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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

Gaza: Must SURRENDER NOW

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

    source unknown, not Albert Einstein

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

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

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

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

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

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

THE BUCK STOPS HERE

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

Please remember:

CEASEFIRE ISN'T PEACE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Does The American Right Know Where It's Going?

I see too many confusing rhetoric and statements coming from the American Right, davka rather similar to the anti-Israel Antisemitic ideology of the international Left. Then I thought a bit more about it when listening to the JNS interview with Natan Sharansky.

Socialism/communism began well over a hundred years ago, and they did something extremely clever. They embedded themselves in universities large and small all over the world, and the fruits of this invasion have been very successful for them and dangerous as we're seeing. I don't know if there's a country that doesn't have socialist/communist/progressive Left on their faculty plus their books in their libraries and on their "required reading" lists, from elementary schools to the most elite universities. And even worse, there's no label identifying their ideology, because their ideas have become mainstream. 

People who don't agree aren't accepted, aren't promoted. They just don't fit in. As I've been saying for years, Liberals aren't liberal. I guess the source of that reality for me was when I was a high school student in Great Neck, New York. This was in the mid '60s when being Left and Liberal was the thing for the academics, especially the upwardly mobile Jews, like my peers. One day I overheard some fellow students talking. One said to the others:

"All the nonconformists have green bookbags."

To me that made no sense. As I understood the word "nonconformist," it meant an individualist, unlike others, who thought for themselves and didn't wear a uniform of any sort. 

To be honest, I was one of the few actual nonconformists, having chosen paths different from others. And even among those who chose similar paths to my new one, Torah True Judaism and Zionism, we found different ways to do it and even dress.

Now just to throw out a few ideas on why both Right and Left are embracing antisemitic and anti-Israel policies... The extreme on both sides demand an unthinking loyalty from their followers. They feel threatened by anyone who thinks for themselves, like a 1960's "nonconformist" who carries books in a briefcase or backpack instead of the uniform green bookbag. 

Jewish survival over the millennium is a "dangerous" slap in the face to classical Christianity, which markets itself as the "new testament," newly revised religion by their version of the Jewish god. The indisputable fact that Judaism has survived over two thousand years after the invention of Christianity goes against the very basic principle of Christianity. There may be just a few million of us Jews, but that makes Christian theologians terrified. Our survival and the rebirth of the Jewish State poke dangerous holes in their legitimacy. 

Some Christians, instead of attacking Judaism for this. have admitted the false premise of their original religion and either become Noahides or even convert to Torah Judaism. 

Back to my original question, there are two dangerous groups in the American Right. One is those educated by "undercover" socialist/communists, who may not even admit to that label. To them, the principles are proper and common sense. Think of who is making up the curriculum and writing the text books. Two are the Christian theologians and leaders, no matter, which type of Christianity, who consider the survival of Judaism a threat to their own theological legitimacy. 

You may not have heard these reasons before... that wouldn't surprise me. What do you think?

There are some interesting things said by Natan Sharansky in this JNS video 

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #65: Bibi's "Guilt?"

The so-called corruption trials against PM Binyamin Netanyahu have been in the news even more recently. He took US President Trump's hint to ask for a "pardon," which is a mistake for many reasons. The charges are classic "warfare." No proof of any crime has turned up, and even worse... it's no secret that a crew of "legal experts" dedicated their time to search for something to pin on Bibi. So far, no crimes have been proven.

If you read my blog and Facebook, you'll know that I consider him a dangerous failure as Prime Minister, but not a criminal. This horrid, dangerous war is proof of his total incompetence. Please remember the simple fact that Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu has been Prime Minister for close to twenty 20, yes TWENTY YEARS. The "buck stops" on his desk and no place else. 

Bibi's guilty but not of a criminal-type crime. It's simple over-ambition and incompetence.

Bibi Netanyahu's guilt includes his way of governing, allowing the "glass ceilings" to continue in the Justice Department, Defense Department, Shabak, Police, IDF etc. In that sense, he has been following what Menachem Begin did when he became Prime Minister in 1977. Begin didn't replace the powerful government employees who control what really happens in government.  The Labor Left never left the power it had even before the State of Israel was declared. They were the only Jews recognized by the British Mandate rulers as authorities. Anyone associated with the Jabotinsky Revisionists, Etzel or Lechi (Stern Gang) were discriminated against. Labor Zionists had them turned in to the British to be jailed and hung during the notorious immoral Sezon. 

Who's in charge? 

The problem I'm referring to can be traced back to 1977 when Menachem Begin, heading Likud, got the most Knesset seats and was able to form a ruling coalition. Likud was a relatively new party which combined a number of Right wing and anti-socialist, pro-capitalism parties. 

Merger of	Gahal (Herut and Liberal Party), Free Centre, National List and Movement for Greater Israel

Actually for years, Menachem Begin had politically aligned with the Liberal Party making גח"ל GaCHaL, Gush Cherut Liberalism. The Liberal Party wasn't "liberal" as a "leftist" party. Its ideology was free market capitalism, totally against the socialist/communist policies of David Ben-Gurion and crew. Cleaning Israel of socialism was the only real change Menachem Begin's government accomplished. Davka, Netanyahu even served as Minister of Finance 2003–2005, at which he did a good job. If Menachem Begin had been as determined to make real change in Israeli bureaucracy as his Liberal colleagues, the country would be in better shape today, and there would be no need for Judicial Reform, removing the glass ceiling in the IDF, major change in what's taught as Israeli History in schools etc.

During all those years Netanyahu has had the power and responsibility to make these reforms, but he hasn't. That's what he's guilty of, only wanting the honors of being Prime Minister, but not doing the really hard critical part of the job to make Israel a better, stronger and more truly democratic country. Those who have been consistently losing elections, the Left, is still running the country. 

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #64: Nu? Where's The Victory? Has It Flown Away?

 

I had used this photo for the 52frames Fluid album. 

At the time of the terrible surprise attack on October 7, 2023, all the murders, perversions, kidnappings done to innocent Israelis, visitors and foreign workers, Israel was totally unprepared, militarily and emotionally. That must be especially said of many of the victims and southern communities, who had been proudly in the "peace camp," believing that their kindness and generosity to local Arabs, especially including Gazans, trying to prove that we had nothing to fear from those Arabs. What a shock to them when many of those very Arabs came proudly as Hamas terrorists, joining enthusiastically in the murderous terror. Some of the attacked communities didn't even have weapons for self-defense. They didn't think such a thing necessary.

To make matters worse, it took much longer than it should have for the IDF to get its act together and begin the difficult defensive war for Israel's very survival. Israel's leaders, too, have been hypnotized/brainwashed by the misconception that we weren't in danger from the south, from Gaza. I have my theories on why that happened, but it's not for now.

Since Hamas began the war against Israel on October 7, 2023, over a thousand IDF soldiers and police have been killed, besides the approximately 1,200 murdered by Hamas Gazans in the various attacks/pogroms/massacres on that first black day. 

Within a few months, miraculously for sure, it looked like we were on the way to an amazing victory, but then... things changed, and instead of being strong confident victors Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu began looking rather pathetic trying to get approval and praise from foreign leaders who had been growing more critical and demanding with every concession he made. 

While groups of Israelis organized returns to their former homes in Gaza, Bibi pledged in the United Nations and the United States Congress that we had no plans of settling in Gaza. To show his seriousness, every few months he'd destroy Jewish communities in Judea/Samaria. If someone counted all the Jewish homes he has destroyed in his close to twenty years as Prime Minister, it probably rivals those Menachem Begin and Arik Sharon destroyed. Yes, in case you're wondering, all were elected on the Likud slate as Prime Minister. It makes you wonder; doesn't it?

And how has been going for Israel militarily? At one point it was looking good, but instead of fighting to victory, Bibi did his usual... nothing. Simply put, negotiation isn't his strong point. Bibi specializes in hypnotizing oratory. 

After almost twenty years as Prime Minister, too many Israelis can't imagine anyone else in the role. Yes, even those who agree that the situation is terrible, and that Israel has made many mistakes are terrified of losing Netanyahu. I just don't understand them. We've all heard:

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.

Do they really think that continuing with the same leader will improve things? I also like to remind people of what US President Harry Truman liked to say:

The Buck Stops Here!

Bibi can only blame himself, and we Israelis -Right, Left and Center- must admit that for us to see a true, total VICTORY, which we need for our very survival, we need new leadership, from top to bottom, from Right to Left and Left to Right. The Opposition is no more competent than the Government. They haven't proposed anything that will help. They just want to destroy Netanyahu. I wish they'd use their power and enthusiasm against Hamas, against our enemies. They are worse than the Likud. They haven't proposed VICTORY any more frequently than Bibi.

You're probably asking whom do I propose can take over... for that please wait, though you're welcome to propose people in the comments.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #63: Thankful That Avinatan Or and Other Hostages Free From Hamas Captivity

 All photos here were taken by me, Batya Medad, nobody else.

You can see Avinatan Or, the tall one, in the back on the right.

As my readers know, I consider the "deal" very problematic. Bibi can't negotiate; he's too weak, woke and agreeable. He allowed other countries to represent us. Of course, I'm overjoyed that our totally innocent hostages, those still alive, were released by the Gazan Hamas terrorists, but they certainly didn't do it out of the goodness of their hearts. My theory about their agreeing will have to be explained in a later post.

Residents of Shiloh, plus Jews all over the area beyond happy at Avinatan's release. Authorities estimated that most of the hostages would need about two weeks of medical observation, tests, rest etc before being released home, so we were overjoyed to hear that barely a week after arriving in Israel, Avinatan would be allowed home.

Joyful supporters lined the roads for miles and miles, most of the route between the hospital and Shiloh. There were many stops where people cheered and he waved to the celebrants, so the trip back to Shiloh took hours and hours. In Shiloh we waited...

There were massive celebrations once they turned at the Shiloh Junction into Shiloh. Those of us waiting by the central square, near the Mishkan Tabernacle Synagogue, had been told that he'd be very soon, but we waited even longer. The family changed vehicles, so they entered Shiloh in an open one, so he could see his friends, and we could see him.

We all pray that he will enjoy good health and a wonderful life with his family and friends. 

PS for those who are asking if his girlfriend Noa Argamani was there... I didn't see her.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #62: Israel Still in Danger; IDF Soldiers Still Need Tzitzit

Last night my friends and I had another Tzitzit Tying session. This was the third time in Shiloh, though just the second time for me. Special army-safe tzitzit are being tied all over Israel. 

Civilians, of all ages, men and women are finding ways to volunteer in the war effort. Israelis are amazing. Some people help families of the reservists, the wounded and the dead. They do everything from babysitting to bringing food and more. Others have "adopted" bereaved families and those of the wounded.

Trump may claim that he brokered a "peace deal," but the war hasn't ended. Hamas is still attacking Israel, and our precious IDF soldiers are still being killed.

Of course we're grateful and overjoyed that the living hostages have been released by Gazan Hamas terrorists. No doubt they had ulterior, though not humanitarian, reasons for that. Here in Shiloh we're awaiting the return home of Avinatan Or. Big celebrations are planned, Gd willing.

Gazans are killing each other, not that the international anti-Israel Left seems to care. If they can't blame Israel, it doesn't make their news.

No doubt my series Hamas/Gaza War Musings is not yet over. Stay tuned.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #61: VICTORY Prayer Haikus #4

I've been writing haikus for quite awhile, generally what I label #morningcoffeehaiku. They used to be rather banal about coffee, morning and sunrise, but as this awful war has been going on, dangerously  endlessly --yes, even after the release of living hostages-- sometimes my formerly innocent haikus have concentrated on the Hamas/Gaza War. Following are some recent ones. Feel free to share and comment.

Gd gave us Free Will

VICTORY's our reward for

fighting enemies

I'm too powerless

too really affect the world

but can't be quiet

lying to oneself won't protect from vicious war only VICTORY

we need bravery

for true total VICTORY

only Gd will help

Disaster awaits

I'm terrified of future

WE NEED TRUE LEADERS

war will follow "deal"

much worse than any other

very clear to me

Shabbat Blessings, please

some holy work still goes on

must still win the war...

Where's the victory?

Bibi gave up sovereignty...

I'm very worried

Succot Holiday

escape from reality

pray for VICTORY

historical time

not for good, I have no doubt

But what can I do?

There's more danger now

deal's suicidal for sure

won't bring Israel peace

As I went through my Morning Coffee Haikus, I was surprised to discover that all I had written about was the war and lack of VICTORY. Gd willing there will be a major change. Please pray and do whatever else you can, like sharing my thoughts... thanks.

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #60: "Peace Plan"? You Must Be Joking!

 

Simply put: Prepare more cemeteries. Yes, I see things, political and security decisions in black and white. And I look at the big picture, too. 

Does this "deal" promote long term Israeli security? NO!

There's lots of wishful thinking, with a big popular distraction. I'm sure you can guess what the distraction is, sort of like coating poison with your favorite ice cream... That's the return of all the hostages live and dead. 

Of course the chances are that the dead ones won't be well-preserved bodies. There will be bones, body-parts of humans -hostages and Gazans- mixed with animals. It will take months at best to identify them. I'm not kidding. The scientific experts who had worked so hard on identifying those murdered on Simchat Torah, aka October 7th, two years ago, whose body parts were left in situ, are probably gathering their white coats and equipment to start all over again. I wouldn't be surprised if they find some "parts" of the victims they identified previously mixed in with the holy mess Hamas is preparing for us.

I hate to be a killjoy, but I'm a realist, a pragmatist. As much as I wish I could be hypnotized to discover what my maternal grandfather spoke to me about when I was a three year old, before he passed away, I doubt that hypnosis would work on me.

I see so many holes in this deal/plan that it's more like a window with a thin modernistic frame.

Israel/Bibi shouldn't have accepted it before Hamas, the Gazan terrorists had agreed to give up their arms. Bibi doesn't know how to negotiate; he's too concerned about being liked. And he doesn't understand that the smiles he's getting are mocking not admiring. Trump played him...

Gd willing the hostages will really be released and not held while the terrorists demand more Israeli concessions. 

I pray that somehow Bibi Netanyahu will be out of politics in all ways, along with his devoted followers. We need true, brave, sovereign Israeli leadership, a government that takes Israel's needs first as a country. Gd willing....

Honestly, until I see all of our hostages home, I can't be joyful, I can't believe it possible/probable.

But one thing for sure, this isn't the end of the war... Of course, you can and should pray that I'm mistaken...

Hamas/Gaza War Musings #59: Commemorate According to Jewish Calendar, Simchat Torah, Not October 7th

 

Jewish Calendar, this year, the one that just began on Rosh Hashannah 5786

I follow the Jewish Calendar*. We were brutally and viciously attacked on Simchat Torah, 5784 two years ago, which fell on the 7th of October, 2023.

We must respect and follow our calendar; it's an extremely important part of Judaism. It davka shows/proves our permanent and indisputable connection to the Land of Israel. It gets adjusted to coincide with the seasons of the Land by adding days and months.

That's the exact opposite of the nomadic Muslim calendar in which holidays wander among all the seasons, proving that they have no connection to land. The Muslim calendar is strictly lunar and always only twelve months. That doesn't jive with the solar calendar; it's short a few days, which adds up. It also means that their year number is inaccurate. Their year has fewer days, so every few years, they've added a year. Also if they count ages by their calendar, people are younger than they claim to be. Just think... you don't need to be a mathematician.

While I'm talking about calendars, did you notice that the Jewish one and the Christian one are up to different years? 5786 vs 2025... Yes, Judaism is a lot older than Christianity. And Islam only began in the 7th century, 610. Judaism is much older than both. Neither religion is a contemporary of Judaism, so Abraham, Isaac and Jacob weren't at all involved in those two religions. Those two religions adopted/stole Jewish History; call it identity theft... More food for thought.

*This link is really clear about how the Jewish Calendar gets adjusted to stay connected to seasons, the solar calendar and make sure certain holidays don't end up on certain days of the week.