War Zone

When I hear what people of the world say about Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza, I want to shout – Hey, people of the world! You have no idea what it's like to live here! And you never will! Life in Israel, which is the only western, and (relatively) modern country in the Middle East, is a very very very complex life. The line between a prosperous, functional, stable, and just plain normal life, is crossed with in a fraction of a second, to a dangerous, scary, painful and sad life. 

The story of the people of Israel and the Palestinian people is a complex story spanning decades of bloody struggles. We, the Israelis, know that Israel is the only place for the Jews in the whole wide world. It is our national, natural home. It is the only place where we can protect and defend ourselves. The only place where we are sovereign.

Since we have been attacked non-stop from the day we were founded, either by neighboring countries or by terrorist organizations from all sides, we built the Israel Defense Forces, which is one of the best and most sophisticated army in the world. We didn't really have a choice.

On and on, for 75 years of our independence, we are attacked, living under terror for years. We must defend ourselves.

Along with being a smart, strong, sometimes aggressive, army, because that's how it is in wars at home, we are a country that seeks and promotes peace. We made peace with Egypt and gave up territories in exchange for peace. We made peace with Jordan in the East for a better future. We only recently signed peace agreements with the Emirates, and we are in the middle of a peace process with Saudi Arabia. 

Peace – SHALOM

Peace is a fundamental and central value in Jewish and Israeli culture. In Hebrew we say hello and goodbye with the word "Shalom" – Peace. On Shabbat (Saturday), our day of rest, we greet and bless  “Shabbat Shalom”. Our identity and whole being is to live in peace, among us and beside our neighbors. To live free and safe in our country in ease and joy, to love, live and raise happy children. To live in peace is our biggest hope. We hate wars, but when we are attacked – we fight back. What choice do we have?

For years and years, we have been dealing with murderous attacks,  bombarded with missiles and rockets from all sides.The Gulf War in 1990 with missiles from Iraq, years of Katyushas and shelling of our northern towns and villages from Lebanon, attacks on buses and bus stops throughout the country, terrorists exploding, stabbing, and spraying machine gun fire inside our malls and cities. How does that sound?

Imagine

Imagine buses exploding in Rome or in London. Imagine sitting under the vine in Napa Valley, and suddenly, alarms go off, and you have to run and hide in bomb shelters. Imagine a terrorist organization massacring the towns of the Loire region. Does that make sense to any of  you?

Now imagine that you are sitting at 7:00 a.m. on Sunday, your family’s day of rest, eating breakfast together with your loved ones, when suddenly your house is taken over by a group of terrorists who rape, burn, murder, and kidnap you, and all you hold dear. From your home. Can you imagine this horror?

Worldwide Women and Men of Humanity, please, please WAKE UP!

How in the world is it OK that Women, Children, Elders, and Families of the ‘Free World’ live Under Fire! Killed in their homes! Are kidnaped and held hostage by a terrorist organization?

Why in the world is this OK?!? 

Why don’t you get it? What is it that you don’t get?

We want to #LiveInPeace not to #BleedInWar

For years, we, the Israelis, made attempts to reach peace and understanding and to find solutions for a life of security and peace for all the area's citizens, without success.

For years, we have been threatened by the Gaza Strip. As part of our hope for protection of the cities, towns, villages and kibbutzim of the rest of the country, in 2005, Israel carried out a complete withdrawal and departure of civilians and IDF forces from the Gaza Strip and transferred total control over it to the Palestinian Authority. This unilateral disengagement was also intended to give the people of Gaza an opportunity to better their lives and build a better future.

Israel does not control Gaza. There are no Israeli forces in Gaza. 

On October 7 there was a ceasefire!

Actually, Gaza is free from Israel but controlled by a terrorist organization. Hamas holds control over the Gaza Strip and has, in fact, turned it into a terrorist territory, with education for terrorism, an agenda of terrorism, and a terrorist economy, while recruiting and using civilians, children, girls, and women for their ultimate goal – to kill Jews, to destroy the State of Israel and remove it from the map. That's their ONLY goal. Hamas is the enemy. Terror is the enemy. 

So when you shout 'Free Palestine', it is a slogan calling for the complete destruction of Israel. In the current circumstances – ‘Free Palestine’ is actually support for Hamas which actually means – “Kill all the Jewish People of Israel”. 

Hamas is an evil force, a barbaric terror organization. Hamas is the enemy of the Israelis and of the people of Gaza.  Terror, is the enemy of Humanity.   

So you can’t stand by! You just can’t. Be our Ally – Stick to Humanity.

According to Golda Meir, our legendary former prime minister – "If the Arabs lay down their weapons – there will be peace. If Israel lays down its weapons – there will be no Israel."

The Muslim Arabs, on the other hand, have lots and lots and lots of room in the world. And lots and lots of Muslim countries that support and encourage and strengthen the forces of the terrorist organizations whose goal is clear and known to all – to wipe us out. Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah. Now, also the Houthis in Yemen! 

Where in the World is a place where we can defend ourselves from the horrors of evil and pure hate? Why do we have to defend ourselves for defending ourselves?!?! What option do we have?

Why is ‘Never Again’ back again? And again and again and again?!?

How come is there still so much hate for Jews, so much antisemitism
in the world? 

SHOUT!!!! 

So, Dear World, please let me put down a suggestion –

You want to shout "Free Palestine" ?

STOP and think. Then shout "Free the Hostages"  – call out for the immediate release of the kidnapped – say “Free the children" and help to #BringThemHomeNow

shout "Hamas Surender" "Stop Terror" 

They massacred us, hold 240 hostages, and want to remove us from our land. The small and unique land of the Jews. Israel is our one and only home, of all places in the whole world. The world that promised us Never Again.

Jews and Jewish culture have no other place, and we are at war for our LIFE, for our HOME.

If you are Human and praise Life and Peace – You better be on the right side of History and stand with us. #StandWithIsrael

#AmIsraelChai