Wetherhorn

We are now well into the 6th day of this “War”. What I saw yesterday from my home was a continuing barrage of rockets from Gaza aimed at locations al over Israel. The Israeli Air Force is still the major (almost exclusive) player in delivering attacks against Hamas. Casualty figures creep upwards at a relatively sow rate. More bodies are discovered in the places originally overrun by Hamas. There are a few low-level terror attacks. One was a shooting attack that took place near the tunnel on the road connecting my village to Jerusalem. We traveled that road Wed. morning when I went to have my teeth cleaned (the appointment was made months ago). Hamas rockets hit a residential building in Ashkelon and injured 2 people. But the majority of the reservists called up are not involved in any direct combat. It looks like this is because the Israeli government has been unable to form a unified, limited power, cabinet to direct the war. I feel that the reason is that our prime minister is too concerned with what will happen when the war ends. He is already on trial for corruption, and the country was terribly split over legislation his party proposed that would have protected him. The whole country wants o see a small war cabinet that will get on with the business of the war. Only Netanyahu has been delaying this, and he has been doing so since Sunday. I’m sure the IDF has plans prepared for how to proceed (and they will surely involve more Israeli casualties). But establishing a political objective that is not just populist slogans requires at least a little decisive leadership, and that is something Netanyahu has not really shown during his entire current term in office.

Since writing the above paragraph there has been an announcement that Israel does now have a 5 person “war cabinet”. Of course, it does not formally take effect until the Knesset approves it tomorrow.  Alongside this, the first official criticism of Israeli actions by erstwhile “friends” has also appeared. As might be expected, it comes under the heading of a “humanitarian” problem. The fact that Israel cut fuel, food, water, and electrical supplies to the Gaza strip affects ALL residents, not just Hamas. This has the potential to result in pressures to halt the fighting on humanitarian grounds. It could result in a “cease-fire” before Hamas power is actually destroyed (a stated political objective of PM Netanyahu). The 4-5 day delay in creating the new body appears to be detrimental to Israel achieving her objectives.

Another area of worry is that Hizbullah in Lebanon could opt to enter the war. That organization has more troops and weapons than Hamas, and has warned Israel not to cross any red lines. (red lines that have not been openly defined.)There have been exchanges of fire across the Lebanese border, but not really anything too serious, so far. Like Hamas, Hizbullah receives large numbers of rockets from Iran, and builds some themselves using Iranian funding.

 Part of the media war includes reports that Hizbullah ‘ordered’ UNIFIL observers on the Israel-Lebanon border to leave. UNIFIL denied having received such a communication, but the idea that it could exist, even in the future, raises images of what occurred when Egypt ordered UN observers to leave Sinai in 1967. War by miscalculation could even result in an even larger war. That isn’t likely to be in anyone’s interest, but it is within the realm of possibility.

On a personal note, my oldest grandson has been called up. He’s a staff officer, non-combatant.

There were three funerals yesterday for young men who were residents of nearby towns.

US and Israeli TV reported the USS Dwight Eisenhower carrier battle group is being sent to the Mediterranean  No big deal! She was scheduled to be sent now anyway..