Read the other - Israeli - side of the story
We had a month in the UK and its always interesting to view Israel from a different perspective and to understand how Israel is viewed by the diaspora.
However, I don’t think anything could have prepared us for how anti Israel the UK media has become and how little of the reality filters through.
While we were away three young Israeli soldiers were killed by an Egyptian jihadists who was also in the Egyptian army and crossed the border in order to kill soldiers. This was on the back of the Gaza operation that saw over 1400 rockets fired into Israel from Gaza, 34 from Lebanon, 3 from Syria and hundreds of weapons smuggled by a Jordanian member of parliament destined to terrorists in order to carry out more slaughter.
The city of Jenin, which calls itself a refugee camp, has long been a terrorist hot spot and has been left to fester for far too long, while terror groups establish themselves and collect weapons. The IDF and military police attempted to enter the area with armoured vehicles to arrest known terrorists but were met with a military styled ambush with armed civilians and gunmen. Eleven Israelis were injured and the Palestinians sources claim they suffered 30 casualties.
The Western media as usual have headlined it with dead Palestinians, not bothering to refer to the terrorists who heavily armed and planning attacks on Israeli civilians. They failed to mention that an attack was orchestrated from a mosque: a usual tactic of using hospitals and mosques with civilians inside as human shields, hoping for mass casualties to garner sympathy and support.
Terror attacks continue within Israel and the only way to stop them is to find the source of the weapons and to eliminate those planning the attacks.
This year alone more than 147 attacks have been carried out with 120 shooting incidents. 27 Israelis have been murdered and it will continue until Israel clears out these areas of terrorist cells. In Jenin they openly march with weapons and balaclavas as Hamas and Islamic Jihad have replaced the PA and it is now a viper’s nest of terrorists.
Witnessing how all this is reported overseas, its little wonder that those outside think Israel is the bully boy of the region. It sadly feeds into the natural anti-semitism that is still bubbling away in the minds of many.
We took a freebie Newspaper called News Line, being handed out at Barnet Hospital in support of the Doctors and Nurses. We also gave them a donation, as of course we support the Doctors and Nurses in their plight for fair pay and hours. On opening the paper it headlined “Israel bombs Refugee Camp” . Inside, a whole double page was devoted to Zionist terrorists.
There has only ever been one incident of a Jewish terrorist attack since the inception of the State and he remains in jail, tried and convicted. There has been tens of thousands of terrorist attacks in Israel against innocent Jewish civilians and a number of attacks outside Israel against her citizens, mostly sponsored by Iran.
No one would argue there have not been Palestinian deaths, but they are caused by the original terror perpetrated by their own people and in a bid to prevent further attacks and deaths. Others cite the occupation, but after many attempts it is clear there can be no Palestinian State without the destruction of the Jewish State. So sadly for the Palestinians until they change leadership and their aims do not include destroying the Jewish State, we must continue to protect ourselves while we search for an equitable solution for all.
It was also distressing to see ex pat Israelis demonstrating in our home town against Bibi Netanyahu. We know he is accused of corruption, we know there is a trial underway and if the charges are proven, we know he will be convicted. Was it really necessary when there is so much trouble at home for those who had chosen to leave Israel to bring it onto the streets of Brighton?
It makes the haters think, that even the Israelis hate Israel. The ex-pats retain their right to vote and the ballot box is only 5 hours from Gatwick or Heathrow and that is where they should register their disgust with the election results.
Despite all that is said, Israel remains a democracy and there are checks and balances in place to ensure that when the next election is held everyone can have their vote. Being unhappy with the outcome is not democratic. The protests in Israel are democratic and have had an effect as Bibi is pulling away from the original plans and re-addressing how the justice system will be reformed.
It was rather nice to leave a country where one cannot even visit the hospital without facing anti Israel hatred and to come back to the sunshine and freedom that despite all the problems Israel still offers us.
Shabbat Shalom
