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20 Cheshvan 5779

29 October 2018

Notice of the Day:

This announcement posted yesterday reads: “Return security to the south and zone 232. We are going to close the Kerem Shalom Crossing at 6 am tomorrow morning.”

Which is precisely what demonstrators did this morning–close the Kerem Shalom Crossing for a brief time as they demonstrated against the helplessness of our Netanyahu government in fighting Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

Yesterday, residents of southern Israel also demonstrated at the Azrieli train station in downtown Tel Aviv with parents in the region declaring they will close down the area’s schools if there are any more missile attacks.

The News on the Israeli Street

Palestinian terror in the last 24 hours . . .

In Judea and Samaria:

The Gush Etzion Road near Halhul, Azzun, north of Ofra, Ni’lin, Yehuda Farm, Route 465 near Deir Abu Mash’al, Beit Ummar, Tekoa, near the Tapuach Junction, on the Hevron Road: these were 10 out of some 30 places where Israelis were attacked yesterday with “rocks” and Molotovs.

On the Gaza border:

Several attempts by Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists to plant bombs ended poorly for them last night. In one attack, a 5-man Islamic Jihad group was hit by a bomb as they crawled toward the fence. Three were killed; the other two escaped back to Gaza.

Numerous incendiary balloons were launched by terrorists in Gaza into southern Israel. As noted on the breaking news ticker above, one landed near a kindergarten in Sderot. Meanwhile an unexploded missile was found on the grounds of the Sha’ar Hanegev High School and had to be defused.

Our “Security Cabinet” is a sad joke . . .

You will recall from yesterday that Hamas is now demanding that Israel turn over $15 million dollars from Qatar (the money is going from Qatar to the UN to Israel) every Thursday or face increased violence along the border.

We all know that our cowardly government will cave into the Hamas demand, but it was darkly amusing watching our “Security Cabinet” members dissembling yesterday.

Your humble servant’s favorite was Yuval Steinetz who responded to the question of whether Israel would pay Hamas or not: “It may be true or it may not be true.”

Speaking of cabinet members who are a joke, remember the Yoav Galant “Quote of the Day” we headed israelstreet with ten days ago:

“The rules of the game are about to change. We will no longer accept the terror of fire and the terror of fences.”

When I posted that, I posed the question: “Is Galant’s statement more bluster or does it reflect a new reality?”

During these last ten days, numerous fires, numerous assaults at the fence, and numerous missiles and mortars have all taken place. Yesterday, Galant was questioned about these events.

He responded: 

“We are not going to war because of one rocket.”

Thus was my question answered; Galant’s original statement was all bluster–just more of the hot air we see expended everyday from “our” politicians in Jerusalem. 

But Galant wasn’t finished. He then added insult to injury when he patronizingly referred to the residents of the South: 
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“I am aware of their situation . . . They need to be patient.”

Say what? He is “aware” of their situation?

“They need to be patient?”

Seven months of hell on the border, and they need to be patient? 

As you may not know . . .

Daylight savings time ended on Sunday morning here in Israel. Sunset in the country now occurs at about 4:45 pm each evening.

Tomorrow is election day for all municipalities in the country. The elections are considered something of a bellwether with most of the national parties supporting “lists” of local candidates.

Here in Ashdod, there are literally thousands of banners all over the city supporting the myriad of parties which are running for city council, and ones supporting one candidate or another for mayor.

Last night, your humble servant was at a rally for one of our mayoral candidates:

Thousands of people were at the rally for the current mayor of Ashdod.

Your humble servant will give a fuller report on the election after he votes.

Coincidentally . . .

Your humble servant is also voting in the U.S. midterm election tomorrow. California residents who are overseas are sent a ballot by email which can then be faxed back or mailed into to their local elections office.

TODAY’S BLOG:

Hatikvah in Abu Dhabi!

Israeli judoka Sagi Muki won the lightweight (81 kg) championship gold medal in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

Sagi Muki, second from left. He was supposed to have met the Iranian champion in the final match, but the Iranian “suddenly” suffered a fake leg injury and forfeited his semifinal match.

If you look closely, you will see the Israeli flag on his uniform–the first time that an Israeli in international competition in an Arab country was ever “permitted” to wear our flag. Sagi danced for joy pointing to that flag when he pinned his opponent in the final match.

Also remarkable was the playing of Hatikvah at the awards ceremony. As you watch the video of this, note Sports Minister Miri Regev in tears as she sings our national anthem.

Also note how the Abu Dhabi representative applauds when Hatikvah finishes and then clasps Regev.

At the end of the video in what needs no translation, Regev emotionally talks about how incredible it was to sing Hatikveh in an Arab country, and she thanks everyone–especially Abu Dhabi–for making it happen.

Your humble servant is always wary of overstatement, but it is obviously true that something has changed in the Sunni Arab world–if only perhaps temporarily. 

Temporary or not, let’s enjoy this thaw while it lasts.

Congratulations to Sagi and the other members of the Israel judo team!