It’s getting more and more difficult to know what to believe and to distinguish truth from propaganda. There is so much news happening at such a rapid pace and more than a little is artificially generated and artfully crafted. I was going to write a piece yesterday, but found out much of it was disinformation. I strive for accuracy above all. Sometimes I do not always get it right and must make corrections.

The tensions between the Biden Administration and Israel (Netanyahu) have been rising to say the least. The US State Department and Pentagon have been very unclear in its messaging to Israel. They have said Israel has a right to defend itself, yet they have delayed the shipment of arms that were signed and paid for in past administrations. The US has applauded and committed to Israel’s fight against evil and terrorism, yet has dictated where, when and under what strident conditions the fighting should occur (or should be halted altogether).

The international communities led by the US, have insisted that more humanitarian aid be sent into Gaza, despite the fact that over 300 shipments arrive daily. So far, there has been evidence of an ample food supply for the Palestinians in Gaza. It is usually hijacked by Hamas and by opportunists, and sold at high prices in the public market. Those that suffer are the poor. Unused food has been photographed rotting in garbage dumps.

The States (Pentagon) spent $320 million (initially estimated to cost $234 million) on a docking pier for aid shipments. They containers, inspected by Israel in Cyprus, would be shipped to Israel, then unloaded onto barges in the Mediterranean and floated to the pier. Americans would not technically set foot on Gaza soil. Despite numerous technical, security and logistical problems, the project was begun. Construction had to be completed by UK forces as Hamas kept attacking the U.S. engineers trying to put the pier together. After its completion, the humanitarian aid docking station lasted a mere ten days before it broke apart and washed ashore further up the coast of Israel in high seas. Tens of thousands of dollars were paid to Israel to have it fixed, but in the long run, it was declared inoperable. At additional taxpayer dollars, it is set to be dismantled by early July. Critics are saying it was erected for political purposes rather than to serve anyone through humanitarian purposes.

The US has continually pressured Israel not to enter Rafah, the last Hamas stronghold in Gaza. After many pauses, and 17 failed hostage release negotiations- all rejected by Hamas leadership, the fighting to eradicate terror cells, destroy the underground tunnel system, which is everywhere, and try to rescue the captives, has continued. Hostages serving as human shields for Hamas operatives are surmised to have been smuggled via tunnel into Egypt. No one knows for sure, and there have been several misleading reports. Tunnels and arms caches as well as what has totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars have been found in almost every home in Rafah.

On the Northern front, Hizbulla has dramatically escalated the risk of an all out war. So far over 5000 missiles and hundreds of suicide drones have been launched by them from Lebanon since 10 October. The UN has not prevented the Iranian proxies from crossing south of the Litani River as per Resolution 1701 which ended the Second Lebanon War. They were supposed to stay 18 miles from the border with Israel. They are right up against the wall, within their striking distance. The northern villages and kibbutzim have sustained very heavy damage. The IDF has been responding tit-for-tat to avoid opening another front in all out war.

On Wednesday, Nasrallah in his Lebanese hide out, released a shocking video supposedly taken by drone and satellite footage. It clearly shows marked targets throughout the north of Israel to below Haifa: military bases and weapons storage facilities, hospitals, shopping centers, high rise apartment complexes and neighborhoods. It is more than frightening, and now many people are understandably on edge. Public bomb shelters, erected by the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, have been set up on many street corners in commercial areas.

Whether the video is all a propaganda stunt remains to be seen. The level of detail in the video is alarming, to say the least. The Biden administration has sent diplomats to both Lebanon and an Israel to attempt to de-escalate the situation.

Last weekend Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz, stated the “Final plans have been agreed upon. We are getting very close to the moment of deciding to change the rules of the game against Hizbulla and Lebanon. In an all out war, Hizbulla will be destroyed no Lebanon severely beaten.”

On the other hand, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran has stockpiled enriched uranium over 30 times the agreed upon limit during the Biden term of office. Now, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute has alleged that Israel has begun upgrading its Dimona Nuclear facility. They believe Israel is trying to enhance its navy to have its subs nuclear capable as well as to increase its overall nuclear capabilities. Thing seem to be heating up.

As of this morning, the Biden Administration has reversed its original negation of arms shipments to Israel. Sunday night, Netanyahu released a statement in English directed at the White House. “ Give us the tools and we’ll finish the job a lot faster.” A ship carrying critical ammunition left the States bound for the Middle East today.

There are many in this country who support Netanyahu and the current government. Since 8 October, our national slogan has been “Together we win: united in victory.” However, as time passes and the war drags on with its continual stops and starts, there is growing opposition. Benny Gantz, of the opposing party has left the War Cabinet. Prime Minister Netanyahu is continuing without him.

Over the past couple weeks, demonstrations against the current government have resumed in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. One group demands the government have the captives released at any cost, including a permanent ceasefire. In Jerusalem, Saturday night, the protests got violent, Hundreds of protestors clashed with its police. They were allowed to assemble peaceably in front of Knesset, but decided to move through barricades towards the home of the Prime Minister. Fires were set in the road. Police declared the scene an illegal riot and used crowd control (water hoses and arrests) to disperse the angry crowd. Nine were arrested for assaulting police. Freedom of expression is allowed, but once the law is broken, measures are quickly taken to restore order. The protestors declared Netanyahu “Guilty!” And “a dictator.” They call for his immediate resignation.

People in the north are feeling abandoned by the government. They have been forced out of their homes for almost nine months. They have lost jobs and are fighting to stay afloat and to keep their families intact. The war still rages against Hizbulla and the other Iranian proxies and there seems no end in sight. Reservists are still on duty at the several after many months with only small breaks for leave. Israel is not only vigilant on the Lebanese border, but also in the Golan Heights, in Eilat to the South (Houthi rebels), on the Gaza border and the border with Egypt, and internally along the borders and checkpoints of the West bank(Judaea and Samaria).

It was reported last weekend that the generals were taking orders from the Israeli Supreme Court, and not from the War Cabinet (Prime Minister, Misister of Defense, Chief of Staff of IDF and others). Supposedly the court was going beyond their bounds in legislating pauses in the fighting in order for more aid to get into Gaza and for peace negotiations to take place. Whether this is true or propaganda, I still do not know. I have seen and heard reliable evidence from both sides.

However, this morning, the Prime Minister issued a statement urging his coalition to focus on the task at hand. “We are confronting multiple challenges and must make difficult decisions. Therefore, I call on all coalition partners to stay focused and rise to the occasion.This is not a time for petty politics or legislation that jeopardizes the coalition, which is striving for victory over our enemies. Our priorities must be clear: defeating Hamas, securing the release of all the hostages, and ensuring the safe return of our residents in the north and south. Therefore, I demand that everyone set aside other considerations and interests. Unite behind our fighters with a singular focus on our mission.”

As usual, we remain tense. The situation can boil over at any minute. We know that after Gaza is secured and Hamas’ capacities for terror are eliminated, Hizbulla must be dealt with. War seems not only likely, but imminent. I pray it doesn’t come to that…