Shalom all,

The IDF death toll since the beginning of the ground offensive in late October has now reach 293. The total number of IDF deaths from all fronts since October 7th now stands at 645.

Two big events occurred this week, one at the beginning of the week and one at the end. The first occurred this past Sunday, when it was reported by the Hamas-controlled health ministry that at least 45 were killed as a result of an Israeli air strike “on a camp for displaced Palestinians” in the city of Rafah (Rafiah) in southern Gaza. While confirming that an airstrike took place, the IDF said that its strike targeted Hamas officials, which was a legitimate target under international law. A fire erupted as a result of the strike that spread to a displaced persons camp and resulted in civilian casualties.

The international media jumped all over the story, criticized Israel and renewed calls for a ceasefire. However, it appears that the IDF’s action was, indeed, limited in scope and that the deaths were not the results of an IDF strike on the displaced-persons camp, but due to explosions and secondary explosions following the targeted and precise airstrike that took place outside of the protected civilian zone established by Israel, and that the two Hamas officials who were killed “were responsible for orchestrating and executing terror attacks against Israelis”. This finds support in a conversation between two Gazans about the airstrike that was recorded by the IDF. One of the speakers confirms that the place that was targeted by the IDF was actually an ammunition warehouse and that secondary explosions were responsible for the damage.

The second major event took place yesterday, in a speech by U.S. President Joe Biden. The full text of the speech can be seen here and included the sentence: “It’s time for this war to end and for the day after to begin.” As I read the speech, I couldn’t help wondering whether his comment was a wishful statement or a question disguised as a statement. I was expecting that his speech would contain a few more specifics regarding the different phases mentioned. However, only generalities were mentioned and, apparently, the details are not being released, at least at this time, most likely in order not to endanger the release of some of the hostages. Although the focal point of the speech was the ceasefire, Biden made a point of saying that it was a “comprehensive new proposal” offered by Israel, which was backed by the U.S., making it more difficult for Hamas to reject it. In this regard, the Arab “negotiators” were also constrained to support it. More for political reasons than from an outright desire to accept what was now being offered, Hamas said that it had a “positive view” of the possible deal, a nice way of trying to buy time to come back with an alternative proposal, as it did a couple of weeks ago. It added that it was willing to “deal positively and constructively with any proposal based on a permanent ceasefire, full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, the return of the displaced to all their places of residence, and the completion of a serious prisoner exchange deal.” Note the specificity of their demands, which will become problematic at some point, particularly the “serious prisoner exchange deal”.

From the content of the speech, the proposal did not seem to be very different from what was offered two weeks ago and rejected, after Hamas tried to change the text of the agreement in major areas. There may be a few minor differences between the proposal then and the one now. I’ve already given my perspective on what was previously submitted, so won’t add at present what might only be speculative responses.

Notwithstanding its “positive view” comment, Hamas made clear that the speech “lacked” a few essentials, such as the American guarantee that the war would be completely over. For Israel’s part, the Office of the Prime Minister issued two releases following President Biden’s speech. The first was: “The Prime Minister authorized the negotiating team to present a proposal to that end, which would also enable Israel to continue the war until all its objectives are achieved, including the destruction of Hamas’s military and governing capabilities. The actual proposal put forward by Israel, including the conditional transition from one phase to the next, allows Israel to uphold these principles.” The second was that Israel is sticking to its principle goals in the war, noting: “Israel’s condition for ending the war have not changed: The destruction of Hamas military and governing capabilities, the freeing of all hostages and ensuring the Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel…Under the proposal, Israel will continue to insist these conditions are met before a permanent ceasefire is put in place. The notion that Israel will agree to a permanent ceasefire before these conditions are fulfilled is a non-starter.“ Apparently, the second press release was necessary to remove any possible interpretation of Biden’s speech that Israel would consent to Hamas remaining in power after the end of the war. 

While Biden’s speech was disappointing in some respects, it nevertheless exhibited before the international community that Israel was demonstrating both a willingness and a flexibility to end the war, giving a much-needed boost to the legitimacy of the Netanyahu-led government.

It should be noted that Biden also claimed that the Israeli proposal was a realistic possibility, claiming that Israel has effectively weakened Hamas, so that it can no longer repeat the atrocities of October 7th. That statement, of course, is the perspective of the U.S., not of Israel, which would be hard-pressed to agree to it, in light of the continued rocket fire launched into Israel from Gaza. We also cannot ignore the reality that Hamas would reject any deal that calls for the release of all hostages, both living and dead, without the assurance that it would continue its control over Gaza, a situation which both Israel and U.S. regard as an unsupportable position. Take another look at the above-quoted demands made by Hamas – they certainly do not sound like they are coming from a weakened or defeated terrorist organization.

Other individuals and organizations have chimed in, following President Biden’s speech. Essentially, they espoused their political agendas, some of which go far afield, and do not add anything concrete to the present situation. 

And so for now, we wait for the official response of Hamas to the Israeli proposal. We’ll relate to the fallout of that response later.

And then there is the growing recognition of “Palestinian” statehood that does not include Israel’s participation. The argument that such recognition will generate a stable Middle East and facilitate peace ignores realities on the ground, particularly as they have existed since 1948, and even before that. Unilateral recognition, without Israel’s involvement, would be, among other things, violation of approved Resolutions of the U.N. Security Council. See, “The dangers of premature recognition of a Palestinian state”.

We all look forward to the return of all of the hostages and to an end of this war. But, the concern is not to end this war, only to wait until the next one starts, with the same enemies. If Hamas remains in power in the Gaza Strip, it will only be a matter of time before we are at war with it again.

As an important aside, you might want to take a look at how Hamas abuses its own people in Gaza. <https://worldisraelnews.com/watch-this-is-how-hamas-abuses-its-own-people/>

Finally, not to be forgotten and notwithstanding all the political puff to the contrary, the likelihood of all-out war, soon, with the Hezbollah terrorist organization, is a growing concern. All in all, we are facing seven fronts right now. Missiles from the Hezbollah fell in the neighborhood where my relatives live, in the city of Acco, only 25 minutes from us. Fervent prayer for Divine intervention would be much appreciated.

As we begin a new week, bless, be blessed and be a blessing.

Marvin

Shalom all.

The IDF announced today the death of another 20-year-old soldier, who succumbed to his wounds, which he sustained this past Friday during combat in northern Gaza. His death brings the presentIDF death toll to 282 since the beginning of the ground offensive in late October. The total number of IDF deaths from all fronts since October 7th now stands at 636.

For 232 days, the world has been receiving reports about the Gaza War and the fighting between Israel and Hamas. Some of those reports have been lengthy, some have been extremely short. Some of the events have been turned into documentaries. The “media” has had ample opportunity to pervert documented and proven facts, while a subtle shift has taken place. How many are really paying attention to what is happening here? How many really care? How many people respond to the news reports and try to make their voices heard? How many have formed an opinion about the events of October 7th, about the ensuing war, about the day-to-day tragedies and sufferings that are occasioned by fighting against an enemy bent on the total elimination of the State of Israel? How many people relate to the pain of parents who buried a son killed whiile defending his country, or a daughter raped and killed in front of family members? How many listen to a 2- minute news report at the end of the day highlighting demonstrations by college students and imported intigators, without giving a second thought to the motivation underlying those demonstrations? The questions are seemingly endless. But, when all the articles are read, when all of the Middle-East reporters have had their say, after news outlets have filtered the reports and adjusted them to make the news, rather than report the news, what do people walk away with? 

I had a discussion yesterday with a dear friend, who is visiting Israel from a country located thousands of miles from here. We discussed the situation and the ongoing struggles of Israelis to press on with their lives during the longest war of our relatively brief existence and hostage crisis that is dividing Israel. We spoke of the pain and sorrow, the anguish and emptiness of losing a family member in a normal situation, as well as the shock and grief of loss resulting from war and terrorist activity. Then he stated, almost in tears, that what is happening here is a non-issue for most of the people in his country. They are not at war, they are not surrounded by a host of separate nations who are united in one thought and ultimate goal of killing his country’s population and removing it from the map of the world. He added, “They can’t relate.” There are people there who love and pray for Israel. But, on the whole, what is happening here doesn’t affect their lives in any sense. It was an honest, but a difficult, discussion. His mindset is totally different. He and his wife traveled for two days to get here, their hearts are broken and their minds are focused on what is daily taking place in Israel, particularly, the lack of unity in the face of war, the loss of life and the efforts of countries, near and far, friends and foes, to bring the war to an end without Hamas being defeated or the hostages (whoever is still alive) being returned. 

If that were not enough, today I received an email from a close friend, whom I have had the privilege to know for over 40 years, half of which he and his family lived in Israel. After writing about different matters, he ended with: “My heart aches over the situation. It is very hard to be far away. I long to be in the prayer meetings and worship. Except for only a few people that I know, the war is already “old news.” This adds to the heartache for me.” I know his love for Israel and his willingness, at a moment’s notice, to come and live here and be part of Israel’s destiny, if his circumstances provided him with the opportunity to do so. 

While writing this post, I received notice of the IDF soldier, whose death brought the number to 282 since the beginning of the ground operation, as mentioned above. Another family suffers loss and heartache. The news of the death of their son and brother will forever be “ongoing news”, never “old news”, as the visit of the representatives of the IDF, who personally informed them of his death, will remain vivid in their memories.

What will it take to impress upon the hearts and minds of people that what took place here on October 7th could happen in other countries? Back in November, when some of the hostages were being released, one of the Hamas terrorists said to an elderly woman just before turning her over to representatives of the International Red Cross, “I’ll see you next October”, which caused her to scream out in anguish. 

Time and time again, I receive communications that the local media in different countries provide little, reliable information about Israel or what is happening here. How many local news stations will report on the missiles that were launched from Rafiah (Rafah) into major cities in the heart of Israel yesterday? They were launched from between a mosque and a school, from a location only 800 meters (875 yards) from the Israel’s forces. This is further evidence that the Hamas terrorist organization embeds itself and its weaponry in locations and civilian infrastructures, where it can use the civilian population as human shields. Will this be reported in foreign media? People cannot bury their heads in the sand and think that just because it is not happening “to them” that events here will not “affect them”.

Recognition of “Palestinian” state – In the midst of the ongoing war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the countries of Norway, Ireland and Spain announced that they would recognize a State of “Palestine” by tomorrow, May 28th. This has to be one of the most idiotic decisions ever made by these governments. When dealing with so-called “Palestinians”, the basic pre-requisites for recognizing a state are absent. As mentioned in a prior post on Day 60 of the war:

“They have no established territory that anyone can agree to, not even those who call themselves “Palestinians” – unless, of course, one accepts the narrative that all of the land “from the [Jordan] River to the [Mediterranean] Sea” (meaning the elimination of the State of Israel) belongs to a group of people called “Palestinians”. Still, this is historically and factually without foundation. 

Then, of course, there is the question of a permanent population and an authority with power to govern that population, as well as institutions that affect the lives of the people. There is Hamas in the Gaza Strip, that has “controlled” the Strip since 2007. And there is the “Palestinian” Authority that purportedly has control over the lives of so-called “Palestinian” residents living in Judea and Samaria (commonly referred to as “the West Bank [of the Jordan River]). Both “authorities” are at serious odds with one another, with the P.A. even holding several hundreds of Hamas political prisoners in its jails. So, there is no governing authority to be recognized.

Moreover, recognition of a “Palestinian” state has to resolve the “myth” of “Palestinian” refugees. That is an entire story of itself and not for this post. Suffice it to say, that this poses a unique problem of recognizing “Palestinian” refugees who would be living in a “Palestinian” state, who could no longer be considered refugees.  So, the bottom line is that recognizing the existence of a state in the absence of the basic requisites for the establishment of a state, is absurd. Then again, when we consider the increasing antagonism towards Israel by some of the nation states of Europe, we should not be surprised if some of them act more out of hatred towards Israel than out of concern for those who refer to themselves as “Palestinians” and if they fail to use a modicum of common sense in their proclamations.“

Need I say more?

It should be noted that Norway has long played an active role in Middle East affairs, which date back to its involvement in the Oslo Accords in 1993. It has also been involved financially with the “Palestinian” Authority and has actively contributed millions of dollars to UNRWA. By recognizing “Palestine” as a state, “Norway’s current stance limits its political options and may preclude any direct involvement in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.”

If Norway’s recognition of a “Palestinian” state will reduce its involvement in the present war, how much more should Israel insist that Qatar be removed as a negotiator. Qatar has been a major supporter of Hamas for more than a decade. Its perspective in the negotiations has always been reflected in its press releases, which refer to the “cease fire” negotiations, as opposed to the Israeli releases that refer to the “hostage-release” negotiations. Qatar has also been the largest donor to the Gaza Strip since the Hamas takeover in 2007. At least one senior member of the Israeli government agrees that Qatar should be removed, as it cannot be an impartial negotiator. But, then, who would be willing to step in and takes its place? And, obviously, Hamas would not be willing to trust any country that was not partial to it.

The Dry Bones Blog – 27 May, 2024

The International Court of [In]Justice, responded to the 4th petition of South Africa against Israel in 5 months. This past Friday, May 22, it issued an Order, which, in large measure, has been misinterpreted by countries and news sites that are anti-Israel. 

The Decision itself says, among other things, that Israel is to “Immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on  the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part.” It is regrettable that only the first part of the sentence up to the word “Governorate” was picked up and quoted by various sources in any effort to condemn Israel and demand an immediate ceasefire. The rest of the sentence shows that, in essence, Israel is not to act in a genocidal manner. In the discussion leading up to the different parts of the Decision, which was approved by a vote of 13 to 2, it is clear that the ICJ was attempting to micro-manage the Gaza War. 

Dissenting opinions were written by Vice-President Julia Sebutinde of Uganda and Ad Hoc Judge Aharon Barak of Israel, which made clear that the Court’s Decision did NOT prevent Israel from continuing its military action in the Gaza enclave and, particularly, not against Hamas, which maintains most of its remaining forces in Rafiah (Rafah). Sebutinde also noted: “[This] directive may be misunderstood as mandating a unilateral ceasefire in Rafah and amounts to micromanaging the hostilities in Gaza by restricting Israel’s ability to pursue its legitimate military objectives, while leaving its enemies, including Hamas, free to attack without Israel being able to respond.” The ICJ also ordered Israel to permit unimpeded access to the Gaza Strip for “commissions of inquiry, fact-finding missions, or other investigative bodies mandated by the UN to investigate allegations of genocide.” One can only imagine what those investigative bodies will indicate in their reports to the UN or the ICJ. For those interested, both the Decision, which is unfounded, and the Dissenting Opinions, which are well-founded, are worth the read.

Somewhere along the almost 8 months of war, Hamas and its terror-loving, anti-Israel and anti-semitic adherents made and continue to make efforts to blur and to remove from the consciousness of the semi-sane world the abhorrent acts of violence, rape, burning, dismemberment and even the taking of hostages on October 7th.  

In a chilling video released by The Daily Mail, father and son terrorists, who were captured by the IDF, admitted murdering civilians in their homes, gang-raping women and shooting them, as well as kidnapping others. The son admitted to killing two people, raping two people and breaking into five homes in Kibbutz Nir Oz. This brought us back to the starting point of the present war – brutal acts of terrorism.

An IDF Spokesman, who commented on the confessions video, stated: “Over the past months, we’ve seen countless evidence of the brutal violence used by Hamas on October 7th, including harrowing acts of gender-based and sexual violence. These confessions further prove that any attempt to deny the horrors of Oct. 7, and discredit the testimonies of witnesses, survivors, and freed hostages, is part of a campaign to de-legitimize Israel, and to promote the justification of terrorism.”

An additional video was released last week by the parents of some of the female soldiers, who were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7th. As in the past, for reasons of sensitivity, I have not attached the video, although links to it can easily be found. The release of the video prompted additional demonstrations against the government for failure to pull out all the stops and to bring about the release of the hostages.

Signs, posters, photos and other forms of attention getters, calling for the release of the hostages, are everywhere throughout the country. Posters declaring “Free the Hostages, NOW!”, “Get them out of hell!”, alongside photos of all, or some, or individual hostages, are seen everywhere. There are also billboards of a full-face photo of P.M. Benjamin Netanyahu, with a statement: “You’re the head, you’re guilty!” (actually, it is a political statement against Netanyahu and the government; the proper statement would have been: “You’re the head, you’re responsible”.) On the other hand, those who push for a military victory have placed other posters, saying “The hostages are dead, Rafiah (Rafah) NOW!”

The anguish of the families, whose loved ones were taken hostage, is absolutely understandable. With the exception of a handful of individuals who have appeared in psychological warfare videos, Israel has no knowledge of which hostages are still alive. But, demands that the government act to release the hostages is a call for a cessation of the Gaza War, with an expectation that this will automatically result in the release by Hamas of all the live hostages, as well as the bodies of those killed on or after October 7th. This is an expectation that is contrary to the terms of all of the hostage-release negotiations that have taken place until now. Hamas demands more than just a permanent end of the war. It also demands the release from Israeli jails of terrorists, who are responsible for dozens of deaths of Israelis. It demands guarantees from foreign governments regarding Israel’s actions and inactions, as will be expressed in any agreement. It demands that Israel agree not to target after the release of the hostages. It demands a graduated release of hostages that will be completed only after the terrorists are released from prison. And, most significantly, Hamas demands that Israel end the war as a pre-condition before it will agree to sit down and negotiate the other terms. If you lived here, if your relative was killed by Hamas on October 7th, or was wounded, or was taken hostage, what would you want the government to do? If this situation were to take place in the country where you live, what do you think the leadership of your government would do? Add to all of the above the consideration that Israel is already engaged in multi-front  hostilities with seven different countries or terrorist organizations. Are the priorities to be limited to a handful, or to the welfare of the nation as a whole?

Hostage Release negotiations – Although Israel has agreed to send its representatives this week to continue negotiations for the release of the hostages, it maintains its position that it will not, under any circumstances, agree to the end of the war as part of an agreement to release our hostages. Israel says it definitely will not end the war in advance of their release, but will press its offensive against Hamas to effectuate their release. So, the obvious problem is how to reconcile, if at all possible, the demand of Hamas for an absolute cessation of the war that will enable release of the hostages, in the face of Israel’s position that it will not end the war as a condition for their release.

Yesterday was Lag Ba’omer, a religious holiday that takes place on the 33rd day of the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot (the Feast of Weeks). “The holiday is a major occasion for Orthodox Jews in a few respects. Not only does it fall on the anniversary of the death of the sage Shimon Bar Yochai, but it is also thought to mark the day in which a plague that, according to Talmudic tradition, killed thousands of students of Mishnaic-era sage Rabbi Akiva, ended.” Although it is traditionally celebrated at Mount Meron in the Galilee, the government prohibited the gathering in the north this year because of the war and of the potential for injuries from Hezbollah missiles. Instead, it took place at another “hot spot”, the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem. More information about the holiday can be found here.

This is a new week, with new opportunities to be thankful. Let’s not miss them.

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.

Marvin

Shalom all,

It has been a difficult week from many perspectives: forward movement in Rafiah (Rafah); returning to places partially “cleared” to fight Hamas terrorists that are imbedded in those places; death of 5 IDF soldiers by “friendly fire”; the IDF recovering 3 bodies of civilians taken captive by Hamas terrorists on 7th October; defending, again, against baseless claims of South Africa in the International Court of Justice; an agency of the U.N. published updated casualty figures, cutting in half previously cited civilian death figures; threats from friends to cease sending military supplies to Israel; public disagreements between members of the War Cabinet; renewed rocket fire from inside the Gaza Strip; the media field day, as some proclaimed a “second Nakba Day”; the refusal of Egypt to coordinate with Israel on the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza from the Egyptian side of the Rafiah (Rafah) Crossing; the refusal of the “Palestinian” Authority to take responsibility for humanitarian aid going into Gaza from the Shalom Crossing; increasing hostilities between the Hezbollah; Memorial Day and Independence Day, back-to-back events; acceptance and rejection of the Israeli entry to the Eurovision Song Contest, and many more. Each situation is a story in itself that needs to be told and repeated. 

But, perhaps, one of the most difficult events was described by one of my sisters-in-law, who lives in the northern city of Acco (Acre). She tearfully related the story, simply and directly. She heard screams that could only be the result of severe pain, agony, anguish, loss and sorrow. The screams were so loud and shrill and unrelenting, that they were heard throughout a multiple-story dwelling and the adjoining buildings. And worst of all, they were coming from her neighbor’s apartment, which was directly opposite that of my sister-in-law. They are in a good relationship as neighbors and my sister-in-law went to her thinking that she might be in trouble. Upon entering the apartment, she learned the cause of the outcry: the neighbor’s 20-year-old grandson, Sgt. Ben Avishay, was killed while fighting Hamas in Jabaliya, in the northern part of the Gaza Strip. The neighbor was widowed and earlier lost her daughter due to illness. The grandson was the child of her son, who lives with his wife in the northern city of Nahariya. My sister-in-law helped the soldier’s grandmother in a number practical ways after entering her apartment, including informing other relatives. Please pray for this grandmother, and her family, as well as for other families who have lost sons and daughters due to the present war.

Sgt. Ben Avishay – May His Memory Be Blessed

There is not much that one can say or do after receiving that kind of tragic news. Most people simply don’t know how to react when they hear of someone’s painful loss of a relative. As the number of IDF losses since the beginning of the ground operation is drawing close to 300, more and more families throughout Israel are feeling the personal impact of the war, either because of direct loss, or acquaintance with those who lost loved ones, or are relatives or friends of those injured since the Gaza War began, or of those who were taken hostage. We were traumatized on October 7th as a nation and continue to suffer from trauma, both active and passive. 

In this regard, I want to share with you a post published today by Seth D. Postell, formerly Assistant Professor of Old Testament at the Charles L. Feinberg Center for Messianic Jewish Studies (in partnership with Talbot School of Theology), and currently Dean of the Israel College of the Bible in Netanya, Israel:

“If I forget you, O Jerusalem, may my right hand forget her skill. May my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth if I do not remember you, if I do not exalt Jerusalem Above my chief joy” (Psa 137:5-6).

In his book “The Body Keeps the Score,” Bessel van der Kolk speaks of two kinds of trauma experienced by children: abuse and neglect. As damaging as parental abuse is for a child’s psychological development, parental neglect is far more damaging according to van der Kolk’s research. Since the tragedies of October 7 and the surge of antisemitism in the West, the nation of Israel is definitely a people in trauma. The trauma we are feeling is also the result of abuse as well as neglect.  The former trauma (abuse) is inflicted upon us by our foes; the latter (neglect), by those who are supposed to be our friends.

Fundamental Islam on the one hand and replacement theology on the other may be likened to the two types of trauma inflicted upon the Jewish people today. According to the holy writings of Islam, their messiah (the Mahdi) will come and help the Muslims kill all the Jews. Because of this Satanic eschatology, we are not surprised by the current hostilities, and we do not expect the Muslim world will ever truly love and embrace the Jews. But at least Muslims are passionate about Israel and the Jewish people because of their eschatology. At the hands of fundamental Islam, the Jewish people suffer the trauma of abuse.

According to the tenets of Christian replacement theology, however, the Jews play no role whatsoever in their eschatology. Because replacement theology teaches that God rejected the Jews and replaced them with the church, many Christians who love the Jewish Messiah, particularly younger woke-evangelicals, are completely indifferent to the rampant antisemitism all around them. Sadly, some have even imbibed this anti-Jewish, anti-Israel sentiment from their news sources on social media. At the hands of these Christians, the Jewish people suffer a far greater trauma: neglect. Not a word of protest. Just a deafening and condemning silence. To be completely honest, Christian indifference to the Jewish people is far more painful to me as Jewish believer in Yeshua than the Muslim hatred for us. Don’t these Christians realize that their best friend (Yeshua) is Jewish?

Despite the pain, Israel still has amazing friends around the world who, because of their love for Yeshua, also love the Jewish people. These godly men and women typically love the Muslims too (as they should) and pray for their salvation. These amazing Christians are truly following in the footsteps of their Jewish Savior and the Jewish apostle to the Gentiles who could never be accused of being indifferent to Jewish suffering or of inflicting upon them the trauma of neglect!

“When He [Yeshua] approached Jerusalem, He saw the city and wept over it, saying, ‘If you had known in this day, even you, the things which make for peace! But now they have been hidden from your eyes'” (Luke 19:41-42). “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Rom 9:1-3).

Earlier this week, we entered into a time of national mourning and remembrance for our fallen war dead and victims of terrorism. A staggering increase took place during this past year, primarily related to the disastrous events of October 7th and their aftermath. A total of one thousand, six hundred soldiers and civilians were added to the victims of war and terror Memorial Day of 2023. The numbers are made up of 766 members of the military and an additional 834 civilians, bringing the total number of casualties to 30,140, in our deadliest year in the past half century. Israel celebrates Independence Day immediately at the end of Memorial Day (“There was evening and there was morning [one] day” – Genesis 1:5). How this is accomplished year after year is an amazing gift of grace. As the Psalmist said (Psalm 30:5): “Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.” Needless to say, this year’s Independence Day “celebrations” were mostly cancelled or greatly reduced in number and character, in light of the ongoing Gaza War, the hostages who remain in the grips of Hamas and its cronies, and out of respect for the families who lost loved ones and the thousands who have been wounded. May next year bring about a return to a joyful celebration, with victory achieved, the hostages returned, the wounded restored and the war behind us.

The IDF Spokesman, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, in a special, midday press release, reported yesterday that the IDF recovered the bodies of three victims of October 7th, two of whom were previously presumed to have been alive and held as hostages. The details of the operation were not immediately made available, but it was revealed that intelligence for the recovery effort came from “Palestinian” terror suspects, who were captured by the IDF and interrogated by the Israeli Security Services and that the bodies were retrieved in an overnight operation in Rafiah (Rafah), in southern Gaza. The bodies were identified by the Israel National Institute of Forensic Medicine and the Ministry of Health.

Upon receiving the news of the recovery of the bodies, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he and his wife “grieve with the families; all of our hearts are with them in their hour of heavy sorrow…[adding] We will return all of our hostages, the living and the deceased alike.” At the same time, Netanyahu commended the actions of the IDF, who returned our “sons and daughters to their own border” (an indirect, and unfortunately, an  mistaken interpretation of the passage in Jeremiah 31:17 – “There is hope for your future,” declares the LORD, “And your children will return to their own territory.”). 

An additional comment about the IDF’s successful operation which brought about the return of the three bodies, was made by Lt. Col. (res.) Peter Lerner, also an IDF spokesman, who published on “X” (formerly Twitter): 

“This bitter sweet moment is not just about closure, it is about justice and humanity.

When we bring our fallen home, we reaffirm our commitment to these principles. We send a clear message to Hamas, and the world, that we will not abandon our own, that we will stand by each other in life and in death. These are our values. 

In these moments of heartbreak and loss, we also find hope. Hope in the determination of our forces, the unwavering spirit of our men and women, and in the enduring power of our resolve.

We will bring our loved ones back. Shani, Itzik and Amit will be laid to rest in the soil they called home. And in doing so, we will honor their memory and reaffirm our commitment to bring back all of our hostages.

As reported in prior posts, Israel still does not have conclusive proof, or even reliable information, of how many hostages are still alive, who they are or what their medical condition is.”

While this post was being prepared, it was reported that a fourth body, that of Ron Benjamin, 52, was found and recovered from Gaza at the same time as the other three bodies. He was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th. After receiving the news about the recovery of his dead body, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued the following statement:

“The Families Forum bows its head and mourns upon receiving the difficult news of the murder of Ron Benjamin by Hamas terrorists and the taking of his body to Gaza as a hostage…Returning his body to Israel is a sacred mission that allows his family to grant him eternal rest in the land of Israel.”

May 15th came and went, but it brought with it a plethora of misinformed statements about what “Palestinians” refer to as “Nakba Day”. HonestReporting puts it simply this way: “Nakba” means the failure to destroy the Jewish State. In its essence, the Arabic term “al-Nakba” means “the catastrophe” and, in its context, it refers to the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. A full discussion of “Nakba Day” can be seen here. But, this year, media sources had field day, trying to present the ongoing Gaza War as a second Nakba. I won’t waste time or energy trying to summarize the different articles dealing with this subject and the misguided support of “Palestinians”, who are trying to portray themselves as eternal victims. For those interested, the article in Algemeiner is a good starting point.

The Dry Bones Blog – 13th May, 2024

As colleges prepare for graduation ceremonies, or announce the cancellation of those ceremonies because of protests and demonstrations, one wonders what students today are actually learning in academia that will further their education and enable them to become productive members of society having socially-redeemable value. A few, simple questions that, theoretically, college students should be able to answer without difficulty, can be found here. Yes, theoretically. If they are able to assimilate the true answers to the questions, they might readily change their minds about their involvement in protests and demonstrations that are mostly disguised, but some are blatant, expressions of antisemitism. As the media has discovered, but somehow fails to properly communicate, some students just join in protests and demonstrations without knowing what they are protesting for/against.

The Dry Bones Blog – 16 May, 2024

Most of the nations that condemn Israel and who seek an early end of the war cite the number of civilian deaths, which they parrot from lists prepared by the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Department. Israel has long contended that the civilian casualty figures were highly inflated and that it makes every effort to minimize civilian loss. Earlier this week, a spokesman for the United United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) published new figures of civilians killed in Gaza, as the result of Israeli strikes, cutting the previous numbers almost in half, without giving any explanation for the revised count. Israel contended that most of the deaths were those of Hamas terrorists and affiliates, rather than civilians.

Amidst the seven military fronts that Israel is dealing with, the two most active are, of course, Hamas and “Palestinian” Islamic Jihad, in Gaza, and the Hezbollah, in Lebanon. All are terrorist organizations dedicated to the destruction of Israel and its removal from all soil and sand between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea. While Israel is heavily embroiled in the fighting in the Gaza enclave, the Hezbollah continues to pose a serious and potentially immediate threat. Poised on the border between Lebanon and Israel, the “Radwan Force”, Hezbollah’s elite commando unit, they constitute an immediate threat to the north of Israel. According to Tal Be’eri, head of the Israeli Alma Research and Education Center “Our assessment is that instead of hundreds of rockets, missiles, and precision munitions, Hezbollah holds thousands. Out of 250,000 munitions, we estimate they have several thousand precision ones…Radwan still poses a clear and immediate threat regarding any invasion of Israeli territory…We estimate that the Radwan Force, if desired, could still operationally implement a limited invasion plan in the north, with a force of 100-200 operatives and a smaller area than previously prepared for before Hamas’s attack…Even if the government tries to reach a diplomatic agreement, it will only delay the war, which will break out the moment Hezbollah wants and on its terms…In my estimation, at the latest, within two years – by the end of 2026.”

So, we have much to pray about. Whatever one might want to say about Israel, it can never be said that life here is boring.

And, whatever your situation, remember to bless, be blessed and be a blessing.

Have a simply great week.

Marvin

This past week, Hamas released two videos of hostages, one on April 24th of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old American-Israeli hostage, here and here, and one on Saturday, April 27th, of Keith Segal, 64, and Omri Miran, 47. The statements in the videos were condemnatory of Israel and of the failure of the IDF to protect the country’s citizens. They called for the continuation of the protests and demonstrations, as well as the call, voiced by the relatives of the hostages and members in the political opposition, to replace the present government. While some media outlets posted the videos, it should be understood that the various videos that have been produced by Hamas from time to time have also been directed by it and that the hostages who appear in those videos have been coached, under duress, to make the anti-Israel, anti-government statements. The Jerusalem Post said that it would not publish those videos, because “they are part of Hamas’s psychological warfare.” That would appear to be a good policy to follow.

Attempts are being made to jump-start the hostage negotiations. Egypt submitted a proposal that it hoped would end the deadlock and bring about a breakthrough that will result in a deal between Hamas and Israel. The last proposal of Hamas included, among other things, a moratorium on the fighting for six weeks and the release of fewer than 20 hostages, which was, obviously, rejected by Israel.

A meeting was held last week between the chief of Egyptian Intelligence, General Abbas Kamel, and the IDF Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi and the head of the Israeli Security Service, Ronen Bar. During the course of that meeting, Kamel presented Egypt’s proposal for ending the war and releasing the hostages, the main points of which are, as follows:

The first point: Israel would commit to ceasing all preparations for an IDF operation in Rafiah (“Rafah”). It should be noted that this is a major concern for Egypt and, of course, other nations such as the U.S. and members of the European Union. A military push into Rafiah would end up spilling over into Egypt, as civilians in Gaza would push their way through the border and into Egypt. The President of Egypt, Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi made it clear that his country is opposed to the migration of Gaza residents to the Sinai, or to any other place. Obviously, Egypt is in a position to alleviate civilian casualties in the event of a military campaign against Hamas in Rafiah, but it would prefer not to be placed in a position of having to decide whether or not to do so.

The second point: All of the Israeli hostages, including the bodies of those were killed, or died, but remain in the control of Hamas, would be released in two stages that would extend over a period of 10 weeks. This would be in exchange for hundreds (in reality, thousands) of “Palestinian” prisoners in Israeli jails. The total number of Israeli hostages was not specified in the Egyptian proposal, most probably due to the fact that they do not know the exact number who will untimately be released, both alive and dead. This is seriously problematic. Apparently, it was not specified in the Egyptian proposal whether the two stages would be separately negotiated. If so, it would provide Hamas with the opportunity to once again make exhorbitant demands for the second stage of the hostage release and fail to provide full disclosure to Israel, similar to what it did following the first “deal” back in November. Moreover, a 10-week ceasefire will enable Hamas to regroup from the pressure of the IDF and recruit the prisoners who are released in a renewed resistance against Israel. If one is thinking that I do not trust anything that Hamas promises to do, you would be right.

The third point is the most serious and problematic. It calls for an absolute ceasefire for the period of a full year, where both sides agree not to fire upon or use weapons against the other, whether on the ground or in the air. This mutuality aspect of the proposal was obviously included to be conciliatory towards Hamas, to whom the statement was clearly intended. Upon the declaration of the commencement of the ceasefire, steps would be undertaken towards the establishment of a “Palestinian” state, with the declaration being supported by the United States, Egypt, Jordan and the “Palestinian” Authority. Not mentioned, of course, is the fact that Hamas would remain intact and that it  would play an active role in the leadership of such a “Palestinian” state – a situation that could quickly revert to the conditions existing in the Gaza enclave for the past 17 years.

If the Egyptian proposal was intended to be fair and impartial, the third point is anything but that. The “Palestinian” Authority is politically at odds with Hamas and it is a pipe dream to think that they can work together. However, in essence, they have the same goals and perspectives vis-a-vis Israel, namely: that we cannot continue to exist, not here and not at all. The demands related to the  establishment of a “Palestinian” state have always included uniting the West Bank (of the Jordan River, Biblically known as Judea and Samaria) with Gaza, with pre-1967 borders. The contiguous territory to unite those two areas would mean slicing Israel in half. It would, in reality, also require the removal of a half million Israelis from the area of Judea and Samaria, and include the dividing of Jerusalem. And, if a “Palestinian” state were to be created in the areas mentioned, it would not have any restrictions as to importation of weapons or individuals. There are, of course, other significant issues. But, agreeing to the establishment of a “Palestinian” state would be like placing a ticking bomb on our doorsteps and it would be only a matter of time before that bomb explodes. 

Halevi and Bar did not respond to the Egyptian proposal, but agreed to present it to Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Security Cabinet. 

It is conceivable that Hamas would agree to the Egyptian proposal, at least to most of it. After all, it contains most of what they have been demanding since the outset of the present war. Israel, on the other hand, would be out of its mind to accept such a proposal. It would be conceding that it lost not only the war against Hamas, but would tacitly be admitting that it is vulnerable to terrorist attacks, particularly if our citizens are taken hostage by the terrorists. 

It bears repeating that Hamas has kept secret all information concerning the hostages, except what it chose to make public through selective videos. Israel has demanded information in the past, but its demands were ignored by Hamas. It was inconceivable that Israel negotiated for, and previously agreed to, the partial release of hostages, rather than all of the hostages at one time. And now, there appears to be a willingness to do the same thing. But, the final price is too much to pay and the consequences of “making a deal” are seriously problematic and explosive. 

Israeli sources (in Hebrew) disclose that during the second stage of the Egyptian proposal, some senior Hamas leaders would be allowed leave the Gaza enclave for Cairo to carry on the negotiations by themselves, with guarantees by Qatar, Egypt and the United States that they will not be harmed by Israel. The rats coming out of their holes would provide a golden opportunity to Israel for their elimination. Yet, Israel is being asked not to take advantage of that opportunity.

Sources in Israel DENY that it agreed to the Egyptian proposal and claim that Israel presented its own conditions for a deal, which did not contain an agreement to withdraw the IDF from the Gaza Strip or end the war. It is also asserted that Israel did not agree to other demands presented by Hamas. The full terms of Israel’s counter-proposal were not immediately disclosed.

Nevertheless, Israel’s proposal is said to include a demand for the release of 33 hostages – on humanitarian grounds – in exchange for releasing multitudes of terrorists, many with blood on their hands and that the preliminary ceasefire would be extended by one day for each additional hostage that is released. In addition, Israel would agree to allow the return to the north of the Gaza Strip men over the age of 65, as well as women and children.

At this point, everyone is waiting for the response of Hamas to the proposals that have been submitted. 

It needs to be clarified that Egypt, which now has a vested interest in bringing about an agreement between Hamas and Israel, which would forestall military action in Rafiah (Rafah), is pushing hard to bring about an inclusive deal between the parties. If they don’t reach an overall agreement, an attempt would be made to push for a staged agreement, whereby the initial demands of both sides would be agreed upon and that the disputed issues would be left for future discussions. Israel, of course, wants the return of the hostages first and foremost. Hamas wants a ceasefire. Egypt wants a delay in Israel’s decision to move against Rafiah.

Hebrew media sources further report that Yehya Sinwar said that Hamas is not worried about a military campaign in the area of Rafiah. Hamas sources further indicate that Sinwar and his companion in terror, Mohammed Deif, informed their colleagues abroad that the military arm of Hamas is well prepared for a military operation in Rafiah and that there should not be any waivers in the negotiations. Given the military successes of the IDF against Hamas, these latest comments by Hamas could well be just another form of psychological warfare, and their claims of readiness could be completely the opposite of the concerns of the military wing of Hamas.

What is clear, however, is that the desire of Hamas to minimize the number of hostages who will be released in any deal reflects a difficult reality that the longer the fighting continues, the fewer the number of hostages who will remain alive. The argument that only a military victory against Hamas would bring about the release of the hostages is the government’s message that is being rejected by the families of the hostages.

How do things look in reality, on the ground?

The IDF is preparing for an intensive ground operation against Hamas in Rafiah, while Gaza residents enjoy hot days at the beach and our hostages are being kept in tunnels, or in diverse private locations.

Some Gaza residents that were displaced from the north of the enclave during the early stages of the IDF ground operation are being allowed to return.

Humanitarian aid entering the Strip are at peak levels, in addition to the fact that markets in Gaza are still open and operational.

Hamas totally controls the distribution of humanitarian aid and sells it to those who can afford it, while others who cannot afford it, suffer.

The IDF has only two divisions remaining in Gaza.

Rockets from Gaza continue to be fired into communities in and around the Gaza Envelope.

Israel is pushing for a deal, one that is far from ideal, that would bring about the return of the hostages – at least some of them – and allow for an end to  the fighting – at least temporarily, until Hamas violates the terms of any agreement that it would make.

What conclusiona are we to draw from these facts? From a practical point of view, as of today – while waiting for an official response from Hamas to the latest proposal(s) – the war is just about at an end. The claim of “total victory”, which was touted in good faith at the beginning of the military campaign, appears to be increasingly unattainable today. And, Hamas will claim victory, UNLESS: Hamas refuses the proposals on the table and Israel continues its pursuit of the elimination or substantial crippling of the terrorist organization’s remaining forces in Rafiah, where the military campaign of urban warfare will be severe and costly, but eventually successful. OR UNLESS: Irrespective of any potential deal, Israel decides that the need to eliminate the threat of Hamas is seen as paramount for the welfare of the nation as a whole, despite all of the other pressures placed upon the country to accede to a deal at any price.

If the hostage / prisoner release / ceasefire negotiations are rejected by Hamas, then rockets, which continue to be launched from Gaza into communities in the southwest of Israel, will continue to be launched against us until we make a renewed and determined decision to put an end to them. The once-thriving communities in the Gaza Envelope will become only sparesly populated. We will return to, and continue with, the “normal situation” that existed on the 6th of October – they fire upon us and we retaliate and so we will continue our existence as if nothing happened the following day. Again, UNLESS the ability of Hamas to wage war against Israel is eliminated.

The “Palestinians” refer to October 7th as “the day of the crossing” – when they crossed over from the Strip to “occupied Palestine”. That statement is taken from a similar one used by the Egyptians, when on October 6, 1973, they “crossed the [Suez] Canal”. In a worst-case scenario, if Hamas claims victory, real or imagined, the next “crossing” will be right around the corner.

And what about the threats from within the political sphere? The opinions are, as expected, varied and in opposition to one another. Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, of the Religious Zionist Party, in a message intended for P.M. Netanyahu, said: “If you decide to fly a white flag and cancel the order to conquer Rafah immediately to complete the mission of destroying Hamas and restore peace for the residents of southern Israel and all of the country’s citizens, and return our abducted brothers and sisters who are held hostage to their homes – then the government you head will have no right of existence.” His comments were echoed by Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir, of the Jewish National Front Party, who said that a “reckless deal equals the dissolution of the government.” They are veiled threats of the withdrawal from the government of the political entities that they represent and the resultant dissolution of the government coalition.

War Cabinet Minister, Benny Gantz, of the National Unity Party, said that although pursuing a military operation in Rafiah against Hamas “is important in the long struggle against Hamas, the return of our hostages — who were abandoned by the government on October 7 — is urgent and of far greater importance…[adding] If a responsible outline is reached for the return of the hostages with the backing of the entire security establishment — which does not involve ending the war — and the ministers who led the government on October 7 prevent it, the government will have no right to continue to exist and lead the campaign.”

Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, said that “In Gaza, we are obligated to eliminate Hamas and also to return the hostages. We are working on these two tasks and I am determined to accomplish both things. It will take as long as it takes, but we must do this task.” 

While we all wait for an answer from Hamas to the proposals that were submitted, the Israeli government needs to prepare for mulitple eventualities. It clearly needs the wisdom of Solomon. 

And we did not even discuss the growing antisemitic and anti-Israel protests and confrontations on college and university campuses. Enough for now. One headache at a time.

This is the seventh day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (which immediately follows Passover). According to tradition, it commemorates the day of passing through the Red Sea, a seemingly impassable obstacle in the face of a pursuing enemy, leading to freedom from oppression, as well as new life after being cleansed from sin. A Red-Sea opening for Israel right now would be greatly appreciated!

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing. 

Marvin

Kamala Harris went too far when she condemned Israel for not doing enough to provide aid to Gazans, who she said were “caught in the war between the Jewish state and the terrorist organization bent on its destruction.” Mr. Harris spoke at an event in Selma, Alabama, commemorating the anniversary of civil rights activists who were beaten by state troopers. Given the nature of the event where she spoke, it would be only natural for Ms. Harris to inject a few tidbits regarding other matters that in her mind are appropriate matters for discussion at that same event. But, she went beyond tidbits, focusing on crowd appeal and getting on Israel’s case.

I try not to get embroiled in U.S. politics or politicians. But, when either or both reflects upon events in Israel, it would be wrong for any of us to remain silent. In her castigation of Israel, she appears to have forgotten that we are in the throes of a war against a ruthless, totally immoral terrorist organization, whose sole raison d’être is to kill the Jewish people and eliminate the State of Israel from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. She asserted: “The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses. They must not impose any unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid…[and] must open new border crossings.”

It is clear that the perspective of the Vice-President of the United States, of what is happening thousands of miles away from where she lives, is removed from the realities here. Her comments included that Israel “must ensure humanitarian personnel, sites and convoys are not targeted.” Targeted by whom? The IDF denies without hesitation that it does not target any humanitarian aid sites. That leaves Hamas and the Gazans themselves. As far as protecting the “humanitarian personnel”, with all due respect to Ms. Harris, that is not Israel’s responsibility. It provides humanitarian aid and allows other nations to participate in that regard. For all intents and purposes, Israel does not need to help in the distribution of the aid that enters Gaza, nor to act as a bodyguard for “humanitarian personnel”, who are undefined. Maybe she is referring to UNRWA employees. In any event, others are responsible for the trucks, the personnel and for the distribution. But, if those others fail in their responsibility, or choose not to participate in such distribution because of fear of Hamas, or because the fighting poses potential danger to them, the blame for what happens because of the failure of others should not be placed at Israel’s doorstep. 

Then Ms. Harris added that “Israel also needed to work to restore basic services and promote order so that ‘more food, water and fuel can reach those in need’.” So, now, in the midst of fighting, she wants Israel to restore/repair basic services for the Gazan civilians. Maybe she expects that Israel would send over a few plumbers, open up all-night grocery stores and set up fueling stations throughout the coastal enclave. She played to the crowd and got the response that she wanted … from them, at our expense.

It has been shown that when humanitarian aid shipments enter Gaza, Hamas is the primary beneficiary of those shipments, which are intended for the multitudes. That terrorist organization has no genuine concern for the civilians in Gaza, but only for its own survival, and it forcefully takes what it wants. A natural result of the lack of an orderly distribution of humanitarian aid could clearly lead to a crisis, which, in the opinion of Kamala Harris, would then be the catalyst that should result in “an immediate ceasefire…for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table. This will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in…Let’s get a ceasefire, let’s reunite the hostages with their families, and let’s provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza.”

Her words give the impression that she is personally involved in either fighting this war or negotiating an end to it. “Let’s get…let’s reunite…let’s provide….”  Apparently, Ms. Harris fails to grasp the realities of this war and the nature of the terrorist organization that is, and absolutely should be, responsible for everything suffering in the Gaza Strip since October 7th. When she says, “Let’s”, she really means that Israel should do what she stated: “get, reunite, provide”, as if these are magical words that merely uttering them will bring about the desired result. No, Ms. Harris. There are casualties in every war and Israel’s primary goal is to defeat its enemy and bring the hostages home, alive. It is not to placate the enemy, or to pull out all the stops to make sure that the people who put Hamas into power are not harmed and are treated well. 

Israel makes every effort to minimize civilian casualties, but is not an insurance company that needs to compensate Gazans who suffer because of the evils brought about by the government of blood-thirsty terrorists that those Gazans empowered to rule over them. 

“Let’s get a ceasefire.” War is not an electric outlet that can be turned on and switched off at whim, because some politician thinks there is too much alleged innocent suffering. What about the innocent suffering of the hostages? Where is the humanitarian aid that should have been given to them during the past 150 days, humanitarian aid that the world should have demanded be given to them. Does their suffering not count? Where are the medical supplies that some of the hostages desperately needed? Hamas refused to provide access to the hostages by the International Red Cross. What are the names of the hostages that are still alive? Hamas refused to give a list of names to Israel. Are our hostages treated well? Testimonies of released hostages reveal ill treatment of them by Hamas and abuse that is contrary to what international law would require. Israel says that 32 hostages have died or are declared dead. Hamas claims that 70 hostages have been killed due to Israeli attacks, but did not return the bodies for examination. So, how many are really still alive and will be able to survive another six weeks in Hamas captivity? I honesty believe that even Hamas doesn’t know, so it cannot provide a list.  

“Let’s reunite the hostages with their families.” This should have been uppermost in minds of those who call themselves “friends”. But, it wasn’t. This call has been sounded loud and clear by the families of the hostages and has been exerted and felt both near and far. There is no guarantee that all of the hostages, whoever may still be alive, will be released. The “deal” that’s on the table is not a one-time hostage release in exchange for a ceasefire and a swap of 10 prisoners in Israeli jails for every 1 hostage held by Hamas. It is a staged release and at each stage, Hamas can back away, just like it did before, or it will turn up the heat and make its demands more severe, leaving members of the IDF as the last ones to be returned. “Let’s provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza.” Thousands of truckloads of humanitarian aid have entered into Gaza after Joe Biden’s visit to Israel following the massacre perpetrated by Hamas on the final day of the most joyous annual feast day here. The best and most appropriate “immediate relief” for the people of Gaza is for them to be rid of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. 

If Kamala Harris really wants the present situation to change, she should be making every effort to help Israel, America’s friend and ally, to rid itself of a deadly enemy and free the hostages. This will also allow the tens of thousand of Israelis to return to their homes, who have been displaced because of missiles launched by terrorist organizations, resulting in those who were displaced becoming refugees in their own country. The sooner we can take care of what we need to do, the sooner the war can end, families can be reunited, and displaced Israelis can return to their homes. Then, if the U.S. still has a mindset to do so, it can extend its hand of help to the people of Gaza. 

It’s easy to condemn. It’s more difficult to take a stand for a friend during its hour of need. There are consequences to both choices. “I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” (Gen. 12:3) This is as true today as it has ever been. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a person sows, this he will also reap.” (Gal. 6:7)

May the rest of your week be one of blessing.
Marvin

Shalom all,

The number of IDF deaths since the beginning of the ground offensive has now reached 235. The total number of IDF deaths since October 7th stands at 572. The number of hostages still held by Hamas and other terrorists is estimated at around 130, without knowing who and how many, are still alive.

A Spirit of delusion has taken hold of the United States leadership, along with a number of Arab countries. That fantasy relates to the push for the establishment of a “Palestinian” state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. It is difficult to state with exactitude how many nations genuinely believe that such a step will actually be the catalyst for peace in the Middle East. If we listen to U.S. President Joe Biden and his team, one might actually think that they truly believe in the nonsense that they are espousing. And these actors are moving forward with their plans, which are doomed to failure – or worse, regional war. There are a multitude of reasons why such behind-the-scenes political maneuvering will not succeed. But, the paramount reason is because their discussions do not include Israel! As one journalist expressed it: “The Biden administration’s dogged focus on creating a Palestinian state is ‘obtuse’ and ‘delusional’.”

In his article in “the Algemeiner” yesterday, columnist Jack Elbaum reported that the U.S., along with Jordan and Egypt, together with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates are “quickly working to form a plan to end the Israel-Hamas war and create a Palestinian state. The first step of such a plan would be for Israel and Hamas to agree to a six-week ceasefire in exchange for the Israeli hostages. Then, during that pause in fighting, the U.S. and its Arab partners would announce the plan and start to form an interim Palestinian government.”  

Let’s look at the Arab countries listed as “partners” with the U.S.: Jordan and Egypt both have peace agreements with Israel, but have been strongly outspoken against Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. Egypt refuses to allow Gaza residents to cross into its territory, being clearly concerned that Hamas terrorists will join the mixed multitude and wreak havoc in Egypt in due course, as they have in Gaza. Qatar has been a major financial supporter of Hamas and somehow has managed to become the major mediator in the talks between Israel and Hamas – a fact that remains difficult to comprehend. Pakistan issues passports that contain a statement that they are valid for everywhere in the world, with the notation “except Israel”. The United Arab Emirates was the first to sign the Abraham Accords with Israel, but those accords are primarily for economic interests. It never became an “ally” of Israel.

Those countries are talking and making plans behind Israel’s back. They are Biden’s “Arab partners” in the Don Quixote quest of charging at windmills in the totally misguided and, in some instances, intentional goal of dismembering the State of Israel from within, by the establishment of a so-called “Palestinian” state in the heartland of Israel. In choosing to move forward with his “Arab partners”, Biden and his team of spokespersons, have single-handedly written off the “unbreakable bond” that existed between the U.S. and Israel, until October 7, 2023. 

In a  lengthy telephone conversation between Biden and Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden expressed his view that Israel should not pursue its military operation in Rafah (Rafiah), without developing an executable plan to provide for the safety of the civilians there. That this is a political decision for the benefit of Bidenik politics is without question. He calls Israel the friend of the U.S., but his actions are for his own benefit. The concern that has been expressed over and over again by U.S. representatives is for the civilian population and for the number of non-combatant casualties in the Gaza enclave. Somewhere along the line, the unfathomable atrocities that were committed on Black Saturday in Israel have been cast aside for political expediency, along with the fact that the multitudes of civilians in Gaza cheered the successes of Hamas, which was their leadership of choice. It has been revealed and reported over and over that Gazan civilians, including dozens of UNRWA employees, actively participated in the bloody assault. War is hell and people die, some justifiably and intentionally, while others, who are not active combatants, become casualties of war.

The Bideniks, all politicians of one sort or another and from one country or another, have conveniently ignored their own actions in the war against Germany and its allies in World War II. In a war that lasted for years (not just 4-1/2 months like the Gaza War), the Allied forces, that included the U.S. and Great Britain, conducted bombing raids against the City of Dresden that almost completely destroyed the city. According to Britannica :

“During World War II, Allied bombing raids on February 13–15, 1945… almost completely destroyed the German city of Dresden. The raids became a symbol of the “terror bombing” campaign against Germany, which was one of the most controversial Allied actions of the war.

“Throughout the war, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill had called for increased British air raids against the population centres of Germany [my emphasis] in order to swamp German authorities and services, particularly transportation, with hordes of refugees. As the Allied forces closed in on the Third Reich in 1945, such targets became more feasible because of the air superiority and improved navigation techniques of the Anglo-American bomber force.

“Before World War II, Dresden was called ‘Florence on the Elbe’ and was considered one of the world’s most beautiful cities because of its architecture and art treasures. Having never previously been attacked in the war, the city offered increased value for terror bombing against an inexperienced population. On the night of February 13, the British Bomber Command hit Dresden with an 800-bomber air raid, dropping some 2,700 tons of bombs, including large numbers of incendiaries. Aided by weather conditions, a firestorm developed, incinerating tens of thousands of people. The U.S. Eighth Air Force followed the next day with another 400 tons of bombs and carried out yet another raid by 210 bombers on February 15. It is thought that some 25,000–35,000 civilians died in Dresden in the air attacks, though some estimates are as high as 250,000, given the influx of undocumented refugees that had fled to Dresden from the Eastern Front [my emphasis]. Most of the victims were women, children, and the elderly….

“Given the high number of civilian casualties and the relatively few strategic targets, some even called the bombing of Dresden a war crime, though both the British and the American militaries defended the bombing as necessary [my emphasis].

The goal of the Allies was to bring about an end to the war. Israel’s goal is not any different. While the Allies intentionally targeted “population centers”, Israel makes every effort to avoid civilian casualties. But, that becomes a gargantuan challenge, when seeking out an enemy that hides in civilian population centers and uses every type of civilian facility as a location from which to conduct its terrorist operations, even using the civilians themselves as human shields. Enough is enough. Israel has been engaged in military conflicts since its establishment as a State. It has compromised time and time again, entering into multiple agreements with its enemies, only to find itself attacked over and over again. This present war has created serious divisions within Israeli society. But, a recent poll taken by Channel 13, a major television station here, revealed that most of the Israelis polled are in favor of removing Hamas leadership from Gaza, even if it means not having the hostages returned. The question asked was (free translation from Hebrew): 

“Suppose that Israel’s leaders come to the conclusion that they have only the two following options, which of them, in your opinion, should be chosen? –  (choices):

The hostages should be returned and Hamas will remain in control of Gaza = 25%-  

The hostages will not be returned, and Hamas will lose its control in Gaza = 47%-  

Can’t reply” = 28%”

Why should the United States and Great Britain and their other allies be allowed to defend themselves against an aggressor that was determined to dominate the world, but minuscule Israel is denied that right against an aggressor that seeks to eliminate its very existence? Is the dependence on U.S. aid a justifiable reason for the Bideniks to dictate to Israel not to pursue military action in Rafiah – the last, remaining Hamas stronghold, and to set a timetable to end the Gaza War before the onset of the Muslim feast of Ramadan? Setting a timetable in a war, particularly this war, is not only an exercise in futility, but an indication that those who make such a decision are removed from realities on the ground and live on fantasy island. Is the U.S. abandoning Israel at a time when it looks to its alleged ally that is powerful enough to say “no” to resolutions against Israel in the U.N. Security Council? The evil of politics is found in the politicians that make decisions that have far-reaching consequences. The failure to pay attention to what is readily visible and the failure or refusal to learn from present-day events will inevitably result in a repetition of them. Those who close their eyes and ears will end up with a rude awakening.

The Dry Bones Blog – 14 February, 2024 <blog@mrdrybones.com>

As if the talks of establishing a “Palestinian” state were not difficult enough, according an article in the Washington Post, “One Arab official said Hamas’s political wing should be included in the talks, if not in the future government. ‘We need someone there who represents them to ensure they’re on board with this…If not, and they’re not happy about it, we will have Fatah and Hamas all over again’, the official said, referring to earlier confrontations between the two Palestinian groups that ultimately led to Hamas’s election as the governing power in Gaza. But if they can achieve two years of stability and prosperity under a revitalized government…’no one will choose Hamas’ at the ballot box.” Fatah and Hamas agreeing for two years? They can’t even agree for two hours. Such a proposition will never be accepted by Israel. It recognizes the power that Hamas exerts and it is that very power that this present war is being fought to eliminate. 

Following his telephone conversation with President Biden, P.M. Netanyahu wrote in his “X” (formerly Twitter) account (translated from Hebrew): “Israel outright rejects international dictates regarding a permanent settlement with the “Palestinians”. Such an arrangement will be reached only through direct negotiations between the parties, without preconditions. Israel will continue to oppose the unilateral recognition of a “Palestinian” state. Such recognition in the wake of the October 7 massacre would give a huge reward to unprecedented terrorism and prevent any future peace settlement.” Whether or not Israel will ever agree to a “future peace settlement” that will allow for the establishment of a “Palestinian” state as planned by the U.S. and its “partners” is doubtful. In any event, such a plan is doomed to failure because it is premised on the survival of Hamas and the involvement of Qatar. What is not doubtful, however, is that even the planning of such a move by the U.S. is nothing short of a betrayal of its friend and ally, Israel. As the situation has developed to this time, it is clear that Israel cannot, and should not, be dependent on any foreign government for its existence. Our leaders need to decide what is in our best interest, not the interest of any other government or nation or even the re-election of someone who once called Israel his friend. 

Israel wants to end the Gaza War. It has other issues that need to be dealt with. Hassan Nasrallah, the General Secretary of the Hezbollah terrorist organization, delivered a speech yesterday at a ceremony honoring the “martyrs” – as he referred to them, who were killed in a retaliatory strike by Israel on terrorist targets. He stated, in part, that Hezbollah’s determination increased as a result of the deaths of ten civilians and that the Hezbollah would increase their “presence, strength, fire [and] anger” and expand their operations and that Israel “must expect that and wait for that.” He added, that if Israel expands the war with Hezbollah, the terrorist group possesses a “huge arsenal” of “precision-guided missiles that can reach everywhere in Israel”.

One more item for prayer. The International Court of Justice (or Injustice – call it what you want) will be considering this coming week whether Israel’s presence in Judea and Samaria is “legal”. A decision against Israel would be disastrous. 

If we look at things from a spiritual perspective, as we must, and have our eyes opened, we really have no reason to fear. There are more with us than there are with them. (2 Kings 6:16) Still, a miracle here and there just now wouldn’t hurt.

Have a great week.

Bless, be blessed and be a blessing.

Marvin