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January 18, 2008
Living Under Terror's Shadow
If you read the mainstream media, you rarely hear about those who live under constant attack by Gaza's terrorist jihadist gangs. In fact, the MSM is unnaturally focused on the, ahem, innocent civilians in Gaza; never mind that the Gazans overwhelmingly voted Hamas into power, thus discarding any pretense of innocence.
The true innocent civilians are the Israelis who are under constant bombardment, constant terrorist incursions—and the Olmert government's refusal to treat Gaza as the hostile entity it has declared itself to be.
Here is a fine story about a small Moshav that borders Gaza. It should serve as a cautionary tale for the criminal inaction of the Olmert government, and what the enemy have in store for the entire Jewish state if more concessions are made in Judea and Samaria or, G-d forbid, if Jerusalem were to be divided.
Early this week Netiv Ha’asara was in the news again—just barely, a passing mention—when a mortar shell fired from Gaza lightly damaged a house there. Netiv Ha’asara, a moshav (cooperative farming community) of 550 people, is the closest Israeli community to Gaza, a scant 100 meters from the northern border of the Strip. It was formerly one of the Sinai settlements and was reestablished at its current location in 1982 after those were torn down at the behest of Israel’s then peace partner, Egypt.
Netiv Ha’asara also flickered briefly into the news on January 4 when it was hit by eight mortars from Gaza that caused no injuries or damage. If any of the Israeli Gaza-belt communities has a substantial news presence it’s the much larger Sderot, the battered town of twenty thousand to Netiv Ha’asara’s south and west.
Netiv Ha’asara, though, is a microcosm of a nightmarish reality and an almost incomprehensible story of perseverance.
To read the complete article, please click here.
Hat Tip: Seraphic Friend, Lance Fogel
Karen and I wish all our friends a beautiful and profound miracle in Shabbat.
Today's Links
Steel Rain Hits Israel This is known as war. But Olmert and his enablers proceed on the road of appeasement. They are not a government, but a band of criminals. A government's first responsibilty is national security, to protect and defend the citizens and the borders of its country. The Olmert government is failing miserably at this duty. In fact, this dark coalition seems more interested in protecting the jihadists in Gaza, those who have vowed to eliminate Israel and the Jewish people from the face of the earth, than in protecting the Jewish State or the Jewish people. Not since King Ahab has the Jewish people been led by such an odious figure. But Ahab, according to the Talmud, at least kept a kosher kitchen. Olmert has no such distinction. He is but one of Jewish history's ugly mistakes.
From Jameel at The Muqata: Olmert Targets the Blogosphere.
Treppenwitz points out that the recent wave of arrests have been targeting those who object to Olmert's policies. Will the left, presumably passionate believers in free speech, protest these outrageous police actions? But When They Came For Me It Was Too Late.
There is nothing worse than for a parent to lose a child. Seraphic Friend Alan Busch has written a loving tribute to his late son. Here's a wonderful review of Snapshots: In Memory of Ben. To order the book click here.
From our good friends at Libertas: The Writers Guild of America Sells out to the NAACP.
Victor Davis Hanson explains why Ghandi is an idiot. H/T Judd Magilnick
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at January 18, 2008 11:12 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
How embarrassing is it when a sovereign nation refuses to protect its citizens?
This tragic failure will come back to haunt Israel in the future, as it will only encourage it's enemies to attack.
Worse yet, it will know it can attack without worry of reprisal.....outside of cosmetic surgical strikes, which only give cover for Olmert and his flunkies.
Posted by: Lance at January 18, 2008 11:42 AM
University of Rochester president Joel Seligman responds to Gandhi's remarks here:
">http://www.rochester.edu/president/memos/2008/gandhi.html
Guest essay by Lawrence Fine, executive director of the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008801180352
Gandhi has tendered his resignation:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008801180355
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880117043
Apparently the Washington Post is apologizing for publishing the comments:
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200880118021
Sorry, I cannot get that first link to show up correctly.
Posted by: Dr.Carol at January 18, 2008 12:38 PM
Dr. Carol:
Thanks so much. Don't know why the link doesn't work. Here's the statement:
Statement by President Joel Seligman
January 11, 2008
I was surprised and deeply disappointed by Arun Gandhi's recent opinion piece in the Washington Post blog, "On Faith." I believe that his subsequent apology inadequately explains his stated views, which seem fundamentally inconsistent with the core values of the University of Rochester.
In particular I vehemently disagree with his singling out of Israel and the Jewish people as to blame for the "Culture of Violence" that he believes is eventually going to destroy humanity. This kind of stereotyping is inconsistent with our core values and would be inappropriate when applied to any race, any religion, any nationality, or either gender.
Among the University of Rochester's values are a commitment to promoting diversity and being a welcoming and inclusive community. We respect the religious and cultural heritages of all people, and indeed our Interfaith Chapel is an institutional expression of our commitment to support religious diversity, to encourage free and open dialogue among diverse religions in a civil manner.
We are also committed to the right of every person to address complaints or allegations personally and directly. Arun Gandhi currently is in India. I will discuss this matter with him in person as soon as he returns to Rochester later this month.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 18, 2008 12:56 PM
Robert asks:
Will the left, presumably believers in free speech, protest these outrageous police actions?
The answer: NO!
Posted by: Lance at January 18, 2008 01:27 PM
See the reference to Dahlan's Deadly Claim.
Netiv Ha'asara was founded by Sinai evacuees. For those who wish for Israel to continue withdrawing from territory, why don't they respect previous withdrawals? Why don't they discourage the PA from attacking areas that even they consider parts of Israel?
It's hard to say that those espousing even more concessions are concerned at all about Israel.
Posted by: soccerdad at January 19, 2008 10:22 PM
Soccer Dad:
Israel's fifth columnists: Peace Now and B'tzelem, utilize Orwellian language and methods that all thugs and dictators use to undermine the state; they claim to represent the "people" they claim "peace" as their objective, they claim to be "democratic." In fact, they work actively for Jew-haters, for jihadists, for enemy states.
Their claim for patriotism is akin to the wife-beater who does it because his wife “make him do it.”
These groups are a fifth column and sooner or later the State of Israel is going to have to deal with these traitors in a deeply serious manner.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at January 19, 2008 10:40 PM
Dear Robert,
Thank you much for the book and review plug.
What you wrote with respect to Ariel ZT'L was my inspiration so I thank you for that too. Have a good week!
Alan D. Busch
www.snapshotsinmemoryofben.com
www.thebookofben.blogspot.com
www.writersstockintrade.blogspot.com
Posted by: alan d. busch at January 21, 2008 02:19 AM