Israel Dreams

“The sun will rise soon.
We will know better days than these.
The heart fights with worries 
That everyone will return home soon.
We will go to meet them downstairs 
Please, Lord let it be good news-
Because the eternal people are never afraid.
Even when it’s hard to see-

THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL LIVE 
Ups & downs even in the most difficult hours 
The Holy One, blessed be He, protects us,
So who can overcome us?
There is no other land.

Make peace, our sons.
Take care of our children 
Because the faith was not lost 
Our land is our inheritance 
We will not fail now
Around Swords of Iron

THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL LIVE 
Ups & downs even in the most difficult hours 
The Holy One, blessed be He, protects us,
So who can overcome us?
There is no other land.

And a dove will spread its wings
This has been our hope for 2000 years,
We will go out to sing in the streets
The Holy One, blessed be He, protects us,
So who can overcome us?
There is no other land.
AM YISRAEL
AM YISRAEL CHAI 🇮🇱 

The people of Israel need a song full of hope these days. It’s been an especially difficult winter for us – we are four months into a war we knew was inevitable yet never wanted to admit would happen. Our troops, active duty young men and women 18-21, and our reservists up to the age of 65 are all serving in some form. If they are not actively fighting, they are called up as medics, drivers, logistics, mechanics, cooks, communications, foreign relations, and computer/tech specialists. We still have 136 hostages being held in tunnels by Hamas, and we have no way of knowing their condition although the army is desperately trying to find them. The chill of winter has settled in our bones and we have been hunkered down during two weeks of incessant downpour.

The situation on the northern border is a wee bit of a nail-biter as we are continually informed that soon it will be our turn. All of the towns and kibbutzim along the border with Lebanon were evacuated over three months ago- families displaced, work interrupted. It’s been a battleground up there with near 100,000 troops in the forested areas, tanks lined up and spread out in fields and mountains.

So far it’s been a regular tit-for-tat between Iranian-backed Hizbulla, the Radwan elite forces and the IDF. Every day there is an exchange of antitank missiles and RPGs from Lebanon, along with aerial infiltration by drone and lots of machine gun fire. Russian made Kornet missiles have made direct strikes on over 400 homes. Most missiles fall in fields. Israel responds in kind with machine gun fire, targeted air strikes, and tank fire. In favorable conditions we can hear the booms, but lately with flashes of lightning and tremendous clashing of thunder, a person can get a bit jumpy.

Hizbulla has yet to use any of its targeted or long range missiles. And the IDF tanks and troops haven’t pushed forward into Lebanon. Yet, things have intensified in the last couple weeks and no one seems to want to make a bet on when the gloves come off.

There has been attempted diplomacy between Hizbulla and the US and other countries and Israel. To get in some history, so you will better understand the situation: in 2006, two Israeli soldiers were taken by the Radwan soldiers. Israel pressed into Lebanon, killing many terrorists, but failed to dismantle Hizbulla. This only made them stronger.

A ceasefire ensued with Lebanon getting a censure and UN resolution 1701 placing Hizbulla forces back to a position north of the Litani River, off of Israel’s border.

The 6 mile swath of land in green was designated a military no-man’s land. It was open to resident civilians (mostly Maronite and Melkite Christians and Druze), agriculture and businesses/towns. Instead it was completely taken over by Hizbulla terrorists who dug tunnels under the border into Israel. Who built towering observaction posts right along the border fence. Who coerced the local residents into hiding bombs and missiles within their own homes. Who installed launch pads in school parking lots and behind hospitals and shopping areas. And who built up their defenses with the help of Iran, Russia, Syria and China.

Many of their fighters are already battle-trained because they served for almost a decade in the Syrian Civil War. They are professional soldiers trained by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

Israel has been making regular targeted air strikes in Syria taking out weapons depots and bombing runways and train tracks as Iranian missiles are being supplied to Hizbulla. Israel has struck known terror cell outposts and headquarters as well as control towers and satellites as far north as Beirut. Lebanon seems to have little to no control over Hizbulla activity which in essence has taken over the entire country.Israel set a date of the end of January for Hizbulla to move north. No such. No one has enforced the edict. No one has policed southern Lebanon.

Last week, after 2 1/2 years and over 160 direct missile attacks by Iranian backed Hizbulla forces on US military bases in Syria, Jordan and Iraq, 3 US soldiers were killed and scores wounded. it is forcing the hand of the Biden administration to “do something.” They announced Thursday attack would be imminent. Of course, this gave major players, commanders and planners to escape into Iraq and Iran. Israel targeted a convoy of 3 generals in Northern Syria, but most were long gone by the time America retaliated in force yesterday.

There are increasing rumors that it’s just a matter of time. A neighbor last week came home from reserves. He told his wife to stock up on food, water and essentials for the family for an entire month. That once it started in earnest, it would get really intense very quickly and that they’d need to hunker down and rely on themselves. That was a fun day. She has 4 small children under 11. It certainly didn’t help her nerves, but we can help her supply needs. And try to help by bringing her meals.

So in the interim we keep ourselves busy. Last week I made shepherd’s pies and big mixed salads with croutons and Italian dressing and big Texas chocolate chip cookies. Also a huge stockpot of Georgia Brunswick Stew (a southern US chicken stew) with cornbread and sweet potato pie. Fruit salads and zucchini muffins for lunchboxes…. so mothers with families and soldier husbands could catch a break. Ummmmm…. Certainly not the Israeli palate and trying to explain to people what this was – absolutely hysterical! Next time I should stick to schnitzel and falafel with couscous.

Walk around the neighborhood with me. Families with husbands, sons, fathers, daughters in the military hang their loved one’s division flag outside their house. It’s a source of pride for them.

More foreign dignitaries and negotiators are to arrive in Israel this week. Sec of State Antony Blinken returns for the 7th time next week (as an aside- if climate change is the biggest enemy and requires immediate solutions to save the planet, it seems that many of these statesmen could pick up a phone or send an encrypted email… but I digress). Every time this man comes, there are new problems and new polemics to deal with. And they never seem to work in the Israeli’s favor.

The best thing that I can do, besides write or cook, is to pray. And frankly, there are times I just don’t know EXACTLY what to pray. I pray legions of angels about our borders. For wisdom for our government officials. For protection for the troops. Provision for the families. A finding and releasing of those held captive. And comfort to all who mourn. (And that America stay out of this).

*** an update to my last post: Israel has awarded full citizenship to the Filipino family of Cedrick Garin. He gave his life for the country. Now the country gives new life – complete citizenship with passports and all the benefits – to his parents and his young wife.