Operation Cast Lead continues – to the bitter end? From midnight yesterday, nine quiet hours have past. In the late morning, the barrage of rockets resumed. Two reached Beer Sheva, the capital of the Negev. The 30km radius has been breached – it is now at 26 miles.
A leading Israeli artist reports: Two missiles fired 15minutes ago in Beersheva. Rut, our daughter is there. She called panicky-she heard a siren and a few seconds later one of missiles fell close to where she stays. These are 3 meter long Grad missiles packed with explosives. Deliberate targeting of civilians. And a symmetry is made with Israel targeting Hamas and doing what it can to protect its citizens.
There is a 60 second warning from launch in Gaza to hit in Beer Sheva. The Home Front Command requires to take cover: when inside – either in the designated protected area or, if one is not available, in an inside room or a stairwell.
If caught outside, the person has to get to the nearest building if there is time. No time - lie down, covering your head with your hands.
Turkey is actively involved, sending relief supplies and five ambulances – to Gaza, via Israel – while Egypt is not allowing planes with humanitarian aid to land in the nearby city of El Arish. France is suggesting a short cease-fire. The European Union demands an immediate, permanent cease-fire.
There seems to be no correlation between what is happening on the ground – convoys of humanitarian aid from Israel, high precision air strikes that minimize the number of civilians casualties – and the hate-filled waves of propaganda that engulf the world – a crisis, a holocaust in Ghaza. One wonders why bother – Israel will be blamed irrespective of what it does.
While others want to force a cease-fire, Hamas does not seem to be interested. Its spokesperson calls to shift the front into Israel – attack it from within killing as many Israelis in terror attacks. Why stop now? Let others do the work for you. Hamas was targeted but has not shown its true capabilities yet. In the meantime, the world fights Israel in the Arena of Public Opinion.
Late in the evening, the rockets continue. The Israeli Government authorizes to call another 2,500 reservists, bringing the total number to ten thousand. (In Lebanon more than sixty thousand were called.) A fourth day with anti-Israel activities around the world intensifying, with diplomatic pressure to step down and enter a cease-fire mounting, with a more vocal and violent Fifth Column within Israel showing where its loyalties lie. Time seems to be slipping away from Israel.
The world is interested in what is taking place in Israel – but whatever Israel does, it is found guilty.
