Yom Chamishee
Thursday
25 Elul 5781
September 2 2021
Special Good Wishes!
We at OneIsrael want to wish the best to the more than 2 million Israeli students who began school yesterday despite all the problems associated with Corona.
A young student arrives for her first day. Above her head reads: Shalom Kita Aleph (Hello First Grade). Below is the name of her school and the year.
Speaking of Corona, a personal anecdote: one of our granddaughters started kindergarten yesterday in Jerusalem. Within four hours she was sent home when it was discovered that one of her classmates had tested positive for Corona. Her entire class is now under quarantine in their homes.
Photo of the Day
It didn’t take long.
Your humble servant ended yesterday’s blog with a graphic showing some of the $85 billion dollars in military equipment that the U.S. military abandoned in Afghanistan. I posed the question: “how long do you think it will be until some of these weapons end up in the hands of the enemies on our borders?”
The answer is “not long.” They are already on the way.
The above photo is courtesy of the Iranian media which was proud to publish documentation of American military vehicles being transferred by the Taliban to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards in the Iranian city of Samanan.
This is part of the Biden Afghanistan catastrophe–the massive distribution of abandoned American weapons to rogue regimes and terror groups throughout the Middle East.
Quote of the Day
“How is it possible that while we are sitting shiva for my beloved brother Bar-El that the IDF promotes the very brigade commander who was supposed to protect him?”
Hila, the sister of murdered soldier Bar-El Shmueli referring to the promotion of Col. Yoav Brunner from head of the northern brigade on the Gaza border to the rank of Brigadier General now heading the Paratrooper Brigade.
How is it possible?
Simple. The IDF General Command is morally adrift and subsequently completely indifferent and insensitive to what happens to the soldiers on the ground.
The News on the Israeli Street
The daily Corona update . . .
11,187 more Israelis were confirmed yesterday as having Covid-19. There are now 90,058 active cases in the country.
The positive test rate yesterday was 7.92%.
1,088,630 Israelis have tested positive since the pandemic began last year.
666 Israelis are in serious condition with another 149 in critical condition on ventilators.
7,090 Israelis have died.
Vaccinations:
5,995,710 Israelis have received 1 dose.
5,494,203 Israelis have received 2 doses.
2,350,440 Israelis have received 3 doses.
Palestinian terror in the last 24 hours . . .
We hear much about how the PLO and Hamas are at each other’s throats, but the fact is that they often work together.
Just how much together was indicated yesterday when a massive amount of tunnel equipment intended for Hamas was intercepted at the Tarkimiya Crossing. It was being smuggled to Hamas by the PLO.
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Isn’t it funny how at the very moment Israel gives concessions to the PLO, the PLO tries to smuggle tunnel building materials to Hamas.
TODAY’S BLOG
“A Culture Of Investigations”
What Prides Defense Minister Benny Gantz Most About The IDF
Benny Gantz gave a speech yesterday which bared his utter lack of support for our soldiers for all the world to see.
He began by discussing the “Don’t Shoot” orders given to Staff Sgt. Bar-El Shmueli’s unit on the Gaza Border.
Read the way Gantz describes the situation: “IDF soldiers have full backing to disarm suspects, but as ordered.”
Full backing to disarm (not “shoot at” or “kill”).
Full backing to disarm suspects (so now Hamas terrorists shooting at our soldiers or throwing grenades and Molotovs at them are “suspects.”)
Full backing to disarm suspects, but (in other words they do not have full backing).
Full backing to disarm suspects, but as ordered (no soldier can act in real time without permission from someone higher up the chain of command).
Gantz continued, underscoring what he had just said–and adding more conditions:
“I would like to emphasize that IDF soldiers have full backing to act to neutralize anyone who has the means and intent and in accordance with orders.”
Neutralize, not kill–and only those terrorists who have the means and intent and only in accordance with orders.
So now, our poor soldiers are supposed to analyze the means and intent of each terrorist they face. Can you even imagine this insanity? Apparently, the IDF doesn’t think that a terrorist throwing a grenade or shooting a gun at a soldier necessarily has bad “intent”.
Gantz–our Defense Minister and former IDF Chief of Staff— concluded his remarks on the subject by discussing what he is most proud of:
“The IDF is a body in which the culture of investigations is one of the best in the country and in the world.”
Say what? Shouldn’t our military leaders be most proud of having an army that is ready and able to fight to defend Israel?
Not according to Gantz. Fighting and defending this country pales in importance to having perhaps the best “culture of investigations” in the country and in the world.
Incredible. Now perhaps you can begin to understand why our soldiers feel like they have been thrown under the bus by the IDF General Command and why they tell anyone who asks that they are being told that they have “Don’t Shoot” orders.
They know that if they shoot, they will be investigated, court-martialed, and sent to prison.
Addendum:
Speaking of the culture of investigation.
The IDF spokesman just announced this morning that another investigation has been opened by the Military Prosecutor’s Office (MPI).
Why?
On Tuesday night, IDF soldiers operating near the Maccabim Crossing on Road 443 spotted a terrorist who was trying to kill Israelis by throwing Molotovs at their cars. The soldiers opened fire, and the terrorist fled.
An hour and a half later, the wounded terrorist showed up at the Crossing. He was treated by IDF medics, but died shortly thereafter.
The IDF spokesman was eager for us to know that the IDF is investigating the incident along the Military Prosecutor’s Office.
The handwriting is on the wall: almost certainly the soldiers will be court-martialed and found guilty in a kangaroo court and sentenced.
Such is the life of a soldier these days in Israel.
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.