiles and gunfire emanated, see these out-takes of Alarabiya-TV's Hannan al-Masri learning of a Hamas missile being fired from the ground floor of the Gaza TV complex housing the Alarabiya Studio. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY50cktUKbA
Israelis are still distressed by what they were forced to do. We are not a warring nation, we were meant to spend our lives creating not destroying; taking medical initiatives not the taking lives; building towns not crushing them. We had to fight; we are prepared to fight, because the days of walking silently to the ovens are gone; but it is so deeply ingrained in our souls that our place on earth is to perform tikun olam (repairing the world) that we sometimes forget that in order to perform the mitzvah (right) of tikun olam we first have to survive.
Talking of Tikun Olam. Geert Wilders, the Dutch politician and film maker, made a documentary called Fitna http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=216_1207467783 which uncovers and speaks about the violence within Islam, at times comparing the Koran with Mein Kampf. As a result Mr. Wilders has been subject to Fatwahs and threats upon his life and has now been brought before the court in Holland charged with overstepping his rights of free speech as a Member of Parliament http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7842344.stm I do not condone those who promote Islamophobia but equally I will not suffer those who call us Nazis yet threaten death to those who say it about them.
If you wish to defend free speech for those who criticize Islam as well as those who practice Islam then please sign this letter of protest against the actions of the Dutch Government http://www.petitiononline.com/wilders/petition.html
While a Dutch Parliamentarian is being prosecuted for comparing the Koran the Mein Kampf in Holland, there are not such controls on the speech of Islamic groups in the USA who do exactly that. Please, please take the time to see this amazing presentation by the David Horowitz Terrorism Awareness Foundation http://www.terrorismawareness.org/jihad-academia/
To bring our thoughts back to today; Michelle Obamas dress, Aretha Franklins hat; the uncertain oath and Joe Biden's comment thereon; the excellent inauguration speech; Mr. Olmert speaking as he feels and not as he ought, all are of note!
As Israel's February 10th elections come closer we need to lighten up and wander round Shouk Ramle and Mahane Yehuda; climb into the Jerusalem Hills and allow ones eyes to feast on cloud after cloud of wonderful pale pink Shkediot – almond blossoms, in the knowledge that at least these little trees will fulfil their promise to bear fruit and feed the birds and small mammals which live on the rocky undulating hills. Let's go to any or all of the plethora of coffee shops to drink a delicious "Café Hafuch" (upside down coffee – aka latte) accompanied by what Israelis call a corasantt (croissant) and sit and chew the fat with friends without the guilt of knowing our boys are in Gaza and Israelis in Sderot are being traumatized every day..
I wish you a Shabbat Shalom in the hope and dream that the next letter you receive from me will be next Friday and nothing of consequence will happen between now and then……unless of course we win a great basketball match or the rains finally come and wash away the war.
With love
Sheila
Shabbat Shalom
I want to begin this letter by extending our love and condolences to a very special family who though far away in Melbourne, Australia are very close to our hearts. Saul and Lucy, Lucy and Saul they were always together like the song "Love and marriage". They complemented each other totally and when Lucy became ill, Saul faithfully arrived every morning to take care of her in the home; and every morning she would run to his arms and tell him she loved him. We are not talking of young lovers, or maybe we are, but Saul is over 90, a highly decorated citizen of Australian and untiring worker for Israel, Australia, family and love in equal proportions – Saul is what the Prime Minister of Australia called a mensch, a mensch who loved his Lucy who sadly passed away this week. Everyone who knew this couple understood what true love was, from Prime Ministers to shop girls. Saul, we love you, we wish we could be with you and we can never forget Lucy's face as she looked at you with adoration.
This will hopefully be the last letter dealing with bias concerning the Israeli operation in Gaza.
The article "Images of bloodshed obscure truth" by Albert Dadon, in The Australian was sent to me by Prof. Paul Zimmet. It is an accurate assessment of our greatest hasbara problem. http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24945114-7583,00.html
In another article, Tim Butcher, Middle East correspondent for the London Daily Telegraph returned to Gaza City for the first time since the war and while accepting that much damage had been incurred outside the towns he had this to say:
I knew Gaza well before the attacks…….One thing was clear. Gaza City 2009 is not Stalingrad 1944. There had been no carpet bombing of large areas, no firebombing of complete suburbs. Targets had been selected and then hit, often several times, but almost always with precision munitions. Buildings nearby had been damaged and there had been some clear mistakes, like the firebombing of the UN aid headquarters. But, in most the cases, I saw the primary target had borne the brunt. But, for the most part, I was struck by how cosmetically unchanged Gaza appeared to be. It has been a tatty, poorly-maintained mess for decades and the presence of fresh bombsites on streets already lined with broken kerbstones and jerry-built buildings did not make any great difference.
The Arab world is already miffed by President Obama for having the gall to imply that Hamas should stop launching rockets at Israeli citizens. How could he take such aggressive action when it could strain diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia?
If you still doubt Israel's claim that the IDF only fired at buildings from which missiles and gunfire emanated, see these out-takes of Alarabiya-TV's Hannan al-Masri learning of a Hamas missile being fired from the ground floor of the Gaza TV complex housing the Alarabiya Studio. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY50cktUKbA
Israelis are still distressed by what they were forced to do. We are not a warring nation, we were meant to spend our lives creating not destroying; taking medical initiatives not the taking lives; building towns not crushing them. We had to fight; we are prepared to fight, because the days of walking silently to the ovens are gone; but it is so deeply ingrained in our souls that our place on earth is to perform tikun olam (repairing the world) that we sometimes forget that in order to perform the mitzvah (right) of tikun olam we first have to survive.
Talking of Tikun Olam. Geert Wilders, the Dutch politician and film maker, made a documentary called Fitna http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=216_1207467783 which uncovers and speaks about the violence within Islam, at times comparing the Koran with Mein Kampf. As a result Mr. Wilders has been subject to Fatwahs and threats upon his life and has now been brought before the court in Holland charged with overstepping his rights of free speech as a Member of Parliament http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7842344.stm I do not condone those who promote Islamophobia but equally I will not suffer those who call us Nazis yet threaten death to those who say it about them.
If you wish to defend free speech for those who criticize Islam as well as those who practice Islam then please sign this letter of protest against the actions of the Dutch Government http://www.petitiononline.com/wilders/petition.html
While a Dutch Parliamentarian is being prosecuted for comparing the Koran the Mein Kampf in Holland, there are not such controls on the speech of Islamic groups in the USA who do exactly that. Please, please take the time to see this amazing presentation by the David Horowitz Terrorism Awareness Foundation http://www.terrorismawareness.org/jihad-academia/
To bring our thoughts back to today; Michelle Obamas dress, Aretha Franklins hat; the uncertain oath and Joe Biden's comment thereon; the excellent inauguration speech; Mr. Olmert speaking as he feels and not as he ought, all are of note!
As Israel's February 10th elections come closer we need to lighten up and wander round Shouk Ramle and Mahane Yehuda; climb into the Jerusalem Hills and allow ones eyes to feast on cloud after cloud of wonderful pale pink Shkediot – almond blossoms, in the knowledge that at least these little trees will fulfil their promise to bear fruit and feed the birds and small mammals which live on the rocky undulating hills. Let's go to any or all of the plethora of coffee shops to drink a delicious "Café Hafuch" (upside down coffee – aka latte) accompanied by what Israelis call a corasantt (croissant) and sit and chew the fat with friends without the guilt of knowing our boys are in Gaza and Israelis in Sderot are being traumatized every day..
I wish you a Shabbat Shalom in the hope and dream that the next letter you receive from me will be next Friday and nothing of consequence will happen between now and then……unless of course we win a great basketball match or the rains finally come and wash away the war.
With love
Sheila
Tuesday, 20 January 2009
090120 Update and assessment and Mazal Tov America
Gaza Update 13 - Reflections and assessments
At the Lord Mayors Mansion on November 10th 1942, Sir Winston Churchill, describing the Allied victory at the famous battle of Egypt
"Rommel's army has been defeated. It has been routed. It has been very largely destroyed as a fighting force."
He did not say we were victorious he said
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
So it could be said of the battle of Gaza, so close physically to that other battle which turned the tide of WW2 and gave the Allied troops back their lost confidence.
I have a dear, caring, highly intelligent friend who loves Israel with all her heart but whose information is filtered through Haaretz and Israeli television Channel 1 news. Based upon that information she is convinced that all decisions were made by the PM alone and he over-rode everyone else in "his usual arrogant fashion". The writings and words of news people on both the left and the extreme right who prefer to create "uvdot" facts and ignore the truth that Foreign Minister Tsippi Livni has announced time and again that all decisions were made in consultation of the three major players – the PM, herself and Minister of Defence Ehud Barak, under constant the advisement of Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi. Some news people are unable to admit they got it wrong and Israel actually did a good job! The Chief of Staff accepted all decisions made based upon the information he presented from the front until he came to the decision that it was time to withdraw and see clearly the results. It was he, the Chief of Staff who felt it was time to assess our next moves. These are not the words of the press who were shut out of those decision making meetings, but of the Foreign Minister who was privy to and part of every single judgment.
Incidentally, what was perceived by the press as a snub by the PM when the FM flew to Washington was in fact an essential information meeting with Condaleeza Rice, who, unlike many, does not feel that the PM's gaffe was of any consequence either to the present or the future!
Zvi and I sat last night and thought of what, under the most extreme of circumstances which would have broken any other man, the Prime Minister has achieved in his term of office in general and his premiership through this war in particular.
Our right to self-defence is recognized;
Egypt is within (of sorts) the group of allied countries prepared to fight extremism and was given the "kavod" of having their plan adopted. Egypt and Jordan sat at the Sharm Summit with the European leaders and expressed a desire to play an essential part in fighting evil.
We have Europe behind us; do not minimize the effectiveness of the warmth and friendship of this Prime Minister and his ability to make friends with those who have been Israel's biggest deriders and bring them inside.
When told of the Iranian ship off the coast of Gaza, filled with arms and waiting to land, the European leaders, at the suggestion of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, decided to put together a fleet of ships which will patrol that source of arms running and they also recognize our need to solve the gun-running tunnels between Gaza and Egypt – putting Egyptian President Mubarak on the spot.
World leaders, if not the press and thus the simple people, have come to understand what we face and that Hamas caused uncountable suffering to the people of Gaza- killing and maiming thousands and thousands of ordinary folk.
The people of Gaza will not be tricked again, they finally see Hamas for the bunch of killers, bullies and cowards they really are – they talk of Hamas giving aid only to those who swore allegiance to their terror tactics; of killing their detractors and exposing ordinary folk and their families to unbearable danger while their leaders and mentors, in the words of one resident of Gaza who lost his home and family "hide in bunkers and behind the skirts of their women and children. They hid and we suffered the results of their actions. Every Hamas home is now empty – they all ran to Egypt escaping like the cowards they are"
Hamas cause dunbearable and unconscionable suffering to the people of GAzaH
Syria is exposed as a major funder of Hezb-Allah and Hamas and lost all credibility while losing their nuclear potential;
Finally and most dramatically, the apparently impossible happened. Recent events, and Israeli diplomacy, succeeded in splitting the unbreakable "brit", the covenant, of the Arab States, sidelining Hamas, Hezb-Allah, Islamic Jihad, Syrian and Iranian interests and achieving recognition of their evil - quite a conquest I would say!!!
Our hearts go out to the Gazan families who lost everything because their leaders goaded and provoked Israel into a war she did not want. Israel has already set up the mechanism to treat the wounded in Israeli hospitals and is also preparing a plan to rebuild. No matter how it looks on the surface – we didn't want this, we avoided it at all costs for 8 years because we knew that it would be the ordinary people who would pay, and they did. Care WAS taken to protect the ordinary people but it was not enough – however in the words of Colonel Richard Kemp CBE, former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, and a senior military adviser to the British government "Never, in the history of warfare has an army taken so much care to ensure the safety of civilians as the IDF". If only this had not happened but it did.
If the very fragile cease-fire will hold then, with the help of the Europeans, aid for the people of Gaza will finally reach those for whom it was always intended. It will be filtered through Abu Mazen, not because we love, or trust him but because we want to eliminate any opportunity for Hamas to feed and educate the children of Gaza, with money and the tyrannical doctrine of Iran, which is how they got their initial foothold, after the corrupt Fatah leadership stole all the former monies. This time every penny will be monitored and aid will finally get to the people.
This article by the excellent Ehud Yaari explains the current situation in Gaza
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232275660144&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Most of the jokes about Israel concern the fact that Moses led us to a desert with no natural resources and lousy neighbours…. Well, think again - Huge gas reserves have been found in the sea near Haifa – apparently it wasn't Moses who got it wrong – we just didn't know where to look!!!
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232265973374&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
and now to something completely different and monumental in importance.
Today, January 20th 2009, President Barak Obama stands before his country in to be sworn in as an estimated 3 million people stand in the freezing cold of the Mall in Washington DC. For the first time ever a man of colour will become the 44th President of the United States; The definitive confirmation of the American dream.
As an Israeli I wish the outgoing President, Mr. George W. Bush, a gentler time of reflection and warmth in the knowledge that history will be much kinder to him than the present; and to President Barak Obama, I am confident that you will allay the fears of those who are fearful of what is new and different; that you will continue your path of accepting advice and trying to follow a straight path which will be the most productive and effective for your country. We watched last night as you embraced and included Senator John McCain in your celebrations, showing yet again your ability to seek the good in people despite their political affiliation, which you showed in your choice of advisors too. Mr. President please know that whoever our next Prime Minister will be, we, the ordinary Israelis, know, recognize and accept your country's leadership, support and friendship with humility and warmth. Our countries have so much in common, our values and our aims; we can only walk side by side, the colossus and the magical sprite who share a Bible and a future.
With love from Jerusalem, heart of our world and my home
Sheila
At the Lord Mayors Mansion on November 10th 1942, Sir Winston Churchill, describing the Allied victory at the famous battle of Egypt
"Rommel's army has been defeated. It has been routed. It has been very largely destroyed as a fighting force."
He did not say we were victorious he said
"Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. but it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
So it could be said of the battle of Gaza, so close physically to that other battle which turned the tide of WW2 and gave the Allied troops back their lost confidence.
I have a dear, caring, highly intelligent friend who loves Israel with all her heart but whose information is filtered through Haaretz and Israeli television Channel 1 news. Based upon that information she is convinced that all decisions were made by the PM alone and he over-rode everyone else in "his usual arrogant fashion". The writings and words of news people on both the left and the extreme right who prefer to create "uvdot" facts and ignore the truth that Foreign Minister Tsippi Livni has announced time and again that all decisions were made in consultation of the three major players – the PM, herself and Minister of Defence Ehud Barak, under constant the advisement of Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi. Some news people are unable to admit they got it wrong and Israel actually did a good job! The Chief of Staff accepted all decisions made based upon the information he presented from the front until he came to the decision that it was time to withdraw and see clearly the results. It was he, the Chief of Staff who felt it was time to assess our next moves. These are not the words of the press who were shut out of those decision making meetings, but of the Foreign Minister who was privy to and part of every single judgment.
Incidentally, what was perceived by the press as a snub by the PM when the FM flew to Washington was in fact an essential information meeting with Condaleeza Rice, who, unlike many, does not feel that the PM's gaffe was of any consequence either to the present or the future!
Zvi and I sat last night and thought of what, under the most extreme of circumstances which would have broken any other man, the Prime Minister has achieved in his term of office in general and his premiership through this war in particular.
Our right to self-defence is recognized;
Egypt is within (of sorts) the group of allied countries prepared to fight extremism and was given the "kavod" of having their plan adopted. Egypt and Jordan sat at the Sharm Summit with the European leaders and expressed a desire to play an essential part in fighting evil.
We have Europe behind us; do not minimize the effectiveness of the warmth and friendship of this Prime Minister and his ability to make friends with those who have been Israel's biggest deriders and bring them inside.
When told of the Iranian ship off the coast of Gaza, filled with arms and waiting to land, the European leaders, at the suggestion of Prime Minister Gordon Brown, decided to put together a fleet of ships which will patrol that source of arms running and they also recognize our need to solve the gun-running tunnels between Gaza and Egypt – putting Egyptian President Mubarak on the spot.
World leaders, if not the press and thus the simple people, have come to understand what we face and that Hamas caused uncountable suffering to the people of Gaza- killing and maiming thousands and thousands of ordinary folk.
The people of Gaza will not be tricked again, they finally see Hamas for the bunch of killers, bullies and cowards they really are – they talk of Hamas giving aid only to those who swore allegiance to their terror tactics; of killing their detractors and exposing ordinary folk and their families to unbearable danger while their leaders and mentors, in the words of one resident of Gaza who lost his home and family "hide in bunkers and behind the skirts of their women and children. They hid and we suffered the results of their actions. Every Hamas home is now empty – they all ran to Egypt escaping like the cowards they are"
Hamas cause dunbearable and unconscionable suffering to the people of GAzaH
Syria is exposed as a major funder of Hezb-Allah and Hamas and lost all credibility while losing their nuclear potential;
Finally and most dramatically, the apparently impossible happened. Recent events, and Israeli diplomacy, succeeded in splitting the unbreakable "brit", the covenant, of the Arab States, sidelining Hamas, Hezb-Allah, Islamic Jihad, Syrian and Iranian interests and achieving recognition of their evil - quite a conquest I would say!!!
Our hearts go out to the Gazan families who lost everything because their leaders goaded and provoked Israel into a war she did not want. Israel has already set up the mechanism to treat the wounded in Israeli hospitals and is also preparing a plan to rebuild. No matter how it looks on the surface – we didn't want this, we avoided it at all costs for 8 years because we knew that it would be the ordinary people who would pay, and they did. Care WAS taken to protect the ordinary people but it was not enough – however in the words of Colonel Richard Kemp CBE, former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan, and a senior military adviser to the British government "Never, in the history of warfare has an army taken so much care to ensure the safety of civilians as the IDF". If only this had not happened but it did.
If the very fragile cease-fire will hold then, with the help of the Europeans, aid for the people of Gaza will finally reach those for whom it was always intended. It will be filtered through Abu Mazen, not because we love, or trust him but because we want to eliminate any opportunity for Hamas to feed and educate the children of Gaza, with money and the tyrannical doctrine of Iran, which is how they got their initial foothold, after the corrupt Fatah leadership stole all the former monies. This time every penny will be monitored and aid will finally get to the people.
This article by the excellent Ehud Yaari explains the current situation in Gaza
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232275660144&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull
Most of the jokes about Israel concern the fact that Moses led us to a desert with no natural resources and lousy neighbours…. Well, think again - Huge gas reserves have been found in the sea near Haifa – apparently it wasn't Moses who got it wrong – we just didn't know where to look!!!
http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1232265973374&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
and now to something completely different and monumental in importance.
Today, January 20th 2009, President Barak Obama stands before his country in to be sworn in as an estimated 3 million people stand in the freezing cold of the Mall in Washington DC. For the first time ever a man of colour will become the 44th President of the United States; The definitive confirmation of the American dream.
As an Israeli I wish the outgoing President, Mr. George W. Bush, a gentler time of reflection and warmth in the knowledge that history will be much kinder to him than the present; and to President Barak Obama, I am confident that you will allay the fears of those who are fearful of what is new and different; that you will continue your path of accepting advice and trying to follow a straight path which will be the most productive and effective for your country. We watched last night as you embraced and included Senator John McCain in your celebrations, showing yet again your ability to seek the good in people despite their political affiliation, which you showed in your choice of advisors too. Mr. President please know that whoever our next Prime Minister will be, we, the ordinary Israelis, know, recognize and accept your country's leadership, support and friendship with humility and warmth. Our countries have so much in common, our values and our aims; we can only walk side by side, the colossus and the magical sprite who share a Bible and a future.
With love from Jerusalem, heart of our world and my home
Sheila
Sunday, 18 January 2009
090118 Gaza update 12 - unilateral cease fire
18th January 2009.
Update Gaza 12 – Unilateral cease fire from Israel.
Today 20 rockets and missiles fell on Israeli towns. The rockets fell despite Israel's clear announcement of a unilateral cease fire. This unilateral cease fire allows, however, for response to sniper fire, anti-tank fire and of course missile launching from Gaza. Troops remain but have retreated from the major population sites and many have returned to Israel but are prepared to return if the situation changes.
http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/Spokesman/2009/01/spokestart180109.htm
My thanks to Peter Cooper for sending me this piece. Quite incredibly this assessment of the behaviour of Israeli troops in Gaza by Colonel Richard Kemp CBE, former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan Senior Advisor on Military Issues to the British Government, was captured by the staff of BICOM on the BBC.
Click here to view the complete interview -essential viewing. http://www.bicom.org.uk/videos/bbc-news--military-analysis
Many television stations across the world carried an interview with Dr Alazadin Abu Al-Aish, the doctor I told you about, whose tragedy was broadcast live on Israeli television when 3 of his daughters were killed by a tank shell. The interview was interrupted by an hysterical woman who screamed abuse at the doctor for using Sheba Hospital, where many soldiers were in treatment, as a stage for his "propaganda". It must be said that she was in the minority and the people of Israel have rallied to his aid and his fellow practitioners have ensured the best treatment for his daughters. That is who we are – not a screaming banshee who does not understand a man in extreme distress.
In another expression of Israel's open-handed help toward the ordinary Palestinians of Gaza, today an emergency treatment center is opening at Erez Crossing, to treat civilians from Gaza. The Israeli Ministry of Health and Magen David Adom, will operate the centre and an understanding has been reached between Israel's Ministries of Welfare and Health and the Red Cross, to bring injured civilians from Gaza to hospitals in Israel, after passing through triage in the centre. Maybe this time Hamas is too weakened to resist this offer of help to the people.
I believe that the Israeli leaders acted in the only manner possible. They waited and heeded every nation which had a positive influence in this area, but finally the battle of the last few weeks was the only possible action to stop the constant rocket fire, to defend Israelis and halt the clearly excessive arming of Hamas. In a country where it is highly unpopular to praise ones leaders I am happy to do so. I believe that they did a good job – yes I know it is popular to say that history will tell, but Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi is my hero. During the Yom Kippur War the entire country, led by the press even then, came out against Golda Meir. In my opinion we went in at the right time and came out at the right time; the press was not allowed into Gaza with the troops so the leaks which occurred in Lebanon were avoided; despite some very healthy arguments within the cabinet meeting the external appearance of cohesion was maintained; all the relevant Ministers performed their tasks with excellence and our intention to weaken Hamas and show them that we are capable of ending their reign of terror. Without this "cease-fire" we cannot prove to the world that Hamas is still firing rockets and we still have the right to respond.
In his speech last night the Prime Minister made it clear that Gilad Schalit is primary in his thoughts and actions but in order to proceed he cannot reveal everything at this point. I hope that G-d will speed his hand in the direction of Gilad and bring him home to his family.
Today, at the Summit in Sharm el Sheikh many of the leaders from Jordan, Britain, France, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Czech Republic and others, praised President Mubarak of Egypt for his initiative toward some form of truce. If it works then I will be prepared to praise him too but what I do not and will not understand is why he is willing to jaw jaw jaw but when it comes down to it, he will not allow any multi-national force on the border between Gaza and Egypt, is not prepared to take an active role in stopping the gun-running tunnels and is also not prepared to allow any aid to Gaza through his own country. From what I heard the only positive suggestion came from Prime Minister Gordon Brown who said he was prepared to place British ships to patrol the seas of Gaza to prevent gun-running from that source.
This Summit in Sharm el Sheikh had exposed perhaps the most important outcome of this war - the split between the Arab countries which have always stood as a bloc. The split is clearly bewteen the more moderate countries – Jordan, Egypt, the Gulf States – and the extremist and fundamentalist countries – Syria, Iran etc.
Today Israel tried a cease fire but Hamas still wants to fight. 20 rockets and missiles landed on Israeli soil, 4 missiles came after Syria sent a directive to Hamas to begin a week-long cease fire. This directive from Syria clearly showed their deep involvement as with Hezb-Allah and when Hamas fired we responded. Syria, has raised its head and shown the truth – it is the apex of the axis of evil.
I hope this missive helped put things in perspective in terms of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The people of Gaza have been lied to, starved, murdered and had every penny of aid given to them taken from them. Israel did not cause poverty in Gaza – how easy it is to forget that we left Gaza leaving behind us fertile and productive farms and agricultural factories – Hamas destroyed every one.
We must look very carefully as to why the worm – I mean world - turned against Israel so violently this time. Is it because we are deemed the powerful, aggressive one? Is it because the world sees the Palestinians as the underdog? Is it because we live in a humane world which cares for the poverty stricken areas of the world? None of the above – it just doesn't like us. We were meant to be a pathetic people rubbing our hands like Uriah Heep wearing striped pyjamas but we aren't – we rose up from the ashes and we are strong, able and thrive; we will defend ourselves despite the desire for our downfall. In this world, just now, one is either part of the problem or part of the solution. Let's ensure that you, me and us are part of the solution.
With love from Jerusalem
Sheila
It was just announced on the news that the remaining troops are leaving Gaza.
Update Gaza 12 – Unilateral cease fire from Israel.
Today 20 rockets and missiles fell on Israeli towns. The rockets fell despite Israel's clear announcement of a unilateral cease fire. This unilateral cease fire allows, however, for response to sniper fire, anti-tank fire and of course missile launching from Gaza. Troops remain but have retreated from the major population sites and many have returned to Israel but are prepared to return if the situation changes.
http://www.pmo.gov.il/PMOEng/Communication/Spokesman/2009/01/spokestart180109.htm
My thanks to Peter Cooper for sending me this piece. Quite incredibly this assessment of the behaviour of Israeli troops in Gaza by Colonel Richard Kemp CBE, former Commander of British Forces in Afghanistan Senior Advisor on Military Issues to the British Government, was captured by the staff of BICOM on the BBC.
Click here to view the complete interview -essential viewing. http://www.bicom.org.uk/videos/bbc-news--military-analysis
Many television stations across the world carried an interview with Dr Alazadin Abu Al-Aish, the doctor I told you about, whose tragedy was broadcast live on Israeli television when 3 of his daughters were killed by a tank shell. The interview was interrupted by an hysterical woman who screamed abuse at the doctor for using Sheba Hospital, where many soldiers were in treatment, as a stage for his "propaganda". It must be said that she was in the minority and the people of Israel have rallied to his aid and his fellow practitioners have ensured the best treatment for his daughters. That is who we are – not a screaming banshee who does not understand a man in extreme distress.
In another expression of Israel's open-handed help toward the ordinary Palestinians of Gaza, today an emergency treatment center is opening at Erez Crossing, to treat civilians from Gaza. The Israeli Ministry of Health and Magen David Adom, will operate the centre and an understanding has been reached between Israel's Ministries of Welfare and Health and the Red Cross, to bring injured civilians from Gaza to hospitals in Israel, after passing through triage in the centre. Maybe this time Hamas is too weakened to resist this offer of help to the people.
I believe that the Israeli leaders acted in the only manner possible. They waited and heeded every nation which had a positive influence in this area, but finally the battle of the last few weeks was the only possible action to stop the constant rocket fire, to defend Israelis and halt the clearly excessive arming of Hamas. In a country where it is highly unpopular to praise ones leaders I am happy to do so. I believe that they did a good job – yes I know it is popular to say that history will tell, but Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi is my hero. During the Yom Kippur War the entire country, led by the press even then, came out against Golda Meir. In my opinion we went in at the right time and came out at the right time; the press was not allowed into Gaza with the troops so the leaks which occurred in Lebanon were avoided; despite some very healthy arguments within the cabinet meeting the external appearance of cohesion was maintained; all the relevant Ministers performed their tasks with excellence and our intention to weaken Hamas and show them that we are capable of ending their reign of terror. Without this "cease-fire" we cannot prove to the world that Hamas is still firing rockets and we still have the right to respond.
In his speech last night the Prime Minister made it clear that Gilad Schalit is primary in his thoughts and actions but in order to proceed he cannot reveal everything at this point. I hope that G-d will speed his hand in the direction of Gilad and bring him home to his family.
Today, at the Summit in Sharm el Sheikh many of the leaders from Jordan, Britain, France, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Czech Republic and others, praised President Mubarak of Egypt for his initiative toward some form of truce. If it works then I will be prepared to praise him too but what I do not and will not understand is why he is willing to jaw jaw jaw but when it comes down to it, he will not allow any multi-national force on the border between Gaza and Egypt, is not prepared to take an active role in stopping the gun-running tunnels and is also not prepared to allow any aid to Gaza through his own country. From what I heard the only positive suggestion came from Prime Minister Gordon Brown who said he was prepared to place British ships to patrol the seas of Gaza to prevent gun-running from that source.
This Summit in Sharm el Sheikh had exposed perhaps the most important outcome of this war - the split between the Arab countries which have always stood as a bloc. The split is clearly bewteen the more moderate countries – Jordan, Egypt, the Gulf States – and the extremist and fundamentalist countries – Syria, Iran etc.
Today Israel tried a cease fire but Hamas still wants to fight. 20 rockets and missiles landed on Israeli soil, 4 missiles came after Syria sent a directive to Hamas to begin a week-long cease fire. This directive from Syria clearly showed their deep involvement as with Hezb-Allah and when Hamas fired we responded. Syria, has raised its head and shown the truth – it is the apex of the axis of evil.
I hope this missive helped put things in perspective in terms of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The people of Gaza have been lied to, starved, murdered and had every penny of aid given to them taken from them. Israel did not cause poverty in Gaza – how easy it is to forget that we left Gaza leaving behind us fertile and productive farms and agricultural factories – Hamas destroyed every one.
We must look very carefully as to why the worm – I mean world - turned against Israel so violently this time. Is it because we are deemed the powerful, aggressive one? Is it because the world sees the Palestinians as the underdog? Is it because we live in a humane world which cares for the poverty stricken areas of the world? None of the above – it just doesn't like us. We were meant to be a pathetic people rubbing our hands like Uriah Heep wearing striped pyjamas but we aren't – we rose up from the ashes and we are strong, able and thrive; we will defend ourselves despite the desire for our downfall. In this world, just now, one is either part of the problem or part of the solution. Let's ensure that you, me and us are part of the solution.
With love from Jerusalem
Sheila
It was just announced on the news that the remaining troops are leaving Gaza.
Saturday, 17 January 2009
090117 Gaza Update 11 - day 22
17th January 2009.
Shevua Tov
Drama and tragedy unfolded as we watched the early news yesterday. Shlomi Eldar, the Channel 10 Arab Affairs correspondent was in the middle of his section of the broadcast, giving information on the situation in Gaza when his phone began to ring on air. Under normal circumstances his phone would not be on and most certainly would not be answered. The call was from a friend in Gaza, Dr.Ezaladin El Aish, a gynaecologist who worked in fertility research in Tel Hashomer Hospital, near Tel Aviv. The doctor was hysterical but spoke in clear Hebrew and slowly Shlomi Eldar understood that his home had been hit by an Israeli tank shell and two of his eight daughters, his brother and two nieces all died and two other daughters were injured; Dr El Aish is the father of eight daughters whose wife died just a few months ago from leukemia. Shlomi Eldar spoke calmly as possible "Abu El Aish, Abu El Aish I will do my best to get help. I will call for ambulances to get you out". Immediately Channel 10 reached the Home Guard Central Command who guaranteed that they would send ambulances immediately to bring the entire family to Israel for treatment. The incident occurred as Eldar was discussing the fact that Israel wanted to bring many Arab children from Gaza hospitals for treatment in Israel (which I reported for you two days ago).
Within minutes the correspondent on the border with Gaza reported that the ambulances were waiting and crossing the border to bring them all to safety. One daughter has already undergone surgery at Barzilay Hospital and the other, more seriously injured is in Tel Hashomer.
Prof. Ze'ev Rothstein, director-general of the Sheba Medical Center, told Ynet, "Since the operation began, Dr. Abu al-Aish returned to Gaza to be with his daughters. There are not enough words to describe the tragedy which has hit this man of all people, who does everything for the treatment of children and studied the health of children in Gaza and Israel. From what I understand, his daughters were killed by an Israeli tank shell. I wish I could wake up and realize this is a bad dream. Hamas may have taken advantage of his home. This is one of the worst tragedies of this war, which illustrates the absurd in the use made of the population exposed to the fire. All of Sheba's staff bow their head in the face of this loss."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657455,00.html
Later as I sat at my computer I commented on the incident to one of my correspondents, Mona Abramson in Boston, when she told me that she knows Dr El Aish, had worked with him and had already spoken to him as he was on his way to the hospital.
Arab Members of the Knesset led a demonstration saying that the massacre in Gaza is worse than Sabra and Shattila – clearly they have not seen the movie "Waltz with Bashir" or read a history book or they would know that the Sabra and Shatilla massacre was not Israel – it was the Christian Phalangists who were devastated by the fact that the Palestinians took and destroyed the Christian country of Lebanon and turned the "Pearl of the Middle East" into a slum land of abject poverty and strife; and as revenge for the sacking and massacre of Damour. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damour_massacre where the Palestinians, led by Arafat not only killed, but exhumed the dead and robbed their graves. Strange that one never hears of Arab or Palestinian human rights violations.
A Memorandum of Agreement has been signed between Israel and the United States, now all that remains is for Egypt to sign a similar document with the USA too.
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Reference+Documents/Israel-US_Memorandum_of_Understanding_16-Jan-2009.htm
Egypt is the enigma in the long-running saga of Arab antagonism toward Israel. We know what Hamas wants; they want what Iran tells them they want – absolute tyrannical control over Gaza and Israel wiped off the map. Egypt insists that it wants to be part of the Peace Process and is happy to be the go-between yet, we are all painfully aware that if Egypt would police the Philadelphia Route then Hamas would find it nigh impossible to import arms! If Egypt would allow the Rafiach crossing to be used for the passage of aid to Gaza then Israel would not be involved.
If you ever have doubts that the current war is disproportionate, inequality of response, unbalanced warfare or in any way unwise – just check out this map and see what awful land-grabbing settlers we really are!
http://canadiancoalition.com/forum/messages/16041.shtml
Finally and rather sadly, the very doctor I wrote about at the beginning of this article sat in Sheba Hospital and gave press conference after press conference. While Judaism says that one should never criticize a man in his moment of sorrow, his behaviour was difficult for one mother who has three boys serving in Gaza. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657587,00.html
And so we start another week……………………
Dear friends, I so want this war to end, our boys to come home safely and the world to turn its face to a different cause – even though we all know they won't. If we allow the opinions of those who do not understand to rule our self-defence then we are lost. I would love to be on friendly terms with the people of Gaza, but I am not prepared to lose my homeland in return. Israel owes its continued existence to those who emanated from this soil, those whose Bible reflects the very stones we walk on. We have to defend what is ours becase as you just saw in the map that Dassi sent me – what we have is very small but the centre of our world.
Shevua Tov
Much love
Sheila
Shevua Tov
Drama and tragedy unfolded as we watched the early news yesterday. Shlomi Eldar, the Channel 10 Arab Affairs correspondent was in the middle of his section of the broadcast, giving information on the situation in Gaza when his phone began to ring on air. Under normal circumstances his phone would not be on and most certainly would not be answered. The call was from a friend in Gaza, Dr.Ezaladin El Aish, a gynaecologist who worked in fertility research in Tel Hashomer Hospital, near Tel Aviv. The doctor was hysterical but spoke in clear Hebrew and slowly Shlomi Eldar understood that his home had been hit by an Israeli tank shell and two of his eight daughters, his brother and two nieces all died and two other daughters were injured; Dr El Aish is the father of eight daughters whose wife died just a few months ago from leukemia. Shlomi Eldar spoke calmly as possible "Abu El Aish, Abu El Aish I will do my best to get help. I will call for ambulances to get you out". Immediately Channel 10 reached the Home Guard Central Command who guaranteed that they would send ambulances immediately to bring the entire family to Israel for treatment. The incident occurred as Eldar was discussing the fact that Israel wanted to bring many Arab children from Gaza hospitals for treatment in Israel (which I reported for you two days ago).
Within minutes the correspondent on the border with Gaza reported that the ambulances were waiting and crossing the border to bring them all to safety. One daughter has already undergone surgery at Barzilay Hospital and the other, more seriously injured is in Tel Hashomer.
Prof. Ze'ev Rothstein, director-general of the Sheba Medical Center, told Ynet, "Since the operation began, Dr. Abu al-Aish returned to Gaza to be with his daughters. There are not enough words to describe the tragedy which has hit this man of all people, who does everything for the treatment of children and studied the health of children in Gaza and Israel. From what I understand, his daughters were killed by an Israeli tank shell. I wish I could wake up and realize this is a bad dream. Hamas may have taken advantage of his home. This is one of the worst tragedies of this war, which illustrates the absurd in the use made of the population exposed to the fire. All of Sheba's staff bow their head in the face of this loss."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657455,00.html
Later as I sat at my computer I commented on the incident to one of my correspondents, Mona Abramson in Boston, when she told me that she knows Dr El Aish, had worked with him and had already spoken to him as he was on his way to the hospital.
Arab Members of the Knesset led a demonstration saying that the massacre in Gaza is worse than Sabra and Shattila – clearly they have not seen the movie "Waltz with Bashir" or read a history book or they would know that the Sabra and Shatilla massacre was not Israel – it was the Christian Phalangists who were devastated by the fact that the Palestinians took and destroyed the Christian country of Lebanon and turned the "Pearl of the Middle East" into a slum land of abject poverty and strife; and as revenge for the sacking and massacre of Damour. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Damour_massacre where the Palestinians, led by Arafat not only killed, but exhumed the dead and robbed their graves. Strange that one never hears of Arab or Palestinian human rights violations.
A Memorandum of Agreement has been signed between Israel and the United States, now all that remains is for Egypt to sign a similar document with the USA too.
http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Reference+Documents/Israel-US_Memorandum_of_Understanding_16-Jan-2009.htm
Egypt is the enigma in the long-running saga of Arab antagonism toward Israel. We know what Hamas wants; they want what Iran tells them they want – absolute tyrannical control over Gaza and Israel wiped off the map. Egypt insists that it wants to be part of the Peace Process and is happy to be the go-between yet, we are all painfully aware that if Egypt would police the Philadelphia Route then Hamas would find it nigh impossible to import arms! If Egypt would allow the Rafiach crossing to be used for the passage of aid to Gaza then Israel would not be involved.
If you ever have doubts that the current war is disproportionate, inequality of response, unbalanced warfare or in any way unwise – just check out this map and see what awful land-grabbing settlers we really are!
http://canadiancoalition.com/forum/messages/16041.shtml
Finally and rather sadly, the very doctor I wrote about at the beginning of this article sat in Sheba Hospital and gave press conference after press conference. While Judaism says that one should never criticize a man in his moment of sorrow, his behaviour was difficult for one mother who has three boys serving in Gaza. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3657587,00.html
And so we start another week……………………
Dear friends, I so want this war to end, our boys to come home safely and the world to turn its face to a different cause – even though we all know they won't. If we allow the opinions of those who do not understand to rule our self-defence then we are lost. I would love to be on friendly terms with the people of Gaza, but I am not prepared to lose my homeland in return. Israel owes its continued existence to those who emanated from this soil, those whose Bible reflects the very stones we walk on. We have to defend what is ours becase as you just saw in the map that Dassi sent me – what we have is very small but the centre of our world.
Shevua Tov
Much love
Sheila
Thursday, 15 January 2009
090115 Shabbat Shalom, Gaza Update 10
15th January 2009.
Day 20 of Operation Cast Lead
Shabbat shalom
OK Let's start at the beginning. Condi and Ehud made up after their rather public and inappropriate tiff! In a telephone conversation the two decided that the current situation was infinitely more important than winning points over each other. They have a job to do and it is more urgent than any other on the agenda. What could have been a major problem has turned into a storm in a political teacup with not a drop spilt into the waters around Boston. Efforts to bring Egypt into a more active role in the peacekeeping will go ahead.
The Israeli Central Elections Committee determined that the Arab political parties, Balad, United Arab List-Ta'al are ineligible to run in the February 2009 elections, on the grounds that, in practice, they are unwilling to recognize the State of Israel and call for armed conflict against it. They constantly undermine the Israeli Government, the actions of the IDF and use their position of privilege to work for the enemy. The decision will go before the Supreme Court for a final pronouncement.
Many Americans believe that Europe in general and the UK in particular, due to their ever increasing Moslem citizens and their influence, hate Israel but the USA is safe . Don't be complacent – in this video from Fort Lauderdale look at the demonstrators cursing and using foul language http://bijenkorf.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/pro-hamas-ft-lauderdale/
Thanks to BICOM for publishing parts of a parliamentary debate. BICOM offices in London were attacked by a gang of "yobbos" two days ago but the staff is soldiering on. http://www.bicom.org.uk/news/news-archive/bicom-briefing--gaza-situation-update---14-january-2009
David Cairns (Labour Party): "According to reports from Egypt, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Larijani, and Saeed Jalili from the Iranian security services are actively encouraging Hamas not to enter into a ceasefire and, indeed, to step up the rocket attacks. Does my hon. Friend agree that those reports not only underline Iran's wholly malign influence in this region but underscore genuine fears among the Israeli public that behind Hamas is a country led by a lunatic and committed to the destruction of the State of Israel?"
The "Phosphorous" shells over which the IDF is accused of war crimes are not phosphorous at all. The IDF's "Medusa" shells create a smoke screen to foil the aim of enemy gunmen so that they cannot aim their weapons accurately. Not only are these shells legal, they have been used by the Allied Forces in Iraq for some time.
Today the IDF managed to execute two senior Hamas terrorists and the morale of the Hamas rank and file is in total disarray because they cannot hold the usual gruesome funerals with thousands in the streets. In the same IDF foray an UNWRA facility and a hospital were hit. In initial television interviews the Senior UNWRA representative spoke said that Hamas was indeed shooting from the building, but his report was ignored by most of the media. In addition an IDF shell allegedly hit the 14 storey building which houses the press corps in Gaza City but as yet it is unknown if that was the actual source of the explosion since the amount of arms caches of Hamas in built up areas of Gaza City is enormous. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1231950855726
Rockets and Grad missiles are still coming over the border, but in much smaller quantities. This evening however a Grad rocket made a direct hit on a moving car in a residential area of Beersheva seriously injuring a woman and child. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3656914,00.html
Reuters invite you to comment on their coverage of Middle East Affairs in general and this period in particular on their blog – a brave decision. I ask only one thing of you – be polite and representative – insulting words achieve negative results. http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2009/01/15/reporting-in-gaza-striving-for-fairness/
Yesterday Jerusalem had a tiny taste of what Sderot has endured for 8 years. Apparently a Grad rocket, bound for Yavneh, was picked up on the Jerusalem missile detectors and the siren sounded. Many youngsters who did not live through the second Gulf war were totally panic-stricken and no-one knew exactly what to do, to run for the shelter or to stay where we were. It was a mistake, a simple glitch in the system but it gave us some insight into the unbelievable terror each day brought to the residents of the Southern Border with Gaza.
Our dear friend Canon Andrew White is today recovering from a stem cell transplant in his beloved Baghdad. He opted to undergo the operation in Baghdad, performed by an Iraqi doctor who he trusts implicitly. He wrote to me yesterday to say that the pain from the drugs which increase the production of the stem cells in his body was excruciating yet he continued with his work in without a moment's hesitation. I promised Andrew that I would ask you to pray for his well-being. Even those of you who have not heard of his amazing work and his untiring efforts despite the all pervading horror of his advanced MS and the fact that his wife Caroline and two young sons wait anxiously him in the UK.
It is hard to be optimistic and think about normal life since our every moment is steeped in newscasts. However, yesterday was my birthday and my wonderful girlfriends wanted to take me out! This is a protracted birthday which began with birthday cake with my daughter Rachel and her three children two days ago; lunch with my friend Judith in the German Colony yesterday and breakfast with Rosa and Polita in the glorious Anna Ticho House today. It will continue with the family on Shabbat and even extend into next week with Betty and Dana but as we laugh and take pleasure in the sunshine and good food, conversations inevitably turn to our all pervading fear for our boys in the IDF and the task that has fallen upon their young shoulders. As I think of their lost innocence and future nightmares I'm drawn to Golda Meir's famous words which may sound trite to some but express the very essence of our battle for peace in our little country.
Peace will come to the Middle East when the Arabs love their children more than they hate us.
Please G-d, I pray that we will always love our children more than we hate anyone and will follow every avenue to give them a secure and kinder future where they can raise their children safely right here in their own home
Shabbat Shalom and much love from Jerusalem
Sheila
Day 20 of Operation Cast Lead
Shabbat shalom
OK Let's start at the beginning. Condi and Ehud made up after their rather public and inappropriate tiff! In a telephone conversation the two decided that the current situation was infinitely more important than winning points over each other. They have a job to do and it is more urgent than any other on the agenda. What could have been a major problem has turned into a storm in a political teacup with not a drop spilt into the waters around Boston. Efforts to bring Egypt into a more active role in the peacekeeping will go ahead.
The Israeli Central Elections Committee determined that the Arab political parties, Balad, United Arab List-Ta'al are ineligible to run in the February 2009 elections, on the grounds that, in practice, they are unwilling to recognize the State of Israel and call for armed conflict against it. They constantly undermine the Israeli Government, the actions of the IDF and use their position of privilege to work for the enemy. The decision will go before the Supreme Court for a final pronouncement.
Many Americans believe that Europe in general and the UK in particular, due to their ever increasing Moslem citizens and their influence, hate Israel but the USA is safe . Don't be complacent – in this video from Fort Lauderdale look at the demonstrators cursing and using foul language http://bijenkorf.wordpress.com/2008/12/31/pro-hamas-ft-lauderdale/
Thanks to BICOM for publishing parts of a parliamentary debate. BICOM offices in London were attacked by a gang of "yobbos" two days ago but the staff is soldiering on. http://www.bicom.org.uk/news/news-archive/bicom-briefing--gaza-situation-update---14-january-2009
David Cairns (Labour Party): "According to reports from Egypt, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Larijani, and Saeed Jalili from the Iranian security services are actively encouraging Hamas not to enter into a ceasefire and, indeed, to step up the rocket attacks. Does my hon. Friend agree that those reports not only underline Iran's wholly malign influence in this region but underscore genuine fears among the Israeli public that behind Hamas is a country led by a lunatic and committed to the destruction of the State of Israel?"
The "Phosphorous" shells over which the IDF is accused of war crimes are not phosphorous at all. The IDF's "Medusa" shells create a smoke screen to foil the aim of enemy gunmen so that they cannot aim their weapons accurately. Not only are these shells legal, they have been used by the Allied Forces in Iraq for some time.
Today the IDF managed to execute two senior Hamas terrorists and the morale of the Hamas rank and file is in total disarray because they cannot hold the usual gruesome funerals with thousands in the streets. In the same IDF foray an UNWRA facility and a hospital were hit. In initial television interviews the Senior UNWRA representative spoke said that Hamas was indeed shooting from the building, but his report was ignored by most of the media. In addition an IDF shell allegedly hit the 14 storey building which houses the press corps in Gaza City but as yet it is unknown if that was the actual source of the explosion since the amount of arms caches of Hamas in built up areas of Gaza City is enormous. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull&cid=1231950855726
Rockets and Grad missiles are still coming over the border, but in much smaller quantities. This evening however a Grad rocket made a direct hit on a moving car in a residential area of Beersheva seriously injuring a woman and child. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3656914,00.html
Reuters invite you to comment on their coverage of Middle East Affairs in general and this period in particular on their blog – a brave decision. I ask only one thing of you – be polite and representative – insulting words achieve negative results. http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2009/01/15/reporting-in-gaza-striving-for-fairness/
Yesterday Jerusalem had a tiny taste of what Sderot has endured for 8 years. Apparently a Grad rocket, bound for Yavneh, was picked up on the Jerusalem missile detectors and the siren sounded. Many youngsters who did not live through the second Gulf war were totally panic-stricken and no-one knew exactly what to do, to run for the shelter or to stay where we were. It was a mistake, a simple glitch in the system but it gave us some insight into the unbelievable terror each day brought to the residents of the Southern Border with Gaza.
Our dear friend Canon Andrew White is today recovering from a stem cell transplant in his beloved Baghdad. He opted to undergo the operation in Baghdad, performed by an Iraqi doctor who he trusts implicitly. He wrote to me yesterday to say that the pain from the drugs which increase the production of the stem cells in his body was excruciating yet he continued with his work in without a moment's hesitation. I promised Andrew that I would ask you to pray for his well-being. Even those of you who have not heard of his amazing work and his untiring efforts despite the all pervading horror of his advanced MS and the fact that his wife Caroline and two young sons wait anxiously him in the UK.
It is hard to be optimistic and think about normal life since our every moment is steeped in newscasts. However, yesterday was my birthday and my wonderful girlfriends wanted to take me out! This is a protracted birthday which began with birthday cake with my daughter Rachel and her three children two days ago; lunch with my friend Judith in the German Colony yesterday and breakfast with Rosa and Polita in the glorious Anna Ticho House today. It will continue with the family on Shabbat and even extend into next week with Betty and Dana but as we laugh and take pleasure in the sunshine and good food, conversations inevitably turn to our all pervading fear for our boys in the IDF and the task that has fallen upon their young shoulders. As I think of their lost innocence and future nightmares I'm drawn to Golda Meir's famous words which may sound trite to some but express the very essence of our battle for peace in our little country.
Peace will come to the Middle East when the Arabs love their children more than they hate us.
Please G-d, I pray that we will always love our children more than we hate anyone and will follow every avenue to give them a secure and kinder future where they can raise their children safely right here in their own home
Shabbat Shalom and much love from Jerusalem
Sheila
Tuesday, 13 January 2009
090113 Gaza Update 9
13th January 2009.
Gaza Update 18th day of fighting
Hypocrisy! Sheer hypocrisy and cant in the general antipathy to Israel and the cries of anger at the plight of the people of Gaza. Hypocrisy, cant and humbug. Where were the voices of the likes of Human Rights Watch and Medicins son Frontieres, to say nothing of the media, when Hamas was murdering thousands of Gazan citizens? Where were they when Fatah stole the hundreds of billions of dollars given in aid to the people of Gaza (Forbes published that if the money had been used properly each Palestinian would have food a house and a car) and where was the disgust at the misuse of funds by Hamas who didn't build villas for themselves but built up arms stores to attack both Israel and their own people? Where are the cries of revulsion that the medical supplies that Israel sent to the hospitals of Gaza have been "held back" in case one of the Hamas leaders is injured. Where was the dismay when Israeli children were suffering rocket attacks? I repeat hypocrisy and cant. Not one of the aid organizations complained to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights because according to Islam, one Moslem can kill another Moslem without rebuke but no Christian (Iraq and Afghanistan) or Jew is allowed to do so.
To put the level of hypocrisy into perspective, as Israel is being lambasted for her actions in Gaza by the UN, the media, and not a few politicians, Israel's Foreign Office came upon this report by UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) A/63/372–S/2008/617 of military activity by forces in that country
"In the first eight months of 2008, UNAMA recorded a total of 1,445 civilian deaths, an increase of 39 per cent over the 1,040 civilian deaths recorded in the same period in 2007. Of those, 55 per cent were attributed to attacks by anti-Government elements, 40 per cent to pro-Government forces and 5 per cent to unknown agents."
Israel mourns every human being harmed because of this war – we did not want it and we do not want it – but we will fight to protect ourselves and defend our country because apparently no-one else will. In our battle for survival the world, apparently, believes Israel is Shylock wanting his pound of flesh, not a people trying to survive.
Israel has been accused of using phosphorous in her weaponry in Gaza. Chief of Staff Ashkenazi, testifying before a Knesset Committee said that the IDF does not use any banned weaponry and the Palestinian accusations are yet another aspect of their disinformation
Our friend Dr Michael Dor, Deputy Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Heath, told us that he personally approved that 120 children be brought through from Gaza for treatment in Israel but the Hamas allowed only 3. Why? Clearly it would deny their claim that we are killing their children.
I sat at my computer screen yesterday watching in amazement as truck after 16 wheeler double truck passed through the Kerem Shalom checkpoint each overloaded with aid for the people of Gaza. Kerem Shalom, a kibbutz established on Israeli land on the border with Gaza in 1966 by those who thought that we could live together in peace. Kerem Shalom – means vineyard of peace. Today there is no vineyard and no peace. The Ministry of Defence CCTV camera captured each truck as it crossed from Israel and returned later empty. Each and every day for two to three hours this is the ritual. Who are the liars who say we are starving the Gazans?
The latest from the front line is that many "Miluimnikim" reservists have gone into Gaza to take the place of the conscripts who have gone deeper into much more dangerous territory. Each of these amazing boys and men, each leaving behind a young family, admitted fear but was prepared to do what had to be done to ensure a future for his children. Our enemy is not 3 4 or 5 thousand miles away, it is right here on our doorstep and our boys know it.
I am proud of the communities around the world who had been demonstrating their support for Israel. NY, Sydney, Toronto, Chicago, Seattle, Manchester, Paris, Antwerp, and many other towns and cities brought out the supporters. What made me proudest is the fact that unlike the "others" there were no shouts of death to anyone but rather, like in London, banners begging for peace in both Israel and Gaza because we cannot have one without the other. I am particularly proud that our friend Tim Vince was asked by the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the Commonwealth, Rabbi Jonathan Saks, to speak at the rally in Trafalgar Square in London. We will never forget the incredible support we get from Israel's Christian supporters.
It may seem oddly coincidental, but this week a brilliant Israeli film. "Waltz with Bashir" won the Golden Globe for best foreign film. http://waltzwithbashir.com/ Bashir Jumayel, was a young Lebanese Christian President-elect who was assassinated by the Syrians during the first Lebanese war. This extraordinary animated movie tells the tale of one man's war. An absolute must. You will be surprised at the honesty of the end.
Tonight, as I returned from a bed-time visit with my little grand-children, Yosef Eliyahu, Talia and Ayala, I came over the hill at Nebe Samuel and yet again the moon took my breath away. As it hung there before me, huge and golden, I couldn't help thinking that this is the same moon which is protecting our boys in Gaza. I stopped and chatted with the young soldier manning the check-point as I returned to Jerusalem wishing him a quiet and peaceful night with time to marvel at the moon.
Please G-d, bring our boys home safely. Dudu Fisher sang it for all of us "Bring him home". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYeatnIZ4h8
Love from Jerusalem with prayers toward Gaza.
Sheila
Gaza Update 18th day of fighting
Hypocrisy! Sheer hypocrisy and cant in the general antipathy to Israel and the cries of anger at the plight of the people of Gaza. Hypocrisy, cant and humbug. Where were the voices of the likes of Human Rights Watch and Medicins son Frontieres, to say nothing of the media, when Hamas was murdering thousands of Gazan citizens? Where were they when Fatah stole the hundreds of billions of dollars given in aid to the people of Gaza (Forbes published that if the money had been used properly each Palestinian would have food a house and a car) and where was the disgust at the misuse of funds by Hamas who didn't build villas for themselves but built up arms stores to attack both Israel and their own people? Where are the cries of revulsion that the medical supplies that Israel sent to the hospitals of Gaza have been "held back" in case one of the Hamas leaders is injured. Where was the dismay when Israeli children were suffering rocket attacks? I repeat hypocrisy and cant. Not one of the aid organizations complained to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights because according to Islam, one Moslem can kill another Moslem without rebuke but no Christian (Iraq and Afghanistan) or Jew is allowed to do so.
To put the level of hypocrisy into perspective, as Israel is being lambasted for her actions in Gaza by the UN, the media, and not a few politicians, Israel's Foreign Office came upon this report by UNAMA (United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan) A/63/372–S/2008/617 of military activity by forces in that country
"In the first eight months of 2008, UNAMA recorded a total of 1,445 civilian deaths, an increase of 39 per cent over the 1,040 civilian deaths recorded in the same period in 2007. Of those, 55 per cent were attributed to attacks by anti-Government elements, 40 per cent to pro-Government forces and 5 per cent to unknown agents."
Israel mourns every human being harmed because of this war – we did not want it and we do not want it – but we will fight to protect ourselves and defend our country because apparently no-one else will. In our battle for survival the world, apparently, believes Israel is Shylock wanting his pound of flesh, not a people trying to survive.
Israel has been accused of using phosphorous in her weaponry in Gaza. Chief of Staff Ashkenazi, testifying before a Knesset Committee said that the IDF does not use any banned weaponry and the Palestinian accusations are yet another aspect of their disinformation
Our friend Dr Michael Dor, Deputy Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Heath, told us that he personally approved that 120 children be brought through from Gaza for treatment in Israel but the Hamas allowed only 3. Why? Clearly it would deny their claim that we are killing their children.
I sat at my computer screen yesterday watching in amazement as truck after 16 wheeler double truck passed through the Kerem Shalom checkpoint each overloaded with aid for the people of Gaza. Kerem Shalom, a kibbutz established on Israeli land on the border with Gaza in 1966 by those who thought that we could live together in peace. Kerem Shalom – means vineyard of peace. Today there is no vineyard and no peace. The Ministry of Defence CCTV camera captured each truck as it crossed from Israel and returned later empty. Each and every day for two to three hours this is the ritual. Who are the liars who say we are starving the Gazans?
The latest from the front line is that many "Miluimnikim" reservists have gone into Gaza to take the place of the conscripts who have gone deeper into much more dangerous territory. Each of these amazing boys and men, each leaving behind a young family, admitted fear but was prepared to do what had to be done to ensure a future for his children. Our enemy is not 3 4 or 5 thousand miles away, it is right here on our doorstep and our boys know it.
I am proud of the communities around the world who had been demonstrating their support for Israel. NY, Sydney, Toronto, Chicago, Seattle, Manchester, Paris, Antwerp, and many other towns and cities brought out the supporters. What made me proudest is the fact that unlike the "others" there were no shouts of death to anyone but rather, like in London, banners begging for peace in both Israel and Gaza because we cannot have one without the other. I am particularly proud that our friend Tim Vince was asked by the Chief Rabbi of Great Britain and the Commonwealth, Rabbi Jonathan Saks, to speak at the rally in Trafalgar Square in London. We will never forget the incredible support we get from Israel's Christian supporters.
It may seem oddly coincidental, but this week a brilliant Israeli film. "Waltz with Bashir" won the Golden Globe for best foreign film. http://waltzwithbashir.com/ Bashir Jumayel, was a young Lebanese Christian President-elect who was assassinated by the Syrians during the first Lebanese war. This extraordinary animated movie tells the tale of one man's war. An absolute must. You will be surprised at the honesty of the end.
Tonight, as I returned from a bed-time visit with my little grand-children, Yosef Eliyahu, Talia and Ayala, I came over the hill at Nebe Samuel and yet again the moon took my breath away. As it hung there before me, huge and golden, I couldn't help thinking that this is the same moon which is protecting our boys in Gaza. I stopped and chatted with the young soldier manning the check-point as I returned to Jerusalem wishing him a quiet and peaceful night with time to marvel at the moon.
Please G-d, bring our boys home safely. Dudu Fisher sang it for all of us "Bring him home". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYeatnIZ4h8
Love from Jerusalem with prayers toward Gaza.
Sheila
Monday, 12 January 2009
090101 Gaza Update
1st January 2009
New Years Day
Dearest Friends,
I am leaving New York today, returning home having achieved our objectives of seeing our wonderful little grandson Joshua, our children Daniel and Karen and all the family, our friends and shopping far too much!!!!
This has been a difficult trip, our concern for what is happening at home paramount. I suddenly got to see what you see, Anderson Coopers insinuated clever accusations against Israel "Poverty stricken Gaza is hit once again and many civilian casualties", similar and worse from many of the ABC and NBC commentators, for commentators they are not journalists or reporters, and Jon Snow of ITN described Israel as "lucky to have Sderot to engender sympathy". Now I feel sorry for you that you never, or rarely hear the truth - no wonder you look forward to my letters!!! Yes, I hear you say that truth is never objective, everybody tells and hears the truth through filters, but even when analysed throught he gimlet eye of a highly trained legal mind, the truth of this war, and war it is, is clear. Please read this excerpt from a brilliant article by Harvard law Professor Alan Dershowitz Israel's Actions Are Lawful and Commendable
The firing of rockets at civilians from densely populated civilian areas is the newest tactic in the war between terrorists who love death and democracies that love life. The terrorists have learned how to exploit the morality of democracies against those who do not want to kill civilians, even enemy civilians. In one recent incident, Israeli intelligence learned that a particular house was being used to manufacture and store rockets. It was a clear military target since their rockets were being fired at Israeli civilians. But the house was also being lived in by a family. So the Israeli military phoned the house, informed the owner that it was a military target, and gave him thirty minutes to leave with his family before the house was attacked. The owner called Hamas, which immediately sent dozens of mothers carrying babies to stand on the roof of the house. Hamas knew that Israel would never fire at a home with civilians in it. They also knew that if, by some fluke, the Israeli authorities did not learn that there were civilians in the house, and fired on it, Hamas would win a public relations victory by displaying the dead civilians to the media. In this case, Israel did learn of the civilians and withheld its fire. The rockets that were spared destruction by the human shields were then used against Israeli civilians.
Most of the Arab States agree with Israels actions, Hamas is a thorn in the side of all except Iran, Syria and our old friend Muammar Khadaffi. Most of the Arab States are ready to move on toward a better future, admittedly and ambivalently funding many of these organisations.
Israel has the right to defend herself, United nations Charter 51 clearly states that every nation has the right to defend itself against armed attacks; the Arabs, however, have found a loophole - proportionality. By screaming that Israel's response is disporportionate they can claim her response to their aggression as illegal and a more than willing United nations complies with their wishes = after all, there are some 50+ Arab States and only one of us!!!!! That was their cry in Lebanon 2, and it is their cry now, we cannot allow them to get away with it. Next question is why do the majority of the media accept their cries, why do the majority of journalists turn things around (in Hebrew we say Hafuch al Hafuch) and make Israel the big bad wolf? In truth, it may well be because we let them! Mark Regev, Media Spokesperson and Advisor to the Prime Minister, is a clever and able man. Mark manages to turn even the most aggressive of foreign journalists questions to Israels favour, even if his responses never reach your eyes......... but YOU buy the papers and watch the reports!!! How many letters to the editor have you written lately? How many times have YOU called the television news station to complain? For those of you who advertise in both the press and the media - have you ever threatened to remove your advertisements because of bias? I amnot talking about honest reporting of events where Israel has made a mistake - I am talking of the clear and present bias in all our media. I want us all to work to stop the overt and subliminal bias which spurts forth its poison from our television and newsprint thus changing perception of our wonderful Israel and creating a far greater threat than any Arab terrorist.
I want to mention two special journalists who keep my hopes and mood up and realistic - Bob Parks in the USA and John Vause currently in China. These are good men who are prepared to stand out and tell the truth.
Make a New Year's resolution to be pro-active in preventing the greatest pandemic disease of all time - disinformation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMjSoUEysQ4
http://www.honestreporting.com/a/breaking_point.asp
and to see the pinpoint actions of the IDF http://www.youtube.com/user/idfnadesk
Remember that at this moment there is a terrifying comparative between the aims of the insane megalomanic leader planning to kill the Jews from his bunker and another megalomanic leader with the same aims who sat in his bunker 63 years ago. The difference is in the methodology and the religious imperative, yet the final aim is the same - just replace Aryan with Moslem.
There is always a strange dichotomy, almost schitzophrenic manner to Israelis during wartime - we feel the need to be normal! We go out to parties, we listen to concerts and we laugh and live life even when under enormous tension. I was thrilled to read that communities in the South of Israel - those in the line of fire - threw big Sylvester parties!!!! http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3648733,00.html
Sunday morning - no matter what - will find me in Mahane Yehuda Market - hopefully with my beautiful Arlene and Rachie - somehow it feels much more me than Century 21 or ToysRus!!!! I cannot wait to see our grandchildren and watch their faces as we unload our suitcases with the gifts we brought from "Der Goldeneh Medina" all of which could have been bought in the Jerusalem mall!!! I cannot wait to see my view, my wonderful view of Jerusalem - as I return to gaze each morning, noon and night from my veranda over the most glorious city in the world and dream of the day I can tell you that this precious city is not under threat.
Wishing you a wonderful year filled with quiet voices and generous friends, close family and kind thoughts. Maybe this will be the year that, as Golda said "They will learn to love their children more than they hate us"
With love
Sheila
New Years Day
Dearest Friends,
I am leaving New York today, returning home having achieved our objectives of seeing our wonderful little grandson Joshua, our children Daniel and Karen and all the family, our friends and shopping far too much!!!!
This has been a difficult trip, our concern for what is happening at home paramount. I suddenly got to see what you see, Anderson Coopers insinuated clever accusations against Israel "Poverty stricken Gaza is hit once again and many civilian casualties", similar and worse from many of the ABC and NBC commentators, for commentators they are not journalists or reporters, and Jon Snow of ITN described Israel as "lucky to have Sderot to engender sympathy". Now I feel sorry for you that you never, or rarely hear the truth - no wonder you look forward to my letters!!! Yes, I hear you say that truth is never objective, everybody tells and hears the truth through filters, but even when analysed throught he gimlet eye of a highly trained legal mind, the truth of this war, and war it is, is clear. Please read this excerpt from a brilliant article by Harvard law Professor Alan Dershowitz Israel's Actions Are Lawful and Commendable
The firing of rockets at civilians from densely populated civilian areas is the newest tactic in the war between terrorists who love death and democracies that love life. The terrorists have learned how to exploit the morality of democracies against those who do not want to kill civilians, even enemy civilians. In one recent incident, Israeli intelligence learned that a particular house was being used to manufacture and store rockets. It was a clear military target since their rockets were being fired at Israeli civilians. But the house was also being lived in by a family. So the Israeli military phoned the house, informed the owner that it was a military target, and gave him thirty minutes to leave with his family before the house was attacked. The owner called Hamas, which immediately sent dozens of mothers carrying babies to stand on the roof of the house. Hamas knew that Israel would never fire at a home with civilians in it. They also knew that if, by some fluke, the Israeli authorities did not learn that there were civilians in the house, and fired on it, Hamas would win a public relations victory by displaying the dead civilians to the media. In this case, Israel did learn of the civilians and withheld its fire. The rockets that were spared destruction by the human shields were then used against Israeli civilians.
Most of the Arab States agree with Israels actions, Hamas is a thorn in the side of all except Iran, Syria and our old friend Muammar Khadaffi. Most of the Arab States are ready to move on toward a better future, admittedly and ambivalently funding many of these organisations.
Israel has the right to defend herself, United nations Charter 51 clearly states that every nation has the right to defend itself against armed attacks; the Arabs, however, have found a loophole - proportionality. By screaming that Israel's response is disporportionate they can claim her response to their aggression as illegal and a more than willing United nations complies with their wishes = after all, there are some 50+ Arab States and only one of us!!!!! That was their cry in Lebanon 2, and it is their cry now, we cannot allow them to get away with it. Next question is why do the majority of the media accept their cries, why do the majority of journalists turn things around (in Hebrew we say Hafuch al Hafuch) and make Israel the big bad wolf? In truth, it may well be because we let them! Mark Regev, Media Spokesperson and Advisor to the Prime Minister, is a clever and able man. Mark manages to turn even the most aggressive of foreign journalists questions to Israels favour, even if his responses never reach your eyes......... but YOU buy the papers and watch the reports!!! How many letters to the editor have you written lately? How many times have YOU called the television news station to complain? For those of you who advertise in both the press and the media - have you ever threatened to remove your advertisements because of bias? I amnot talking about honest reporting of events where Israel has made a mistake - I am talking of the clear and present bias in all our media. I want us all to work to stop the overt and subliminal bias which spurts forth its poison from our television and newsprint thus changing perception of our wonderful Israel and creating a far greater threat than any Arab terrorist.
I want to mention two special journalists who keep my hopes and mood up and realistic - Bob Parks in the USA and John Vause currently in China. These are good men who are prepared to stand out and tell the truth.
Make a New Year's resolution to be pro-active in preventing the greatest pandemic disease of all time - disinformation
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HMjSoUEysQ4
http://www.honestreporting.com/a/breaking_point.asp
and to see the pinpoint actions of the IDF http://www.youtube.com/user/idfnadesk
Remember that at this moment there is a terrifying comparative between the aims of the insane megalomanic leader planning to kill the Jews from his bunker and another megalomanic leader with the same aims who sat in his bunker 63 years ago. The difference is in the methodology and the religious imperative, yet the final aim is the same - just replace Aryan with Moslem.
There is always a strange dichotomy, almost schitzophrenic manner to Israelis during wartime - we feel the need to be normal! We go out to parties, we listen to concerts and we laugh and live life even when under enormous tension. I was thrilled to read that communities in the South of Israel - those in the line of fire - threw big Sylvester parties!!!! http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3648733,00.html
Sunday morning - no matter what - will find me in Mahane Yehuda Market - hopefully with my beautiful Arlene and Rachie - somehow it feels much more me than Century 21 or ToysRus!!!! I cannot wait to see our grandchildren and watch their faces as we unload our suitcases with the gifts we brought from "Der Goldeneh Medina" all of which could have been bought in the Jerusalem mall!!! I cannot wait to see my view, my wonderful view of Jerusalem - as I return to gaze each morning, noon and night from my veranda over the most glorious city in the world and dream of the day I can tell you that this precious city is not under threat.
Wishing you a wonderful year filled with quiet voices and generous friends, close family and kind thoughts. Maybe this will be the year that, as Golda said "They will learn to love their children more than they hate us"
With love
Sheila
090103 Gaza Update
3rd January, 2009
Shevua Tov
Operation Cast Lead
Today has not been a good day for the residents of Ashdod and Ashkelon, since we have not yet succeeded in wiping out the terror cells that fire rockets at those towns, as well as Sderot, Nahal Oz and many small towns and villages within their rocket fire. They are just one of the many good reasons we have to fight against Hamas.
It is important to remember that any pictures and videos you are receiving on your television screens are those syndicated by Al Jazeera. The Mosque which every news station has reported as proof that Israel is targeting innocent civilians at prayer was not a hit by the Israeli Air Force at all. The type of explosive used is not used by the Israeli Air Force. The IAF targeted a vehicle which was passing near the Mosque, it appears that the vehicle was loaded to the brim with explosive devices and the subsequent explosion demolished the Mosque and killed and injured those within.
It must also be made clear that such is the care which Israel and the IDF is taking to ensure minimum civilian losses that our specialists drop leaflets and send recorded messages in Arabic, to all the cell phones in the Gaza Strip, giving people 10 minute warnings to leave any area which they know to be either an arsenal or centre of operations for Hamas. Hamas, whose arsenals and local HQ's are all in highly populated areas, stop people leaving at gun-point, because incredibly the more civilian casualties the more ammunition for their war of words, after all it worked so well for Hezb-Allah in Beirut. It is absurd that callous and cynical journalists are taken in by every word they say.
Just a few hours ago the decision was made for a limited entry of ground troops into the Northern Gaza Strip; their prime targets are the rocket launching sites of Grad Missiles, unlike the older, smaller Kassam missiles which were on portable, easily identified launchers, the Grad missiles are launched from hidden silos. In addition a 20 kilometre blockade has been enforced on the coastal waters of Gaza to prevent the importation of armaments now that many of the gun-running tunnels have been wiped out. Minister of Defence Ehud Barak made an announcement on Israeli Television that although he had the support of all but two of the Cabinet; he thought and re-thought the decision to send in troops. Israel does not consider any loss of life acceptable, and every avenue is travelled in the search for an alternative. Our objective is to clear the rocket launchers and those behind the attacks from Gaza but our other danger is that the Hezb-Allah in Lebanon will choose to attack Israel from the North with the sole intent of diluting both areas of defence and catching Israel at a weakened moment. As long as the Minister of Defence is aware of that I am less concerned.
This is not a war which Israel wants; this is a war we must fight having given Hamas nearly eight years to stop firing missiles at Israeli towns. We have tried Hudnahs and every other type of break in missile firing, only to find that Hamas used the time to re-arm. Every time you hear anyone talk of Israel's aggressiveness remember – this is the Israel DEFENCE Force, formed to defend a tiny nation with many enemies in a truly aggressive neighbourhood.
Zvi is on his way, right this minute, to the BBC's Jerusalem studios to be interviewed about the situation. I know he will explain the why and wherefores with his usual brilliance, but I asked him to add that Israel demands moral equivalence in their judgments - but, just in case anyone is concerned – we will do what we must to defend our citizens and the sensibilities of journalists anywhere in the world is our last consideration!
I just got a phone call from Zvi. The BBC in their usual brilliant style, have moved their studios and forgot to tell him!! Maybe that is why they never get pro-Israel interviewees – they send them all on wild goose chases!!
This is a tough start to 2009, but if the IDF is able to perform a surgical, speedy entry and achieve their goals accurately and precisely and leave the people of Gaza to go back to living their lives without fear, they will ensure safety to the people of the South of Israel who have held out with stalwart heroism against a constant onslaught of rockets and missiles.
For your perusal, some articles of great interest which clarify the situation further.
From our dear friend Leonard Cole http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/36965554.html
Charles Krauthammer http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101780.html
Prof. Alan Dershowitz http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123085925621747981.html
Wishing you a good week and a peaceful 2009 for the people of Southern Israel - and indeed for the ordinary people of Gaza.
Shevua Tov
Operation Cast Lead
Today has not been a good day for the residents of Ashdod and Ashkelon, since we have not yet succeeded in wiping out the terror cells that fire rockets at those towns, as well as Sderot, Nahal Oz and many small towns and villages within their rocket fire. They are just one of the many good reasons we have to fight against Hamas.
It is important to remember that any pictures and videos you are receiving on your television screens are those syndicated by Al Jazeera. The Mosque which every news station has reported as proof that Israel is targeting innocent civilians at prayer was not a hit by the Israeli Air Force at all. The type of explosive used is not used by the Israeli Air Force. The IAF targeted a vehicle which was passing near the Mosque, it appears that the vehicle was loaded to the brim with explosive devices and the subsequent explosion demolished the Mosque and killed and injured those within.
It must also be made clear that such is the care which Israel and the IDF is taking to ensure minimum civilian losses that our specialists drop leaflets and send recorded messages in Arabic, to all the cell phones in the Gaza Strip, giving people 10 minute warnings to leave any area which they know to be either an arsenal or centre of operations for Hamas. Hamas, whose arsenals and local HQ's are all in highly populated areas, stop people leaving at gun-point, because incredibly the more civilian casualties the more ammunition for their war of words, after all it worked so well for Hezb-Allah in Beirut. It is absurd that callous and cynical journalists are taken in by every word they say.
Just a few hours ago the decision was made for a limited entry of ground troops into the Northern Gaza Strip; their prime targets are the rocket launching sites of Grad Missiles, unlike the older, smaller Kassam missiles which were on portable, easily identified launchers, the Grad missiles are launched from hidden silos. In addition a 20 kilometre blockade has been enforced on the coastal waters of Gaza to prevent the importation of armaments now that many of the gun-running tunnels have been wiped out. Minister of Defence Ehud Barak made an announcement on Israeli Television that although he had the support of all but two of the Cabinet; he thought and re-thought the decision to send in troops. Israel does not consider any loss of life acceptable, and every avenue is travelled in the search for an alternative. Our objective is to clear the rocket launchers and those behind the attacks from Gaza but our other danger is that the Hezb-Allah in Lebanon will choose to attack Israel from the North with the sole intent of diluting both areas of defence and catching Israel at a weakened moment. As long as the Minister of Defence is aware of that I am less concerned.
This is not a war which Israel wants; this is a war we must fight having given Hamas nearly eight years to stop firing missiles at Israeli towns. We have tried Hudnahs and every other type of break in missile firing, only to find that Hamas used the time to re-arm. Every time you hear anyone talk of Israel's aggressiveness remember – this is the Israel DEFENCE Force, formed to defend a tiny nation with many enemies in a truly aggressive neighbourhood.
Zvi is on his way, right this minute, to the BBC's Jerusalem studios to be interviewed about the situation. I know he will explain the why and wherefores with his usual brilliance, but I asked him to add that Israel demands moral equivalence in their judgments - but, just in case anyone is concerned – we will do what we must to defend our citizens and the sensibilities of journalists anywhere in the world is our last consideration!
I just got a phone call from Zvi. The BBC in their usual brilliant style, have moved their studios and forgot to tell him!! Maybe that is why they never get pro-Israel interviewees – they send them all on wild goose chases!!
This is a tough start to 2009, but if the IDF is able to perform a surgical, speedy entry and achieve their goals accurately and precisely and leave the people of Gaza to go back to living their lives without fear, they will ensure safety to the people of the South of Israel who have held out with stalwart heroism against a constant onslaught of rockets and missiles.
For your perusal, some articles of great interest which clarify the situation further.
From our dear friend Leonard Cole http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/36965554.html
Charles Krauthammer http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/01/AR2009010101780.html
Prof. Alan Dershowitz http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123085925621747981.html
Wishing you a good week and a peaceful 2009 for the people of Southern Israel - and indeed for the ordinary people of Gaza.
090112 Gaza Update Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_OGhj43GAE
This video will take just 10 minutes of your life to watch and will enlighten you as no other. You cannot miss it you must see it. It changes everything you thought. A Gazan Arab, probably Christian, with exclusive video of the actions of Hamas.
Bravo Palestinian Media Watch for this video.
Sheila
This video will take just 10 minutes of your life to watch and will enlighten you as no other. You cannot miss it you must see it. It changes everything you thought. A Gazan Arab, probably Christian, with exclusive video of the actions of Hamas.
Bravo Palestinian Media Watch for this video.
Sheila
Sunday, 11 January 2009
090111 Gaza Update 8
January 9th 2009
Shevua Tov
When faced with United Nations Resolution 1860 which calls for an immediate ceasefire the Prime Minister responded by saying that Israel will continue to everything necessary to defend her citizens. When one considers that Israel, not Hamas, is deemed accountable to the UN resolution I believe his statement is highly responsible.
The war against Hamas continues, and the IDF has had some major successes in rooting out both arsenals and gun-running tunnels along the Gaza Egypt border, known as the Philadelphi Route. Residents close to the Philadelphi Route have made an estimated $650,000,000 - yes I do have the right number of zeroes - by allowing the tunnels to be built under their homes toward the Egyptian border where the Iranian donated armaments and explosives are smuggled into Gaza. Apparently the relative riches are more important than the safety of ones family. On the other hand I doubt that anyone had a choice. Please read this article by Jerusalem Post Editor in Chief David Horovitz http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231167305027&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Jerusalem responded to the residents of Sderot by inviting their children for days out in the City and for Sderots traders to come to sell their goods in Jerusalem. On my last visit to the Jerusalem Mall there were stalls of every possible variety and the shoppers were enthusiastically browsing their wares. Suddenly, someone dropped a plank and it made a load bang - the Jerusalemites turned curiously to see what happened, the Sderot residents visibly flinched and ducked until they realise it was a plank. Yet again it brought back the constant trauma of a 15 second warning "Tseva Adom" red alert, before the missiles hit and the meaning of a loud bang in Sderot.
We were all horrified to see this video of a Hamas operative dragging a child into a position of danger to protect himself and provide greater numbers of civilian "victims" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OefgMtXOc1M
and Hamas map with rocket launchers and arsenals pinpointed in densely populated areas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI1q3etFX2k&feature=PlayList&p=24B346594DCE3F37&index=6
Dana Bar-on from Kibbutz Nir-Am, a wonderful pastoral village whose only disadvantage is that it is adjacent to the Gaza border, decided to express her feelings about the unpredictability of life under the barrage of rockets from Hamas onto Israeli civilians. Unable to suppress her emotions Dana helps us to go beyond sympathy and feel deep empathy for those who have bravely withstood this inhuman barrage and to understand why we have to end it. http://www.telfed.org.il/content/how-it-feels-live-with-a-fifteen-second-warning-death-rocket-eight-years
The supermarket chain "Mega" decided to support the people of Israel who are in the line of fire and their stores in Sderot, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Beersheba and now Yavneh will sell all fruit and vegetables for a mere 95 agurot a kilo (about 30 cents for 2.2 pounds) and will provide free delivery so people do not need to leave the safety of their homes or workplace to come to the stores. What a marvellous idea!
I added Yavneh to the list of towns being terrorised. The Grad rockets (missiles) are reaching further and further and it is becoming evident that the intended target is the Israeli Nuclear Research Station in Dimona. My machetainista (a wonderful Yiddish word which means ones child's in laws) Galia is the very level-headed Headmistress of a High School in Yavneh. On Shabbat she took her dogs for a walk and suddenly there was a "Tseva Adom" the 15 second warning of a rocket; terrified she didn't know what to do when suddenly she saw a synagogue. Of course she dived in and followed the community to their bomb shelter underneath, talk about finding solace in a place of worship!I promised her that next Shabbat she and all the family are having Shabbat lunch with us and staying over if they wish!
Thanks to Mark Katz for this snippet which amazed me.... a good news item from the Beeb (BBC) about the major Rally held in Trafalgar Square in London. I guess this shows the difference more than any violent outburst by pro-Hamas demonstrators. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7822656.stm
Yet another surprise from the BBC came on their famous radio panel debate which included representatives of the Liberal Democrats (left), New Labour, Conservative and prolific writer and critic AN Wilson, normally very anti-Israel. The debate was Israel's action in Gaza against Hamas. Teh Lib-dem was predictably anti and the Labour and Conservative predictably supportive of Israel - then came the chance of AN Wilson to speak and he did - IN FAVOUR OF ISRAEL'S FIGHT AGAINST HAMAS! http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00gf2g9 Thanks Gideon for telling me about it!
Israelis are resilient, we do not cave in under pressure and we do not avoid our enemies hoping they will go away - they don't. We still visited friends over the weekend and friends came to visit us. Conversations range from "Should the elections be deferred"? to "You cannot tell me in all honesty that you watch the reality show Big Brother"! I don't know about where you live but here the reality shows have become a huge hit with 40% of Israelis watching the last series of Big Brother. The anti-hero star was a simple opinionated man called Bubli who showed his deep distaste for Ashkenazis - to a shocking extent. Last night we had two businessmen, a serious journalist, a physician and other supposedly intelligent people (me included) discussing how much we didn't watch the programme!!!! So you see, we do talk of normal things and argue about Bubli. In fact, our lives would be supremely normal if we were allowed to be. Nothing would please us more than a little bit of ennui.
So let's pray for boredom and an Israel where teenage girls do not sob in fear of yet another rocket attack and tradesmen don't duck for cover when a plank drops.
with love
Sheila
Shevua Tov
When faced with United Nations Resolution 1860 which calls for an immediate ceasefire the Prime Minister responded by saying that Israel will continue to everything necessary to defend her citizens. When one considers that Israel, not Hamas, is deemed accountable to the UN resolution I believe his statement is highly responsible.
The war against Hamas continues, and the IDF has had some major successes in rooting out both arsenals and gun-running tunnels along the Gaza Egypt border, known as the Philadelphi Route. Residents close to the Philadelphi Route have made an estimated $650,000,000 - yes I do have the right number of zeroes - by allowing the tunnels to be built under their homes toward the Egyptian border where the Iranian donated armaments and explosives are smuggled into Gaza. Apparently the relative riches are more important than the safety of ones family. On the other hand I doubt that anyone had a choice. Please read this article by Jerusalem Post Editor in Chief David Horovitz http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231167305027&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Jerusalem responded to the residents of Sderot by inviting their children for days out in the City and for Sderots traders to come to sell their goods in Jerusalem. On my last visit to the Jerusalem Mall there were stalls of every possible variety and the shoppers were enthusiastically browsing their wares. Suddenly, someone dropped a plank and it made a load bang - the Jerusalemites turned curiously to see what happened, the Sderot residents visibly flinched and ducked until they realise it was a plank. Yet again it brought back the constant trauma of a 15 second warning "Tseva Adom" red alert, before the missiles hit and the meaning of a loud bang in Sderot.
We were all horrified to see this video of a Hamas operative dragging a child into a position of danger to protect himself and provide greater numbers of civilian "victims" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OefgMtXOc1M
and Hamas map with rocket launchers and arsenals pinpointed in densely populated areas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RI1q3etFX2k&feature=PlayList&p=24B346594DCE3F37&index=6
Dana Bar-on from Kibbutz Nir-Am, a wonderful pastoral village whose only disadvantage is that it is adjacent to the Gaza border, decided to express her feelings about the unpredictability of life under the barrage of rockets from Hamas onto Israeli civilians. Unable to suppress her emotions Dana helps us to go beyond sympathy and feel deep empathy for those who have bravely withstood this inhuman barrage and to understand why we have to end it. http://www.telfed.org.il/content/how-it-feels-live-with-a-fifteen-second-warning-death-rocket-eight-years
The supermarket chain "Mega" decided to support the people of Israel who are in the line of fire and their stores in Sderot, Ashdod, Ashkelon and Beersheba and now Yavneh will sell all fruit and vegetables for a mere 95 agurot a kilo (about 30 cents for 2.2 pounds) and will provide free delivery so people do not need to leave the safety of their homes or workplace to come to the stores. What a marvellous idea!
I added Yavneh to the list of towns being terrorised. The Grad rockets (missiles) are reaching further and further and it is becoming evident that the intended target is the Israeli Nuclear Research Station in Dimona. My machetainista (a wonderful Yiddish word which means ones child's in laws) Galia is the very level-headed Headmistress of a High School in Yavneh. On Shabbat she took her dogs for a walk and suddenly there was a "Tseva Adom" the 15 second warning of a rocket; terrified she didn't know what to do when suddenly she saw a synagogue. Of course she dived in and followed the community to their bomb shelter underneath, talk about finding solace in a place of worship!I promised her that next Shabbat she and all the family are having Shabbat lunch with us and staying over if they wish!
Thanks to Mark Katz for this snippet which amazed me.... a good news item from the Beeb (BBC) about the major Rally held in Trafalgar Square in London. I guess this shows the difference more than any violent outburst by pro-Hamas demonstrators. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7822656.stm
Yet another surprise from the BBC came on their famous radio panel debate which included representatives of the Liberal Democrats (left), New Labour, Conservative and prolific writer and critic AN Wilson, normally very anti-Israel. The debate was Israel's action in Gaza against Hamas. Teh Lib-dem was predictably anti and the Labour and Conservative predictably supportive of Israel - then came the chance of AN Wilson to speak and he did - IN FAVOUR OF ISRAEL'S FIGHT AGAINST HAMAS! http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00gf2g9 Thanks Gideon for telling me about it!
Israelis are resilient, we do not cave in under pressure and we do not avoid our enemies hoping they will go away - they don't. We still visited friends over the weekend and friends came to visit us. Conversations range from "Should the elections be deferred"? to "You cannot tell me in all honesty that you watch the reality show Big Brother"! I don't know about where you live but here the reality shows have become a huge hit with 40% of Israelis watching the last series of Big Brother. The anti-hero star was a simple opinionated man called Bubli who showed his deep distaste for Ashkenazis - to a shocking extent. Last night we had two businessmen, a serious journalist, a physician and other supposedly intelligent people (me included) discussing how much we didn't watch the programme!!!! So you see, we do talk of normal things and argue about Bubli. In fact, our lives would be supremely normal if we were allowed to be. Nothing would please us more than a little bit of ennui.
So let's pray for boredom and an Israel where teenage girls do not sob in fear of yet another rocket attack and tradesmen don't duck for cover when a plank drops.
with love
Sheila
090109 Gaza Update 7
> 9th January 2009.
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> Gaza Update 7
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> This morning we heard the news that the United Nations Security Council, during an overnight debate, voted overwhelmingly for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza; the vote was 14-0 and United States abstained. Of course Resolution 1860 infers an Israeli pull-out in the full knowledge that Hamas missiles will still rain down on towns, kibbutzim and villages every day since Hamas is not beholden to the United Nations. The Prime Minister has responded to the UN resolution with strong words that Israel will continue to defend herself until such time as she is secure. Foreign Minister Livni said "Israel has acted, is acting, and will continue to act only according to its calculations, in the interest of the security of its citizens and its right to self defense" The outstanding political analyst Professor Gerald Steinberg in the Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231424896098&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
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> Life is tough for those who are given the job of putting Israel's case forward to a hostile word. They suffer abuse and even violence. Whether it be in Fort Lauderdale, Toronto, New York, London, Paris, Wellington, New Zealand or Scandinavia they put forward facts and are beaten down by antagonism, mendacity and irrational rage. The MFA professionals have enlisted the help of some eminent speakers but their intelligent and heartfelt words fall on deaf ears. Israel has given each time; Israel has put peace on the table every time and been rejected; Israel is the one which sends aid to Palestinians when in general their own ignore them; Israel suffers from all of the above. It does not help to have right on ones side when perception and truth are poles apart – they do not want to hear that as a direct result of the Oslo process the first missile hit Sderot on April 16, 2001. I just want to thank, honour and strengthen those of you who work so hard to put forward Israel's case and receive brickbats in return. Professor Michael Baum is one who stands out. Mike could have kept quiet and rested his laurels on his reputation as a great medical man but he stuck his neck right out in the UK to help Ambassador Ron Prosor, and is distraught at the anger he faces from a disinformed BBC public.
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> I am not angry that President-elect Barak Obama is thinking of holding low-lever diplomatic talks with Hamas. If one does not make contact one cannot express ones anger or distaste with their credo and terrorist activities – I pray he will, vehemently.
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> Many thanks to Ya'ara Saks-Zeligson in Toronto for sending me this article DAMNED IF THEY DO BUT ISRAEL'S DEAD IF THEY DON'T by Ralph Peters in the New York Post. Ya'ara is doing great work in the Toronto community – until her return home!
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> http://www.nypost.com/seven/12292008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/damned_if_they_do_146263.htm
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> Rabbi Jeremy Rosen is an exceptional man –in every sense; his intellect, his sensitivity, his ability and his love of life. Go to his weekly blog and see what a left-wing, peace loving, intelligent Rabbi has to say about Gaza. http://www.jeremyrosen.com/blog/
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> Memri is an outstanding organization which brings us video proof of what enemies we face. To understand Hamas watch their video http://www.memritv.org/video.html
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> Alan Dershowitz is arguably the most erudite protagonist in Israel's defence. In this article he elucidates the attitude of CNN and their ilk. http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/story.html?id=1149129
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> Earl and Kathleen Cox are exceptional people. I first met them about 7 years ago when we were introduced since Earl wanted to found a radio programme to the Christian world (and anyone he could reach) expounding the trials and tribulations that Israel faces but with great warmth and love of the country. Earl did not need or want money, he retired from a fine career in Washington, Earl wanted to ensure that Israel's story got out there to as wide an audience as possible. I am proud to say that Zvi and I played a small part in setting up "Front Page Jerusalem News" and introduced Earl to Prime Ministers, Ministers and spokespersons on both left and right. The most important aspect, for me, of this excellent news form is that Earl and Kathleen have no interest in proselytizing nor do they have a hidden agenda. Earl and Kathleen lived a year in Jerusalem during the Intifada, Earl spent months praying at 05:30 every morning at the Kotel (Western Wall) where the religious Jews accepted and welcomed him and his genuine love. For the past two years Earl and Kathleen have been providing concrete bus shelters for the people of Sderot. Earl is not a man who talks the talk without walking the walk and we are proud to call him friend. Please watch this video of Earl being caught up in a missile attack on Sderot and you will understand what the people of Sderot suffer every day. Don't be fooled by the media claim that these rockets are "just home-made and ineffective" http://www.vimeo.com/2765103
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> I hate shopping malls- I really do but they are a convenience that one cannot avoid. Yesterday I was in the local mall three times, once to the supermarket, once with my daughter Rachel to find her a skirt and once with Rosa and Bernardo to go to the movies. What struck me was the (usual) ease with which Jews and Arabs mix in such surroundings. Despite what is happening in the South and Gaza, not one of the shoppers would deem it correct or moral to shout abuse or exclude someone of a different creed from that shopping mall – yet we are expected to accept exclusion from entire countries and the United Nations and most of your countrymen agree with and abet that premise!!!
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> We will survive, but your input is of the essence. Your telling of the situation as it is, who and what Israel faces every day, that despite our bravado (some say machismo) we are a teeny, tiny country surrounded by enemies, some vast, and in a world of hundreds of Moslem countries we are the only Jewish State ratified by the United Nations before it was overtaken by the hundreds. We are not here because of the Holocaust. The Holocaust may have been a generational catalyst, but this was ours before we were expelled and we never truly left. This is Israel, this is the land of the Bible; this is the Holy Land; this is the land of milk and honey. We paid our dues, let us just get on with the job of living.
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> This Shabbat I pray that we are given the words to convince humankind of our right to live and give, to survive and thrive.
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> Shabbat Shalom from our Jerusalem.
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> With all my love
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> Sheila
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> Gaza Update 7
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> This morning we heard the news that the United Nations Security Council, during an overnight debate, voted overwhelmingly for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza; the vote was 14-0 and United States abstained. Of course Resolution 1860 infers an Israeli pull-out in the full knowledge that Hamas missiles will still rain down on towns, kibbutzim and villages every day since Hamas is not beholden to the United Nations. The Prime Minister has responded to the UN resolution with strong words that Israel will continue to defend herself until such time as she is secure. Foreign Minister Livni said "Israel has acted, is acting, and will continue to act only according to its calculations, in the interest of the security of its citizens and its right to self defense" The outstanding political analyst Professor Gerald Steinberg in the Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1231424896098&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
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> Life is tough for those who are given the job of putting Israel's case forward to a hostile word. They suffer abuse and even violence. Whether it be in Fort Lauderdale, Toronto, New York, London, Paris, Wellington, New Zealand or Scandinavia they put forward facts and are beaten down by antagonism, mendacity and irrational rage. The MFA professionals have enlisted the help of some eminent speakers but their intelligent and heartfelt words fall on deaf ears. Israel has given each time; Israel has put peace on the table every time and been rejected; Israel is the one which sends aid to Palestinians when in general their own ignore them; Israel suffers from all of the above. It does not help to have right on ones side when perception and truth are poles apart – they do not want to hear that as a direct result of the Oslo process the first missile hit Sderot on April 16, 2001. I just want to thank, honour and strengthen those of you who work so hard to put forward Israel's case and receive brickbats in return. Professor Michael Baum is one who stands out. Mike could have kept quiet and rested his laurels on his reputation as a great medical man but he stuck his neck right out in the UK to help Ambassador Ron Prosor, and is distraught at the anger he faces from a disinformed BBC public.
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> I am not angry that President-elect Barak Obama is thinking of holding low-lever diplomatic talks with Hamas. If one does not make contact one cannot express ones anger or distaste with their credo and terrorist activities – I pray he will, vehemently.
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> Many thanks to Ya'ara Saks-Zeligson in Toronto for sending me this article DAMNED IF THEY DO BUT ISRAEL'S DEAD IF THEY DON'T by Ralph Peters in the New York Post. Ya'ara is doing great work in the Toronto community – until her return home!
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> http://www.nypost.com/seven/12292008/postopinion/opedcolumnists/damned_if_they_do_146263.htm
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> Rabbi Jeremy Rosen is an exceptional man –in every sense; his intellect, his sensitivity, his ability and his love of life. Go to his weekly blog and see what a left-wing, peace loving, intelligent Rabbi has to say about Gaza. http://www.jeremyrosen.com/blog/
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> Memri is an outstanding organization which brings us video proof of what enemies we face. To understand Hamas watch their video http://www.memritv.org/video.html
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> Alan Dershowitz is arguably the most erudite protagonist in Israel's defence. In this article he elucidates the attitude of CNN and their ilk. http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/story.html?id=1149129
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> Earl and Kathleen Cox are exceptional people. I first met them about 7 years ago when we were introduced since Earl wanted to found a radio programme to the Christian world (and anyone he could reach) expounding the trials and tribulations that Israel faces but with great warmth and love of the country. Earl did not need or want money, he retired from a fine career in Washington, Earl wanted to ensure that Israel's story got out there to as wide an audience as possible. I am proud to say that Zvi and I played a small part in setting up "Front Page Jerusalem News" and introduced Earl to Prime Ministers, Ministers and spokespersons on both left and right. The most important aspect, for me, of this excellent news form is that Earl and Kathleen have no interest in proselytizing nor do they have a hidden agenda. Earl and Kathleen lived a year in Jerusalem during the Intifada, Earl spent months praying at 05:30 every morning at the Kotel (Western Wall) where the religious Jews accepted and welcomed him and his genuine love. For the past two years Earl and Kathleen have been providing concrete bus shelters for the people of Sderot. Earl is not a man who talks the talk without walking the walk and we are proud to call him friend. Please watch this video of Earl being caught up in a missile attack on Sderot and you will understand what the people of Sderot suffer every day. Don't be fooled by the media claim that these rockets are "just home-made and ineffective" http://www.vimeo.com/2765103
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> I hate shopping malls- I really do but they are a convenience that one cannot avoid. Yesterday I was in the local mall three times, once to the supermarket, once with my daughter Rachel to find her a skirt and once with Rosa and Bernardo to go to the movies. What struck me was the (usual) ease with which Jews and Arabs mix in such surroundings. Despite what is happening in the South and Gaza, not one of the shoppers would deem it correct or moral to shout abuse or exclude someone of a different creed from that shopping mall – yet we are expected to accept exclusion from entire countries and the United Nations and most of your countrymen agree with and abet that premise!!!
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> We will survive, but your input is of the essence. Your telling of the situation as it is, who and what Israel faces every day, that despite our bravado (some say machismo) we are a teeny, tiny country surrounded by enemies, some vast, and in a world of hundreds of Moslem countries we are the only Jewish State ratified by the United Nations before it was overtaken by the hundreds. We are not here because of the Holocaust. The Holocaust may have been a generational catalyst, but this was ours before we were expelled and we never truly left. This is Israel, this is the land of the Bible; this is the Holy Land; this is the land of milk and honey. We paid our dues, let us just get on with the job of living.
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> This Shabbat I pray that we are given the words to convince humankind of our right to live and give, to survive and thrive.
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> Shabbat Shalom from our Jerusalem.
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> With all my love
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> Sheila
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090108 Gaza Update 6
> 8th January 2009.
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> Gaza Update 6
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>
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> Do you remember the young Commander in the IDF who refused his own medical evacuation until all his soldiers had been taken care of? Well after medical treatment he has rejoined his troops and is back in the battle for Israel in Gaza. Colonel Avi Peled, Commander of the Golani Brigade could not imagine leaving his men to fend for themselves. This war is being fought, in general, by young conscripts aged 18, 19 and 20 who find their strength in leaders like Col. Peled.
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> At least 4 Katyusha rockets were launched from Lebanon aimed at the Northern coastal resort of Nahariya and surrounding area this morning, most fell onto fields but one hit an old people's home traumatising the elderly patients but miraculously no-one was physically harmed. The old people have been evacuated from the building which was their only home since it has now been declared a dangerous structure. The IDF artillery responded. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3652692,00.html Our fears that it was a Hezb-Allah attack were unfounded since it is now apparent that it was rogue Shiite groups of Palestinians, most probably supporters of the PFLP-GC leader Ahmed Jibril http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Jibril , who perpetrated the act with the sole intention of drawing Lebanon into the fight to spread Israel's resources as widely as possible. The rocket attack was denounced by Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.
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> Two nights ago the Israeli basketball team "Bnei Sharon" was due to play a game against a Turkish team in Ankara. As the players walked onto the basketball court a large portion of the crowd pulled out Palestinian flags and began to storm the court screaming abuse of supposed Israeli war crimes in Gaza. The 500 strong Turkish police force rushed the players and managers into the dressing room where they stayed for over an hour until the situation could be dealt with. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3651926,00.html
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> According to Dr Reuven Erlich, Director of the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center in Herzlia; 412 armed Hamas forces have been among the overall loss of 550 killed, which is 75% of the total who are NOT civilians; 479 projectiles have been fired into Israel from Gaza, consisting of 350 rockets and 129 mortar shells, in those 10 days which is a reduction of 40%. My thanks to Tom Carew in Ireland for drawing my attention to this data.
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>
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> About seven years ago while in conversation with a journalist I asked him what Gaza City is like "It is overcrowded and filthy, except for the luxurious homes and restaurants of the Fatah leadership on the beach but not worse than the poor parts of Cairo or Amman. What makes it all the more fascinating is that it, and other Gaza cities, is ridden with tunnels like a rabbit warren under the crowded homes, not small, crawl tunnels, each tunnel is big enough for a camel to walk in". At the time I didn't understand the relevance or the critical importance of this fact, although I asked him at the time why he didn't write about that fact since it may change the viewpoint. "My editors won't let me" was the response, which is why I cannot give him name.
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> The greatest danger right now is that Jews and Christians in North America and Europe, even Australia, have become complacent. Please, please read this report in www.camera.org http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=55&x_article=1583
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>
>
>
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> Moshe Arens article in Haaretz http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053427.html
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>
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> If you do nothing else today, I beg of your to take 10 minutes out of your time to listen to this essential and incisive interview in order to understand the situation through the excellent eyes and ears of our dear friend Earl Cox of Front Page Jerusalem talking to Danny Seaman, Director of the Israeli Government Press Office. http://www.vimeo.com/2754179
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>
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> Please G-d, tomorrow will be better
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> With love from Jerusalem, heart of our world.
>
> Sheila
>
>
>
>
>
> Gaza Update 6
>
>
>
> Do you remember the young Commander in the IDF who refused his own medical evacuation until all his soldiers had been taken care of? Well after medical treatment he has rejoined his troops and is back in the battle for Israel in Gaza. Colonel Avi Peled, Commander of the Golani Brigade could not imagine leaving his men to fend for themselves. This war is being fought, in general, by young conscripts aged 18, 19 and 20 who find their strength in leaders like Col. Peled.
>
>
>
> At least 4 Katyusha rockets were launched from Lebanon aimed at the Northern coastal resort of Nahariya and surrounding area this morning, most fell onto fields but one hit an old people's home traumatising the elderly patients but miraculously no-one was physically harmed. The old people have been evacuated from the building which was their only home since it has now been declared a dangerous structure. The IDF artillery responded. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3652692,00.html Our fears that it was a Hezb-Allah attack were unfounded since it is now apparent that it was rogue Shiite groups of Palestinians, most probably supporters of the PFLP-GC leader Ahmed Jibril http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Jibril , who perpetrated the act with the sole intention of drawing Lebanon into the fight to spread Israel's resources as widely as possible. The rocket attack was denounced by Lebanese Prime Minister Fuad Siniora.
>
>
>
> Two nights ago the Israeli basketball team "Bnei Sharon" was due to play a game against a Turkish team in Ankara. As the players walked onto the basketball court a large portion of the crowd pulled out Palestinian flags and began to storm the court screaming abuse of supposed Israeli war crimes in Gaza. The 500 strong Turkish police force rushed the players and managers into the dressing room where they stayed for over an hour until the situation could be dealt with. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3651926,00.html
>
>
>
> According to Dr Reuven Erlich, Director of the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center in Herzlia; 412 armed Hamas forces have been among the overall loss of 550 killed, which is 75% of the total who are NOT civilians; 479 projectiles have been fired into Israel from Gaza, consisting of 350 rockets and 129 mortar shells, in those 10 days which is a reduction of 40%. My thanks to Tom Carew in Ireland for drawing my attention to this data.
>
>
>
> About seven years ago while in conversation with a journalist I asked him what Gaza City is like "It is overcrowded and filthy, except for the luxurious homes and restaurants of the Fatah leadership on the beach but not worse than the poor parts of Cairo or Amman. What makes it all the more fascinating is that it, and other Gaza cities, is ridden with tunnels like a rabbit warren under the crowded homes, not small, crawl tunnels, each tunnel is big enough for a camel to walk in". At the time I didn't understand the relevance or the critical importance of this fact, although I asked him at the time why he didn't write about that fact since it may change the viewpoint. "My editors won't let me" was the response, which is why I cannot give him name.
>
>
>
> The greatest danger right now is that Jews and Christians in North America and Europe, even Australia, have become complacent. Please, please read this report in www.camera.org http://www.camera.org/index.asp?x_context=55&x_article=1583
>
>
>
>
>
> Moshe Arens article in Haaretz http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1053427.html
>
>
>
> If you do nothing else today, I beg of your to take 10 minutes out of your time to listen to this essential and incisive interview in order to understand the situation through the excellent eyes and ears of our dear friend Earl Cox of Front Page Jerusalem talking to Danny Seaman, Director of the Israeli Government Press Office. http://www.vimeo.com/2754179
>
>
>
> Please G-d, tomorrow will be better
>
> With love from Jerusalem, heart of our world.
>
> Sheila
>
>
090105 Gaza Update
.
Gaza Update
Today the IDF concentrated on blowing up arms running tunnels on the Egypt/Gaza border and hitting Hamas senior operatives.
More than 30 missiles, both Kassam and Grad, were launched at Israeli citizens, one hitting a kindergarten which was thankfully empty.
Despite the above, eighty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid were transferred into the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom crossing. As the PM keeps saying, our fight is not with the people of Gaza, they have also suffered at the hands of Hamas.
Day in and day out we hear cries of Israeli cruelty in creating a humanitarian crisis, or crises in Gaza – apparently decades of Fatah corruption and Hamas hoarding of supplies, are considered irrelevant. In response to these allegations, read this report of aid to Gaza over the last short period since Operation Cast Lead, including Gazan residents brought across the border for life saving medical treatment in Israel. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/Humanitarian_aid_to_Gaza_following_6_month_calm.htm
http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/c.hsJPK0PIJpH/b.4858943/k.5D08/Humanitarian_Aid_in_Gaza.htm
Amidst the violence and confrontation, even as the rockets fall in southern Israel, Israeli and Palestinian doctors work together to save a Palestinian baby's life. http://www.saveachildsheart.org/326-1947-en/Sach.aspx
Last week I reported that the Mosque in Gaza has not been a direct hit but rather collateral damage – as per initial reports. Since that time, and a further hit on a mosque, the IDF released the information that it was a target once it became apparent that Hamas cells were holed up in the Mosque together with large arsenal which exploded when the Israeli rocket hit, killing those praying inside.
Suddenly Israel has allies in Europe! Sarkozy is on his way to visit and the Czechs have already been. The Czechs are taking over the Presidency of the European Community. Prof. Gerald Steinberg explains what we should expect from this new situation. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230733174748&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
Zvi finally found his way to the BBC studios the other night – they are right opposite our house! His radio interview was so successful that they then asked him to do a TV interview. Here is the link to his radio interview – it is about 1/4 of the way through http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/ondemand/worldservice/meta/tx/newshour?bgc=003399&lang=en-ws&nbram=1&nbwm=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=1&size=au&ls=p318
A church in Manhattans' Harlem district prays for the safety of Israel.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3650533,00.html
The Toronto community demonstrates in response http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Ii4sUdiP4
War, even when justified, is not a pretty thing - but inevitably heroes emerge during conflict. Some are soldiers, some citizens, some leaders and some ordinary people who show incredible bravery in the face of danger.
Tsehilim is an IDF training base in the Negev Desert where reservists are being prepared for entry into Gaza by training in a mock up of Gaza City. Incredibly reserve soldiers are volunteering to such an extent that cares are lined up outside the base and volunteers being turned away. Kol ha Kavod (Bravo) to the young men of Israel.
Sgt. Dvir Emmanueloff, (z"l) 22, of the Golani http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golani_Brigade
Reconnaissance unit was killed on Sunday by mortar shell shrapnel during clashes with Hamas terrorists near Jabalya when 5 other soldiers were also injured. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230733174814&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Dr. Gil Taieb is a hero. Gil is a dentist living in France who comes to Israel frequently and speaks excellent Hebrew. His generosity does not just extend to bringing thousands of pairs of spectacles for the poor, Gil proudly walks through the streets of France, speaking Hebrew and reporting for Israeli television on the huge pro-Israel rally he helped to organize this week outside the Israeli Embassy in Paris. http://ejpress.org/article/33266 Gil is my kind of hero, a self-effacing man who does what he knows to be right not what others tell him.
Another of my heroes, someone who always comes through whenever Israel needs him, is Dr. Malcolm Hoenlein. Malcolm led a very highly regarded group (Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organisations) including people who are used to having the world come to them not vice versa. Malcolm brought them to spend time in Sderot, Ashkelon, Beersheva and Ashdod where they talk to people who face missile attacks every day, some of whom faced this trauma for 8 years. He makes them to walk the walk when their lives are usually talking the talk. Malcolm stresses the need for each of us to be sufficiently knowledgeable to be able ambassadors for Israel.
As a country we are quick to criticize our leaders but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defence Minister Ehud Barak, Leader of the Opposition Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Tsippi Livni and the incredible Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi have set aside their differences and come together as one voice. Bravo!
I leave you today with a fascinating list of statistics which put everything into perspective. "Gaza by the numbers" includes much essential information in the real war; the war of words and rhetoric.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Gaza-By-the-Numbers-by-Israel-Project-081231-117.html
Wishing us all a kinder week
With love
Sheila
Gaza Update
Today the IDF concentrated on blowing up arms running tunnels on the Egypt/Gaza border and hitting Hamas senior operatives.
More than 30 missiles, both Kassam and Grad, were launched at Israeli citizens, one hitting a kindergarten which was thankfully empty.
Despite the above, eighty trucks loaded with humanitarian aid were transferred into the Gaza Strip via the Kerem Shalom crossing. As the PM keeps saying, our fight is not with the people of Gaza, they have also suffered at the hands of Hamas.
Day in and day out we hear cries of Israeli cruelty in creating a humanitarian crisis, or crises in Gaza – apparently decades of Fatah corruption and Hamas hoarding of supplies, are considered irrelevant. In response to these allegations, read this report of aid to Gaza over the last short period since Operation Cast Lead, including Gazan residents brought across the border for life saving medical treatment in Israel. http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Government/Communiques/2009/Humanitarian_aid_to_Gaza_following_6_month_calm.htm
http://www.theisraelproject.org/site/c.hsJPK0PIJpH/b.4858943/k.5D08/Humanitarian_Aid_in_Gaza.htm
Amidst the violence and confrontation, even as the rockets fall in southern Israel, Israeli and Palestinian doctors work together to save a Palestinian baby's life. http://www.saveachildsheart.org/326-1947-en/Sach.aspx
Last week I reported that the Mosque in Gaza has not been a direct hit but rather collateral damage – as per initial reports. Since that time, and a further hit on a mosque, the IDF released the information that it was a target once it became apparent that Hamas cells were holed up in the Mosque together with large arsenal which exploded when the Israeli rocket hit, killing those praying inside.
Suddenly Israel has allies in Europe! Sarkozy is on his way to visit and the Czechs have already been. The Czechs are taking over the Presidency of the European Community. Prof. Gerald Steinberg explains what we should expect from this new situation. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230733174748&pagename=JPArticle%2FShowFull
Zvi finally found his way to the BBC studios the other night – they are right opposite our house! His radio interview was so successful that they then asked him to do a TV interview. Here is the link to his radio interview – it is about 1/4 of the way through http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/ondemand/worldservice/meta/tx/newshour?bgc=003399&lang=en-ws&nbram=1&nbwm=1&ms3=6&ms_javascript=true&bbcws=1&size=au&ls=p318
A church in Manhattans' Harlem district prays for the safety of Israel.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3650533,00.html
The Toronto community demonstrates in response http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4Ii4sUdiP4
War, even when justified, is not a pretty thing - but inevitably heroes emerge during conflict. Some are soldiers, some citizens, some leaders and some ordinary people who show incredible bravery in the face of danger.
Tsehilim is an IDF training base in the Negev Desert where reservists are being prepared for entry into Gaza by training in a mock up of Gaza City. Incredibly reserve soldiers are volunteering to such an extent that cares are lined up outside the base and volunteers being turned away. Kol ha Kavod (Bravo) to the young men of Israel.
Sgt. Dvir Emmanueloff, (z"l) 22, of the Golani http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golani_Brigade
Reconnaissance unit was killed on Sunday by mortar shell shrapnel during clashes with Hamas terrorists near Jabalya when 5 other soldiers were also injured. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230733174814&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull
Dr. Gil Taieb is a hero. Gil is a dentist living in France who comes to Israel frequently and speaks excellent Hebrew. His generosity does not just extend to bringing thousands of pairs of spectacles for the poor, Gil proudly walks through the streets of France, speaking Hebrew and reporting for Israeli television on the huge pro-Israel rally he helped to organize this week outside the Israeli Embassy in Paris. http://ejpress.org/article/33266 Gil is my kind of hero, a self-effacing man who does what he knows to be right not what others tell him.
Another of my heroes, someone who always comes through whenever Israel needs him, is Dr. Malcolm Hoenlein. Malcolm led a very highly regarded group (Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organisations) including people who are used to having the world come to them not vice versa. Malcolm brought them to spend time in Sderot, Ashkelon, Beersheva and Ashdod where they talk to people who face missile attacks every day, some of whom faced this trauma for 8 years. He makes them to walk the walk when their lives are usually talking the talk. Malcolm stresses the need for each of us to be sufficiently knowledgeable to be able ambassadors for Israel.
As a country we are quick to criticize our leaders but Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Defence Minister Ehud Barak, Leader of the Opposition Benjamin Netanyahu, Foreign Minister Tsippi Livni and the incredible Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi have set aside their differences and come together as one voice. Bravo!
I leave you today with a fascinating list of statistics which put everything into perspective. "Gaza by the numbers" includes much essential information in the real war; the war of words and rhetoric.
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Gaza-By-the-Numbers-by-Israel-Project-081231-117.html
Wishing us all a kinder week
With love
Sheila
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