SAFE IN BEIT SHEMESH

 בס"ד

There were no attacks in Beit Shemesh today in any way, shape, or form. There were no missile attacks or guerilla attacks. I did see at least two low flying Israeli helicopters and a police car with flashing lights. Arab manual laborers, which have been a common sight, have been banned from the city. They tend to be maintenance men, garbage men, bus drivers, and supermarket stock clerks. Schools are closed and so are some businesses. 

For myself I took down my sukkah and did laundry which had accumulated over the holiday. I also gave my havrusa (study partner) a phone call, but we did not manage to meet.  I took walks in the morning and afternoon, watched YouTube videos, and read the news.

There is a lot of analysis of the war, specifically the success of Hamas and how it escaped the Israeli network of spies. It seems to me the story is in the morale of both sides. Hamas morale is very high and Israeli morale is very low. The state’s conduct of warfare has infuriated the enemy and this showed up in the spirited attack. Israeli society is corrupt and frivolous, consequently their response was sluggish and empty. Ominously there has been increased attacks by Hezbollah from Lebanon and an increase in “lone wolf” Arab attacks on Jews. It looks like the Hamas strategy is to bleed the State of Israel and they will kill civilians as easily as soldiers. There is talk that the Medina is planning a ground operation in Gaza. How long this situation will last remains uncertain.

I’d say that the immediate trigger of the war is the intention by Israel to give Saudi Arabia the ability to independently produce atom bombs. This is totally unacceptable to Iran. Most likely they told Hamas to attack. Hamas is also extremely angry about the Saudi intention to reciprocate by establishing diplomatic relations with Israel. About a week ago Iran leaked photos of former prime minister Ehud Barak and opposition leader Gantz in their homes. It struck me as an implied threat to kill Netanyahu if he kills the heads of Hamas as has often been threatened. 

The government remains shakey. There is talk of opposition leaders Gantz and Lapid joining it. I don’t see United Torah Judaism agreeing to the drafting of Haredim and it is very questionable if they will agree to any delay in the appropriate legislation concerning this. The war has put the issue of concessions to the Palestinians on the back burner. But if Netanyahu should exploit the war to do just this, the Religious Nationalist may immediately leave the government. Labor remains adamantly opposed to Netanyahu and blames him for the war. The leftist protests against the Orthodox have stopped at least for the moment.

Generally I’m in a good mood. The war is on my mind, but not greatly. I’m more concerned about the things that ordinarily bother me. My hope is that people will give their values a reality check and the social problems that bedevil me will be remedied.