Yom Shleeshee
Tuesday
15 Nisan 5784
April 23 2024
Special Notice
Pesach (Passover) began last night at sundown. Its message of liberation and freedom has special meaning this year as we think of those still held by Palestinian terrorists in the tunnels of Gaza.
We encourage all who celebrate the seder to set an empty plate at your seder table to remind your participants of their captivity, the horrors of October 7th, and necessity of eliminating the HamISIS barbarians.
Four mothers holding photos of their sons before a Passover table with matzot yesterday (Monday) morning.
UPDATE 9:00 AM
We celebrated our seder with family last night within 1 mile of a major Israel AFB (which will be unnamed here). All through the seder and afterwards, we heard the constant roar of planes taking off and landing. Where those planes were going to and coming from, your humble servant does not know.
But we do know that in addition to our brave soldiers in Gaza and on the Lebanese border, we have our brave IAF forces constantly working to ensure our freedom.
Our OneIsrael Campaign For Our Soldiers
IDF soldiers on the ground need basic protective gear, armaments, and supplies.
Even during the recent Iranian attacks soldiers were forced to lie in open trenches to protect themselves from incoming missiles and drones as they have been doing for months on the Gaza and northern borders.
OneIsrael is now engaged in a campaign to help protect our soldiers. This campaign will extend through Passover and to Shavuot.
Please consider donating to our campaign by clicking on the donate button in the right hand column on this page. All donations go directly to our soldiers.
Thank you to those of you who have already contributed to the protection of our brave men and women in uniform!
On the Ground in the North
Since 18:00 (6:00 pm) last night, northern border communities have been pummeled by Hezbollah drone attacks and more than 30 missile strikes: Rosh Hanikra, Shlomi, Hanita, Arab Al-Aramshe, Ya’ara (19:00); Tzfat (19:10–15 missile barrage); Metulla (04:09 this morning); Metulla (04:13).
The IAF carried out strikes yesterday afternoon and evening in southern Lebanon targeting Hezbollah terrorists:
A car carrying Hezbollah terrorists was hit near Sidon yesterday afternoon.
On the Ground in the South
*The nonstop missile fire from Gaza continues:
Sderot was targeted by 4 incoming missiles fired by Palestinians in Gaza at 9:34 am this Passover morning.
*As we have repeatedly written, there can be no full-blown assault on Rafah until so-called “civilians” are evacuated. Once again came reports yesterday that this evacuation will take 2-3 weeks and will be done “in coordination with the U.S. and Egypt.”
Egypt of course wants to make sure that none of the evacuees spill over into Egypt, and the U.S. wants to try to slow down any Israeli attack on HamISIS in Rafah.
*An interesting sight:
What do you think you are looking at?
The light in the background is from a military base the IDF has set up in Gaza. This base has already drawn intense criticism from the “poor Palestinians” because it is connected to the Israel electricity grid, whereas the Gazans must rely on solar panels and diesel fuel.
*Gen. Aharon Haliva, the head of IDF intelligence (not to be confused with IDF Chief of Staff Halevi) submitted his resignation yesterday citing his failure to recognize the signals of HamISIS’s attack before October 7.
This is just the first of what promises to be a wave of resignations that will probably–and should–reach all the way to Chief of Staff Halevi himself.
PM Netanyahu’s Passover Message Last Night
Netanyahu issued this statement last night before sitting down to his seder with his family and with IDF soldiers:
“As we gather around the Seder table to commemorate and celebrate our journey from slavery to freedom, our hearts are heavy with the plight of the 133 Israelis who remain in captivity in Hamas’ terror tunnels. Although 124 hostages are back with their loved ones, our resolve remains unyielding to see all hostages back with their families.
Why is this night different? Tonight, we reflect not only on old challenges but also on the current threats we are confronting. In every generation, some seek to destroy us, yet we have overcome them through our faith and unity.
Tonight, we think of those who cannot join their families at the Seder table. Their absence strengthens our resolve and reminds us of the urgency of our mission. We will not rest until each one is freed.
Hamas, the genocidal terrorist organization, has rejected all proposals for hostage release. The U.S. Secretary of State has openly criticized Hamas for preventing a hostage deal. Hamas seeks to divide us and harden their stance, but we will respond decisively.
The days ahead will see increased military and diplomatic efforts to secure the freedom of our hostages. Israel’s strength, both defensive and offensive, has been recently displayed. There is more to come. We will prevail.
On this Passover eve, honor our fallen and wounded heroes whose sacrifices have secured our freedom. I stand firmly with our defenders, the IDF, against anyone who challenges their honor.
As we are united on the battlefield and diplomatic fronts, so are we united in spirit. With the help of the Almighty, we will triumph.
Shalom to all on this sacred night of Passover. Next Year in the rebuilt Jerusalem. Am Yisrael Chai.”
We wish our soldiers and all of you readers:
A student from Malawi, who had worked with an Israeli health volunteer in his country battling AIDS, came up to us as we walked down the street in the UC-Davis Picnic Day Parade and wanted to carry the Israeli flag.