The question is rhetorical. For there is no nation like Israel.
Said Prime Minister Netanyahu on Friday (emphasis added):
“I have met with the commanders who are leading the IDF
operation, uncommonly brave, determined and motivated
commanders, with strong values. I am impressed by the
motivation of our soldiers, both conscripts and reservists, and their desire to
take part in the campaign. They understand that their mission is to defend
Israel’s citizens.”“Our fighters all know that they are fighting for the most just of goals – the defense of our shared home.”
http://www.algemeiner.com/2014/07/18/netanyahu-says-international-coalition-supporting-israel-to-take-systematic-and-strong-action-against-hamas/
~~~~~~~~~~
Meet here one uncommonly brave commander with strong values:
Col. Rassan Alian, a Golani Brigade battalion commander, was moderately injured last night when he was hit by shrapnel. Doctors where he was hospitalized insisted it wasn’t time for him to leave the hospital yet. But the colonel objected: "I have a lot of soldiers over there and I need to get back to them."
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4546862,00.html
Col. Alian is not some extraordinary exception. He represents a norm for Israeli commanders.
~~~~~~~~~~
Overnight, our operations in Gaza increased further. That this should be necessary at all is painful, but since it IS necessary, it is possible to view the new clear-eyed determination of our political and military echelon with great satisfaction and relief. This time we are going to do what needs to be done.
Credit: Yossi
Aloni/Flash90
What Netanyahu also said was: The IDF is a
moral military without peer; it does not aspire to harm any
innocent person. We are operating only against terrorist targets and we
regret any inadvertent civilian casualties.
Continue reading for more on how Israel conducts herself.
~~~~~~~~~~
Also overnight, in the course battle in Gaza, we have lost two more
soldiers:
Staff Sergeant Bania Roval, a 20-year-old soldier
from Holon, serving in the Paratroopers 101st Battalion, and Second-Lt. Bar
Rahav, 21, from Ramat Yishai, from the Engineering Corps. They were killed
in separate actions. Israel mourns every death.
Credit:
TimesofIsrael
~~~~~~~~~~
A major operation conducted today was against the neighborhood of Shejaia, which had been identified as a main focus of
terrorist activity in Gaza. In the course of the fighting some 40 to 50
Arabs were killed. The IDF reminded everyone that warnings had been sent
out two days ago asking civilians to please leave. These were ignored – or,
Hamas advised people to ignore them. At any rate, it was only after the shelling
– which has been very heavy – started that people suddenly decided it was
essential to leave immediately.
Credit:
AFP/Getty
It should be noted that ten tunnels were found in this operation.
Among the dead were family members of Hamas leader
Khalil al-Haya.
What happened subsequently – precise media reports vary – is that Hamas
asked for a humanitarian ceasefire so the dead and wounded could be evacuated
and civilians would have a chance to leave. The Red Cross intervened,
Israel agreed, and a two-hour ceasefire was set – with the proviso that if Hamas
broke it, Israel would not hold fire.
It took forty minutes for Hamas – who was said to have wanted this
ceasefire – to again start shooting at Israel. Israel returned fire, but then,
in spite of this, agreed to once more hold fire and even extend the ceasefire by
an additional hour, for those humanitarian reasons.
~~~~~~~~~~
Are we crazy to do this? I am sure some think we are. From
where I sit, this sort of humanitarian gesture is fine, AS LONG AS WE PROCEED to
pummel Hamas – and don’t pull back in the face of casualties inflicted on the
enemy.
We are fighting two sides of the same war: the military and the public
relations. There are major anti-Israel demonstrations in a host of
countries because we are so “vicious.” If this humanitarian gesture gives
people a different view of Israel (a somewhat dubious proposition) that is to
the good.
And, in terms of humanitarian gestures, there’s even more. (This
indeed seems certifiably nuts.) The IDF is setting up a field hospital at
the Erez Crossing between Israel and Gaza: It is for women and children
from Gaza, and includes a delivery room.
~~~~~~~~~~
What must be remembered here is that we are fighting a defensive war that
is entirely justified as our civilians are being targeted. In wars, no matter
the precautions, innocents are casualties. In every war this has been
so. No one can legitimately point a finger – but the world loves to accuse
Israel.
The ceasefire pressure is going to increase.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon is going to meet with Abbas. And Kerry is
coming to the area. How did we get so lucky?
~~~~~~~~~~
Remember the 20 rockets found in an UNRWA school that UNRWA officials say
they knew nothing about? Well. Israeli officials are objecting to the fact
that UNRWA has now turned those rockets over to Hamas.
~~~~~~~~~~
©
Arlene Kushner.
This
material is produced by Arlene Kushner, functioning as an independent
journalist. Permission is granted for it to be reproduced
only
with
proper attribution.
If it is reproduced and emphasis is added, the fact that
it has been added must be
noted.
This material is transmitted by Arlene only to
persons who have requested it or agreed to receive it. If you are on the
list and wish to be removed, contact Arlene and include your name in the text of
the message.
No comments:
Post a Comment