Tag Archives: Netanyahu

I’m sure that – after today’s assessment – I will take a third and a fourth and fifth look at the ceasefire declared last night in Gaza.  In many ways this is an evolving situation,  more complex than it might have seemed at first blush. I begin by noting that …

The truth: There is no entirely satisfactory resolution to our war with Hamas (the war that is not called a war). Aside, of course, from that “ultimate” resolution in which we would fully retake Gaza and banish all terrorists and jihadis – thereby creating a peaceful situation in Gaza and …

It is possible Operation Protective Shield could have been conducted with greater ineptitude. But it is not easy to see how. Israel has no foreign policy, only domestic policy.  – Henry Kissinger He who becomes compassionate to the cruel will ultimately become cruel to the compassionate. – Midrash Rabba, Ecclesiastes …

If we listen to what Netanyahu said yesterday, he never really thought our battle with Hamas was going to be peacefully resolved – he refers to it as “on-going.”  That would mean that even when there were negotiations proceeding during a ceasefire, he knew. Could well be. There were so …

Yoav Zitun and Elior Levy write in Y-Net. A heavy barrage of rockets was fired at Israel on Tuesday night, around 10:40pm. Loud explosions were heard in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, while Code Red sirens blared throughout southern and central Israel. Hamas said it fired 40 rockets at Israel. …

Note: Sorry about the way this has posted. I can’t change it. Arlene doesn’t have it on line yet and this happens sometimes when taken from an email. No matter what happens with regard to Hamas, it will be a mess of one sort or another.  There are no clean, …

In spite of decidedly negative news I must address, below, I want to first share some very positive reports. We start with Ari Abramowitz – a host on Israel Inspired Radio and former co-host of Tuesday Night Live in Jerusalem – who wrote a Tisha B’Av message from his unit, …

I am chagrined but not exactly shocked by the latest turn of events here. As Shabbat went out, I had expressed surprise that – following the Friday ceasefire broken almost immediately by Hamas with an attack that included a suicide bombing and the kidnapping of Hadar Goldin – Netanyahu had …

Motzei Shabbat (After Shabbat) I left my posting abruptly yesterday because of the advent of Shabbat and want here to follow through.  But it’s tentatively only, because indeed events are in the process of unfolding and we have to see what tomorrow and the ensuing days will bring. Quite frankly, …

Let me begin with a video of something I described last night from the Shloshim ceremonies at the Great Synagogue.  This is Lt. Col. Shai Abramson, Chief Cantor of the IDF, singing with choir in prayer for the soldiers of the IDF: For strength.  (And with thanks to Linda O.) …

  I begin by sharing this picture, drawn by an artist intent on paying tribute to our soldiers. Soldier as superman: His cape is his tallit. The artist is my granddaughter.         A true story told last week by Col. Richard Kemp: He was given the opportunity to …

It’s going on 72 hours since I’ve posted – the longest interval I’ve gone without a posting since this war with Hamas began.  In that period, as I have attempted to track what is happening, I felt as if my head was spinning 350 degrees. Round and round. Here I …

Even at this point it is possible to assess that this time a number of things have been different to what some people expected and to what happened in the past. Of course some things have not changed at all, such as Hamas’ determination to attempt to terrorise and destroy …

  Today was a day on which I had planned to skip posting.  A busy day, starting with an event in the Knesset this morning (about which more in time). But I know I must write to update my readers, even if very briefly. After I had written yesterday, news …

Motzei Shabbat (After Shabbat) I mentioned in my last post the intention to return to the issue of ceasefires, and I will do so below.  But I begin by noting that my greatest fear in this very necessary war we are waging now is that it should be terminated prematurely …

It is very very necessary, this invasion – which has been ordered by Prime Minister Netanyahu. So let’s stop here for a prayer for the thousands of Israel’s soldiers who are now inside Gaza. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/15289#.U8g8IZvlrIW ~~~~~~~~~~~ I just heard an interview with Col. Richard Kemp, former commander of British forces …

  What a roller coaster ride the last 24 hours has been with regard to our war with Hamas. Yesterday Egypt announced a proposal for a ceasefire: Both sides would stop firing, and then in 48 hours parties would convene in Cairo and – via an intermediary – discuss terms …

I’ve written about the Iron Dome, which helps protect our citizens from rocket attacks, and about the shelters that are provided, as well as about the government guidelines that are released to keep people safe. But there is a another significant factor – from my perspective and the perspective of …

There is a widespread – but very erroneous – impression that if an enemy attacks, a proportional response means a nation can only return what was received and no more. That is, the mistaken impression is that if Hamas shot one rocket, we could only shoot one rocket back. International …

It took a long time in coming, but it’s very serious now.  The military action, called Operation Protective Edge, was announced in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. As I write, well over 140 sites in Gaza have been hit by the Israeli Air Force and some 14 people have …