Oct 20-21, 2023
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06:16 PM
Shabbat Shalom,
Just before Saturday, I sit down to write and give you some updates.
Yesterday was the first time I met with friends since the war started.
Although we just sat and talked, it was rejuvenating after such a difficult two weeks.
It’s hard to believe, but today marks the 14th day of the war.
It’s unbelievable that we have no information about the abductees and captives held by Hamas.
To clarify – we’re talking about at least 200 civilians who have been kidnapped and an unspecified number of soldiers who are captives.
We also have no information about which of them are alive or dead. What do we know?
Following Biden’s visit, Israel agreed to open the Rafah crossing from the Egyptian side for humanitarian aid to reach Gaza,
despite receiving nothing in return. It might sound petty, but when we are in the dark about the condition of our kidnapped citizens there,
the least that could have been done was to allow the Red Cross to meet them. Unfortunately, that did not happen.
Right now, there’s a thunderous silence here. What does that mean?
Today, there were fewer alarms than yesterday. As of now, there are no alarms at all where I live, and people go outside, visit malls, and drink coffee, trying to regain some sense of normalcy. This is a deceptive silence, as you will soon see that there were quite a few alarms today in different parts of the country.
This feigned silence suggests that we are probably approaching the second phase of the war, which may include a ground incursion into Gaza. I say ‘may’ because opinions here in Israel are divided. In war, you know how you enter, but not how you will exit, or with how many casualties, because there will be wounded and there will be fatalities. There’s a huge difference between a war using cannons and planes and one in a built-up area, between buildings and neighborhoods. Certainly, nothing is over, even if there is a moment to breathe and drink coffee.
#2
The situation in the northern arena remains tense but has not escalated yet, although patience is wearing thin. Hezbollah continues its provocations and attempts to infiltrate Israeli territory. One of the initial questions was why Hezbollah did not capitalize on the momentum on the morning of October 7th. After all, Hamas caught us by surprise, and it took a while for the confusion to clear and for us to grasp the extent of the disaster. Hamas forces moved freely in civilian areas, taking control of 21 settlements and kibbutzim! It took almost 72 hours to clear the area of terrorists.
The reason why Hezbollah didn’t join at the outset remains unknown. We speculate that Hezbollah knew of Hamas’s planned attack but not the timing. In a previous interview I shared here with a Hamas member, he mentioned they had been preparing for this attack for two years, and only a handful of people knew the exact details.
So, Hezbollah missed the initial opportunity, allowing Israel to establish positions on two fronts: one in the south near Gaza and one in the north on the Lebanese border. This enabled the mobilization of reserve forces and the full re-establishment of Israeli control. However, it’s still possible that Hezbollah will join the fighting. As I said yesterday, I think Hezbollah is waiting for the IDF to enter Gaza on foot and then will launch a broad campaign against all of Israel, given their extensive missile arsenal covering the entire country.
Regarding our other borders with Syria and Jordan, they are currently quiet. In Jordan, there are many demonstrations by Palestinian refugees in solidarity with Gaza and in support of Hamas. The Jordanian government is making significant efforts to prevent protesters from reaching the border. At the Jordan-Iraq border, demonstrators from Iraq have shown solidarity.
Regarding the missiles fired from Yemen that you asked about, this illustrates the far-reaching influence of Iran.
This campaign is far from just an Israel-Hamas conflict; it’s part of a larger picture.
Recently, there’s been talk of normalizing relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a topic that also surfaced a few years ago during the signing of the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain. I will attach a video shortly showing what happened yesterday at the Israeli mission in Bahrain.
Today’s updates will be brief, as it’s Shabbat evening. Despite the war, this is the time when every Jewish family gathers for Friday dinner to welcome the holy Shabbat.
Today, we will also offer a special prayer for all the kidnapped and missing,and for all the security forces who are now on the front lines protecting us.
06:22 PM
BBC News anchor did not anticipate hearing the naked truth while conducting a live interview with a Muslim Arab.
06:25 PM
Tell me who your friends are, and I will tell you who you are. Palestinians in Hebron hold up a picture of Russian President Putin and North Korean President Kim… Why is this relevant here, you ask?
I’ll let President Joe Biden explain.
06:30 PM
The Israeli consulate in Bahrain yesterday
06:35 PM
These evacuations are carried out to ensure the safety of residents due to the threat of terrorist infiltrations and the almost non-stop rocket fire.
Update as of April 6, 2024
All Israeli citizens who have been evacuated remain displaced from their homes.
182 Days from the 7th of October.
06:22 PM
Funeral update list, partial of course, as there are many more not listed here. This is only from one kibbutz.
06:42 PM
Dozens of volunteers from both the Jewish and Arab communities packed and transported hundreds of food baskets. These baskets, donated by Arab and Jewish citizens, were distributed to families in the south who were affected by the conflict, providing us with endless hope and inspiration.
06:47 PM
You don’t need to understand Hebrew to comprehend what you see in the picture, a sweet girl by the name of Maayan Idan whose body was only identified yesterday. She was murdered by Hamas.
06:50 PM
06:58 PM
Meet Or, a Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the Karakal Battalion, who has been decorated with the TLS (military decoration). Or led the battalion with calm and bravery in a heroic battle that lasted for many hours.
Together, they eliminated approximately 100 terrorists and saved numerous lives. This remarkable feat occurred 50 years after Or’s mother was awarded a TLS during the Yom Kippur War.
Some of you who are here might recognize her, because when you visited Israel, we dined at her establishment.
Aunt Nora, the owner of ‘Nora’s Kitchen’ in Daliyat El Carmel, closed her restaurant since the war began, but she didn’t stop cooking. For the past week, she has been preparing food for soldiers stationed throughout the country.
Aunt Nora says, ‘All the soldiers are my children. I pray every day for their safety and for the peace of all the people of Israel. May we see better days
Aunt Nora has a child who is a lieutenant colonel in the IDF and another child who holds a senior position in the Israel Police!
And Shabbat dinner begins,
Love you all,
Shay
09:15 PM
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