Operation Euphoria

As the euphoria of our operation in Gaza falls behind and as Obamamania is becoming routine, we must now tread carefully so as not to make mistakes that future generations will pay for. Like any other democratic society, as elections near, headlines change and accusations fly as fast as missiles are smuggled into Gaza.
Yes we are heading back to the norm, where recent events and lessons are forgotten and another sort of victory is on the agenda. The citizens of Israel are safe for now, rockets are not falling, and everything is OK.
What finally caused the government to decide to attack? There are plenty of speculations, one of my favorites, and possibly the most accurate is that the Hamas were about to acquire new missiles with an increased range. The possibility of Tel Aviv becoming a target was about to be a reality, reminiscent of the Lebanon War of 2006.
In most countries, when civilians or the military is targeted, the sovereign government acts to defend it’s people, and quickly. This is the accepted reaction by all “civilized” nations. The fact that Israel is not part of this club is known, as our membership was yanked when we started bowing to terrorism years ago.
I am more concerned at this point what is accepted in Israel as a prerequisite to act in order to put a stop to attacks against our people. Why did the Jews of Gush Katif and northern Gaza not merit such defense while they were there? Why do the Jews of Yehuda and Shomron still not merit such a response? More people have been killed and wounded in Yehuda and Shomron than the south and north during rocket attacks, so why does each Government throughout the years choose not to grant these people the full strength of the IDF?
Recent statistics have shown that 30% or more of IDF combat troops and 50% of the officers’ course are from Yehuda and Shomron. Strange how those that put there lives on the line the most are the least protected. Rational thought would dictate that a country in Israel’s situation of constant defense would be prudent to watch over such a valuable commodity. We know that rational thought isn’t part of the mentality of our leaders. That’s all right though. As time goes by, more and more of these soldiers are born, more and more of these people of Yehuda and Shomron become leaders, and most important, more and more of the people of Israel become aware of the fact of just how valuable the Jews living there are, and how important an area it is, strategically and historically. On the other hand, Tel Aviv has become known as the “anti Israel”, the bastion of hate towards the Jewish state. While the rest of the country gathers behinds it sons and daughters called up to defend us, Gazan and other terrorists get there greatest support in Israel from the first built modern Jewish city.
The voices against Israel in the world continue to grow, every day someone else or some other country joins in condemning Israel and the Jews. It makes perfect sense, when we show strength and defend ourselves, our enemies become frightened and do what they do best, attempt to make our lives more difficult. The concept of Jews ruling over their own homeland has always been a pill too large to swallow for them, so they use a tactic that has become their favorite, seek out the weak and defenseless and attack them. While working security in the Shilo region, I noticed this to be the norm, attacks on school children and civilian cars are the most prized, while at times when Jews would stop to defend themselves, the attackers would run, disappearing amongst their own children as most cowards do, an apparent tradition among our Arab neighbors in Yehuda, Shomron and Gaza.
The question still remains regarding our future in Israel, with the chapter of Yehuda and Shomron opening again. I had hoped for better. While not being swept away by the great hope of “Yes, we can” currently sweeping the United States, I did expect the newly elected President of the USA to at least show less ignorance than his predecessor regarding the importance of Yehuda and Shomron in regards to the security of Israel. How can America pledge to stand up for Israel’s security while they take steps to cut us down? How can we blame them when our own leaders in Israel themselves show no self-respect or true caring for the safety and protection of all of our citizens?
Diplomats and newly appointed envoys come to our region in an attempt to carve us up, geographically and demographically. Our enemies rush to embrace the new political reality in Washington D.C. and are greeted with opened hands as the rest of the world bands together to weaken our hold on that which is historically ours.
All of these latest events should be taken as a wake up call. The strength of Israel exists within the people of Israel (Gd willing). We cannot and should not depend on others to be there for us. One of the lessons that must be learned from the last Gazan Campaign is that “Yes, we can” defend ourselves, and yes, we can defeat our enemies, and yes, we can come together as one from all corners of the world to unite and be a strong Israel and Gd willing provide security to all of our people, no matter where they are.