Yom Shleeshee
Tuesday
9 Av 5784
August 13 2024
Tisha B’Av
Impending war notwithstanding, tens of thousands of Jews gathered at the Kotel last night on Tisha B’Av to recite Lamentations remembering the loss of the First and Second Temples.
However, a different group of Jews numbering some one thousand gathered on a hill overlooking Gaza to read the Lamentations and demand that Israel resettle Jews in Gaza:
Look closely stretching along at the ridge of the hill in the background.
The Hilarious Quote of the Day
These days we have to look for humor wherever we can find it. How about this gem from yesterday:
“We condemn the decision of the Israeli government and its head, and see this as further proof of the occupation’s choice to confront journalists.”
This quote was from Hezbollah’s Al-Mayadeen television network which up until now has outrageously been allowed to broadcast in Israel.
No longer. Very belatedly, the government has decided to ban its broadcasts in Israel.
On the Ground in Gaza
**IDF and IAF forces were very active yesterday attacking the Bnei Suheila neighborhood in Khan Younis, Deir Balach, and Rafah among other locations. At least 12 terrorists were eliminated.
**Remember the story several days ago about how Israel “massacred” some 100 people in an attack at the al-Taba’in School? Of course that number was subsequently reduced to 80 and then to 40.
But who were the 40? Civilians?
Shortly thereafter, the IDF produced a graphic showing that who was actually killed were 19 HamISIS and Islamic commanders and sub-commanders. Yesterday, in a joint statement by IDF and Shin Bet spokesmen, 12 more terrorists who were killed in the attack were revealed raising to 31 the total eliminated in the strike:
A treasure trove of terrorists eliminated in the strike. More are yet to be identified.
**On the hostage front, HamISIS released a statement yesterday saying that two separate incidents occurred with hostages yesterday. In one, a “guard” killed a hostage. In another, a guard wounded two female hostages. Neither incident has been confirmed.
On the Ground in the North
From the IDF Spokesman:
“Throughout Monday, a number of projectiles (aka missiles and drones) were identified crossing from Lebanon into the areas of Ramim Ridge, Metula and Har Dov. No injuries were reported.
Earlier today, the IAF struck a Hezbollah launcher in the area of Wardiyeh in southern Lebanon. Additionally, the IAF struck Hezbollah military structures in the area of Chihine and Jibbain in southern Lebanon.
Furthermore, IDF artillery struck to remove threats in the areas of Wadi Hamoul, Ramyeh and Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon.
The IAF struck Hezbollah military structures in the areas of Kfarkela, Marwahin, and Meiss El Jabal.
Additionally, the IAF struck a Hezbollah observation post in the area of Ayta ash Shab in southern Lebanon.”
On the Ground in Judea and Samaria
A Palestinian terrorist opened fire in Qalqilya near the Islamic College there. He managed to seriously wound an Israeli and even 2 other Palestinians before he was shot and killed by security forces.
It turns out that the terrorist was an 18-year-old “child” who was released back in November in the first swap of terrorist prisoners and hostages:
This terrorist was released in last November’s swap for Israeli hostages. He was classified as a “child”. Now he is dead.
How many more Israelis will be killed and wounded by released terrorists?
About The Orthodox in the IDF
In the midst of the controversy surrounding the enlistment of the ultra-orthodox in the IDF came this news from Brig. Gen. Ilan Harari of the orthodox Nahal Brigade:
“The war is very long, we never dreamed of it being this long . . . Since the beginning of the war we have had 700 wounded, more than half of them have returned to serve.”
About the U.S. Slowdown of Weapons to the IDF
Obviously, Israel has learned that it must produce its own weapons, and yesterday it was announced we have, belatedly, decided “to develop and produce heavy bombs for the Air Force, including one-ton bombs similar to the American MK-84, the delivery of which has been delayed for several months by direct order of the White House.”
Unfortunately the development of new production lines and new bombs “is expected to take two to three years.” It was also announced that the Ministry of Defense “is expanding the blue-and-white production of additional weapons, including armaments for tanks and 155 mm ammunition.”
And so it goes here in Israel this morning as we continue to wait for Hezbollah and Iran . . .
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.