Israel seeks to silence Islamic Jihad!
Breaking News] Wednesday 10th May 5:06am
Israel Hunkers Down - Awaits Impending Gazan Rocket Strike
In a bold move, the IDF successfully eliminated the top commanders of Islamic Jihad in Gaza via a targeted airstrike. Not willing to only eliminate their head of rockets and the Gazan head of terrorist attacks in Judea and Samaria, IAF jets attacked over 100 targets in Gaza.
As a result...the IDF is preparing for the Gaza retaliation and the Home Front immediately ordered at 2:30am for bomb shelters to be opened in Southern Israel, and then at 4am, for bomb shelters in Central Israel.
The Lag BaOmer festivities at Meron are being wound down, and buses and cars are being turned away. Train services in the Gaza envelope district have been suspended, and the IDF has even notified the Gaza envelope communities that the civilian evacuation plan is an option.
Let's hope the Iron Dome is back at peak efficiency and that our military and homefront are victorious in the upcoming skirmish.
Regards
Carolyne Davis
Thursday 11th May
It is quite a contrast when you live with a foot in two worlds. In the UK media we were enjoying jewels and fairy tale , happy ever after, stories of Kings and Queens, Princes and Princesses in golden carriages returning to their huge castles and throwing concerts for the flag waving subjects, while changing their attire seemingly by the hour.
We also adorned ourselves in our best clothes as this Shabbat was a great day for our family, when we celebrated the Bat Mitzvah of the eldest granddaughter , with all the age old tradition of a lovely Shabbat morning service in the kibbutz synagogue. We added the British touch of smoked salmon and fish balls … of course.
Such peace and harmony : who could believe that the guests would hardly make it home before the dark clouds of war darkened the blue skies.
In the afternoon, we dipped back into our Anglo traditions to enjoy scones and cream, while watching the crowning of the new King. War was the furthest thing from everyone’ mind.
By the time Charles could relax and rest his royal head, the people of Israel was starting to understand that the IDF had taken a serious defensive action and without warning had eliminated some of the main leaders of Palestinian Islamic Jihad,( an Iranian supported, terrorist group operating out of Gaza), who had sent over 100 rockets into Israel the previous week.
Even the population was taken by surprise by the speed and success of the operation. Bibi may be very unpopular due to his proposed judicial reforms, but when it comes to security he is King.
As predicted Islamic Jihad started to retaliate once they had buried their dead. But Israel was well prepared and it seems operation Shield and Arrow has been well thought out. The greatest worry is that it might trigger a multi front war with both Hamas and Hezbollah supporting Islamic Jihad.
To date, this has not happened and although the country is now grinding to a stand still, with over 500 rockets fired towards Israel in the last 24 hours, the people are stoic and are taking shelter ,while the IDF removes the threat from PIJ.
One third of the rockets have landed short in Gaza and killed their own civilians. In Israel, there are no reported serious casualties although a few people have needed treatment injuring themselves running to the shelters.
Depending on where you live, the time to get the shelter can be as little as 15 seconds, which is really not enough time for the young, the elderly , the sick or the infirm. Many families have now set up beds in their safe rooms and all activities in the South and around the Gaza Strip are cancelled. Schools and nurseries are closed.
El Al managed to take off its flight to Luton yesterday afternoon during a break in the rocket fire but it is understood that British Airways has halted flights for the moment. Some flights diverted to Aquaba and Cyprus. It is unclear if Ben Gurion is open or closed. It just depends on the immediate threat. The new David’s Sling, anti rocket device, was deployed for the first time over Tel Aviv.
Overnight, another significant PIJ leader was eliminated and their rocket supply will start to dwindle soon and a talks of a cease fire are being discussed with the usual mediator , Egypt.
It seems the operation will continue until Israel feels they have disabled PIJ sufficiently for there to be a long period of peace ahead or until the pressure from outside forces Israel to step back.
Shabbat Shalom
12th May
Carolyne Davis
The Dolphin Beach in Eilat is probably our favourite go to place, especially on Friday and Shabbat.
What a shock we got today when there was a notice quite early on in the day saying the beach was full. Invitations had been organised to Moshavim in the firing line to come to the Dolphin Beach and take shelter in Eilat.
In Israel, its not what you know but who you know, and being long time frequent patrons of the beach, we were allowed to go bring our own chairs and enter for the foray.
I sat with tears in my eyes at the sight of so many people, that had escaped the horrors of crouching in a bomb shelter, shaking and praying the Iron Dome does it job while sirens blare.
My tears were both of joy seeing all those happy families playing in the safety of Eilat and of sorrow realising that in 2023, Jews still had to run for their lives.
As far back as history allows, Jews have been chased out of every corner they have set up home.
We know about the Romans, the Persians, the Inquisition, the Pogroms, and of course the Holocaust is hardly history.
Even in the State of Israel in 2023, Jews are still being bombed out of their homes and it is very noticeable that the world press has very little to say about it until Israel makes a mistake and kills civilians.
The difference now, however, is that these families will be returning home soon, as Israel has a strong military, and by leaving , they not only give the IDF a free hand to destroy the enemy with less civilians in the firing line, they are protecting their children.
The rocket fire has a terrible psychological effect on young children and the stress of running to the shelters can have long lasting damage on the young. I am sure the children in Gaza are also suffering terrible stress, while Israel is destroying the rocket launchers and bomb factories.
The tragedy for the children in Gaza, is that they do not have a government that is willing to protect them from harm and they are cynically put in harms way and often used as human shields.
We believe that most of the people in Gaza would like to live in peace but there are two factions operating there. Hamas who control the territory and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, who are an Iranian terror group who have successfully set themselves up in Gaza and are trying to place cells in the West Bank.
Israel has many enemies , including the Iranian Hezbollah, who have taken control of Lebanon, and have tens of thousands of rockets pointing towards Israel. By continuing with this operation, it is hoped that we can weaken or even totally destroy PIJ in Gaza, thus leaving one less enemy to deal with.
The rocket that destroyed a building in Rehovot, killing an Israeli man in his home,and injuring eight others, was a long range Iranian missile. Sadly, the Iron Dome that mostly intercepts the rockets, malfunctioned and the apartment building suffered a direct hit.
Homes in Sderot and Ashkelon have also been destroyed by rocket fire. Sirens have been heard now as far as Gush Etzion, Bet Shemsh ( near Jerusalem ) and areas in the West Bank.
Although, there is a blockade on Gaza, it is evident that military hardware is entering the strip, either by the sea or from Egypt.
Many of the 800 plus rockets that have been fired towards Israel since Tuesday are manufactured in the Gaza Strip. Building materials and money sent by the EU And others, are misappropriated to make weapons.
As there is no let up in the fire, it makes one wonder just how many they have and it would seem PIJ have a strong presence in Gaza. This is probably, why Hamas is not joined the fight openly, as PIJ are also a threat to their control of the area and they can sit back and let Israel destroy them in order to strengthen their own position.
Ceasefire negotiations are reported to have ended since the ongoing rocket fire all day Friday.
Hamas is also Iranian backed but it’s leaders do not want competition for control as they have an iron grip on the people. We cannot be sure they will not join the fight and we understand they have a huge arsenal of weapons. Therefore, Israel must continue to destroy the rockets while they can, and the people must hold strong while the IDF ensures a safer future.
Shabbat Shalom