Yom Shishee-Yom Shabbat
Friday-Saturday
9-10 Tishrei 5785
October 11-12 2024
The Quote of the Day
“On the eve of Yom Kippur, at a time when the gates of heaven are open and the crowds of the House of Israel are in the synagogues, in Israel, and around the world – the soldiers of the IDF stand on guard, in all sectors of the war and are determined to strike the enemy and protect our country and citizens. Especially these days, against the enemies that rise up against us and in the face of every possible scenario – unity with the people of Israel is required in its full force.”
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant speaking today
UPDATE 5:30 PM ISRAEL TIME
(This is our last update until Saturday night)
Since our last update:
*A Thai worker was killed in northern Israel near Ya’ara when an unexploded Hezbollah “munition” exploded in a field. The details of this incident remain unclear.
*There have been 13 more barrages of Hezbollah missiles and exploding drones. A number of Israelis have sustained wounds.
Israel has already closed down for Yom Kippur even though it doesn’t begin officially for 25 more minutes. There are no cars on the streets, and people are flocking to their synagogues. Once again, we wish our dear readers an easy fast (Tsom Kal), and a good inscription in the Book of Life (Gmar Hatima Tovah).
UPDATE 8:30 AM ISRAEL TIME
SPECIAL NOTICE
Yom Kippur begins at sundown tonight and ends at sundown tomorrow night. There will be no OneIsrael blog during that time. We wish all who observe Yom Kippur a Tsom Kal (Easy Fast) and Gmar Hatima Tovah (May you be inscribed for good in the Book of Life).
The View From Ashdod
It has been an unusual way to begin the day. We were awakened at precisely 6:30 am by the roar of planes overhead, followed by explosions just off the coast over the Mediterranean.
There is nothing particularly unusual about the roar of planes or explosions–except this time, the sounds were of a drone fired from Iraq being shot down by the IAF.
The drones from Iraq normally attack Eilat to the far south or even the Golan and Jordan Valley to the north and east, but one reaching the Ashdod-Ashkelon area is something unusual, and one wonders how it reached this far before being shot down.
At The Kotel Last Night
More than 100,000 people gathered at the Kotel (Western Wall) last night for the central prayer before Yom Kippur. Led by rabbis, the worshipers prayed for the success of our IDF soldiers and security forces, for the quick return of the hostages, for the healing of the wounded, and for the peace and security of Israel.
And for those who could get into the Kotel Plaza, the service was projected on the Old City Walls outside:
No Decision Yet
Apparently, the political-security Cabinet which met last night to determine Israel’s response to the Iranian ballistic missile attack was unable to make a decision and presumably will meet again after Yom Kippur.
One would have thought that a decision would have been forthcoming long before now.
On the Ground in Gaza
The IDF Spokesman released this statement yesterday:
“With the precise intelligence direction of the IDF and ISA, the IAF struck terrorists operating from a command and control center embedded within an area that previously served as a medical compound in Jabaliya in Gaza .
Large quantities of weapons were stored inside the command and control center, and was used by the terrorists to plan and execute terror attacks against IDF troops and citizens in Israel.
At this time, it can be confirmed that at least 12 terrorists from Hamas and Islamic Jihad were eliminated in the strike, including the following terrorists:
Mustafa Abd Al-Aziz, a platoon commander in Hamas’ Military Intelligence Unit.
Mahmmud Khamis Suleiman Awad, deputy platoon commander at an anti-tank unit in Hamas’ Northern Brigade.
Bilal Bashir Muhammad Al-Sharafi, a terrorist in the Eastern Jabaliya Battalion of the Hamas Military Wing.
Saher Farid Muhammad Abu Rashed, a terrorist in the Eastern Jabaliya Battalion of the Hamas Military Wing, took part in the October 7th massacre.
Karem Salaeh Hassan Abu-Daher, an engineering terrorist operative in the Eastern Jabaliya Battalion of the Hamas Military Wing.
As’ad Yusuf Saeid Hazaa, a terrorist in the Eastern Jabaliya Battalion of the Hamas Military Wing.
Saeid Hisar Saeid Sbaba, a terrorist in the Hamas Military Wing.
Muhammad Ibrahim Ali Bader, a terrorist in the Islamic Jihad Military Wing.
Amjad Ziad Abed al-Rahman Aziz, a terrorist in the Islamic Jihad Military Wing.
Ibrahim abu-al Jalili, a terrorist in the Eastern Jabaliya Battalion of the Hamas Military Wing.
Zakaria Hussein Abu-Habal, a Nukhba platoon commander in Hamas’ Eastern Jabaliya Battalion, took part in the October 7th massacre.
Muhammad Rabee Musbah Arini, a Nukhba platoon commander in Hamas’ Eastern Jabaliya Battalion, took part in the October 7th massacre.”
On the Ground in the North
The IDF Spokesman last night: “As of 23:00, approximately 190 projectiles that were fired by the Hezbollah terrorist organization have crossed from Lebanon into Israel today.”
Think about that.
190 more missiles targeting Israeli civilians.
This morning, there have already been two more barrages: 08:19 Kiryat Shmona, Margaliot; 08:30 Akko, Kiryat Biyalik, Kiryat Motzkin.
On the Ground in Judea and Samaria
In an IAF attack yesterday, Israel eliminated Muhammad Abdullah the head of Islamic Jihad in Nur al-Shams.
And so it goes early on this morning of Yom Kippur eve . . .
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.