A Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin On

The amount of newsworthy happenings in just two or three days is enough to make one’s head spin. Just take a big breath. Have no fear. Fasten your seatbelts, because it’s a bumpy ride. We have an amazing Pilot in whom we can put our trust. Just pray and don’t worry.

Let’s start with a short recap on MidEast/World news from Friday on.

Friday, the International Court of Justice based in The Hague, Netherlands (he World Court, or judicial arm of the UN), made a decision that all Israeli/Jewish settlements in E. Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria are illegal. This includes cities, towns, kibbutzim, rural farms. For a Jewish person to settle in Judaea is a violation of international law. Israeli (Jews)have no right to occupy Palestinian lands as they are illegal colonizers.

This is very interesting as Israel is actually de-colonizing the land. The people and state of Israel may not have intentionally set out to accomplish this from the beginning (late 1800s onward). Israel after 70AD came under the rule of the Romans, the Byzantines, the Mamelukes, the Ottomans, the British. Most of Jerusalem from1 948-1967 was under Jordanian rule. Jews and Christians were not allowed to step foot in the Old Holy City under threat of death. The Holy sites….the Western Wall, the Holy Sepulchre, the churches around Gethsemane… were used as garbage dumps. When the IDF retook Jerusalem in the Six Day War, it became a city open to all faiths. The Old City was cleaned up and revamped to a place of beauty and relative safety. It became a haven for pilgrims of the three Abrahamic faiths and a top tourist destination. Not only Jews, but Christian, Muslim, Bedouin, Druze, Baha’i and Circassian, religious and secular Israeli citizens can buy land and build in Israel. All Israeli citizens are afforded equal rights. There is no colonialization by the Jews.

Friday, the Israeli Knesset voted to definitively say there will be no recognizable Palestinian State adjacent to Israel. The Two State Solution is impossible and will not happen. To give up more land for peace is a death sentence for Israel. Both parties, from the current coalition to the opposition, voted on this. It is a historic coming-together to make a statement to the world and the international diplomacy.

For the past eight months, Houthi rebels, an Iranian backed terror proxy, have been sent over 225 missiles towards Israel’s southernmost port in Eilat on the Red Sea. From Yemen, the terrorists have been kidnapping ships in the Gulf of Aden. This is a vital international shipping lane on the Eastern Horn of Africa to the Arabian Sea and Asia. These pirates have caused the re-routing of cargo. Their missiles and weaponized aerial drones have been intercepted by Israeli, US, UK and French forces.

Friday night, a suicide drone from Yemen made it as far as Tel Aviv. At 3:12 am, coming in from the Mediterranean Coast, it missed the US Embassy building by 100 yards and crashed into an apartment building instead, killing one person, injuring eight. As the final straw, on Saturday, the Israeli Air Force, in Operation Outstretched Arm, attacked the Yemen port of Hodeida, rendering the port non-operational. This was important, not only because Israel showed that it will stand up to Iranian aggression, but it was one of the longest, most significant air strikes carried out by Israel single-handedly.

https://youtu.be/xD0Urm6B-j4?si=Zy5kaS0LLjIML4c7

The target was a known port of entry for Iranian arms shipments and for weapons storage. It was a sign to the entire Middle East that Israel can refuel its jets mid-air and attack a target precisely, in midday, 1700 kilometers from home. The trip to Yemen is 200 kilometers farther than a trip to Tehran. All aircraft returned home safely. The port is still ablaze. Israel had refrained from attacking Yemen or the Houthis at the request of the Biden administration for fear of escalation in the region, but the suicide drone crossed the red line. The rapid and successful response to the strike within 24 hours (thanks to meticulous planning) shows the entire region that Israel will retaliate to threats from abroad. It proves that Israel can defend itself without the aid of foreign entities. It is a sign of strength, and thus, deterrence.

In other news, on Saturday, the President of Paraguay, Palacios, stated that the Paraguayan Embassy in Tel Aviv would be moved to Jerusalem. Paraguay does not sponsor terrorism, nor does she sympathize with terrorists. The country does not support a separate and recognized Palestinian state and will stand with Israel as a force for good in the world.

The North of Israel remains in a perpetual state of war. Every day the IDF targets high ranking Hizbulla officials, striking them deep in Lebanese and Syrian territory, it has intercepted daily weapons shipments from Iran, but nothing seems to deter them. Every day, scores of rockets and suicide drones cross the border into Israel. Most towns on the border, although evacuated, have been reduced to rubble. You will not hear of this from the media. Both soldiers and civilians have been killed and injured. The threat looms overhead, yet our lives here are hanging. We remain ready for imminent war, yet nothing so far seems to have been mobilized fully.

Over the past few weeks, elections have been held throughout Europe, some with surprising results. The world is rapidly shifting. It is becoming more divided, and certain cities are becoming more dangerous. For the Jews, there is a global shift towards anti Zionism/antiSemitism. Because, it is becoming increasingly unsafe for diaspora Jews, there is a marked rise in Aliyah. The Jewish population is pouring out of France, England, Canada, the United States, Australia and South Africa and moving to Israel. Some far this year there has been a 23,000 rise in Jewish people returning to their homeland. It is expected that there will be at least 8,000 – 10,000 more over the summer months.

The 2024 Summer Olympics are scheduled to begin in Paris at the end of this week. To celebrate, Adidas came out with a ‘new’ line of red tennis shoes worn by the athletes during the 1972 Olympics. This was the Munich Olympics, when the Palestinian terrorists kidnapped, tortured and murdered members of the Israeli team. The model selected to promote the shoes was Bella Hadid, a widely followed pro-Palestinian. After much protestation, both Bella and the tennis shoes were removed. She had been pictured with the colors red, green, black and white, the colors of the Palestinian flag. Since being pulled from the ad campaign, Miss Hadid is threatening to sue Adidas.

For the past two weeks, numerous Israeli and Jewish athletes set to compete in Paris have been targeted with death threats. “Dare to arrive in France, we will kill you,” has been messaged to members of the rhythmic gymnastics team. Israeli Olympic swimmer was sent a message with details for his own funeral. “You are welcome to attend the funeral of Meiron Amir Cheruti, born on 19/10/1997, died on 27/07/2024. Use the link below to get the location.” Peter Palchik has also been the recipient of creepy threats foretelling of his upcoming murder. Security is said to be heightened. The Jewish athletes are said to be increasing their bodyguards and security detail. So far no one has pulled out of any of the events.

Everyone is aware of US news from the assassination attempt on former President Trump to the resignation of President Biden from the election yesterday.

Here, I will go out on a limb. Bear with me. Back during the Obama administration, there was a real and true hatred of Israel, namely President Netanyahu. He was stood up at scheduled meetings in Washington, DC, kept waiting and ushered in through the back door of the White House as a sign of humiliation.

President Netanyahu left Israel last night for a scheduled meeting with President Biden (to discuss the Iran threat) and a scheduled speech before both houses of Congress. It all should be quite interesting. This top news lede will be completely overshadowed by Biden’s stepping down and the supposed chaotic state of the Democratic Party. Will Kamala Harris run as the Democratic Candidate and who will she pick as a running mate or will it be a totally different ticket? What about the Biden ballots and the millions of people who have already voted for him by mail? What will happen at the upcoming convention? I am predicting anything Netanyahu has to say will be absolutely buried in the current news cycle. It is the ultimate snub.

And lastly, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reported on Saturday that Iran is now within two weeks of making at least one nuclear bomb. That makes things even more suspenseful. The main thing is to have no fear. We firmly believe G-d is in control. Things might seem to be spinning to chaos, but just pray and sit tight. Tomorrow’s post will delve deeper into the times and seasons and what to watch for. One thing is for sure, events are happening at a dizzying pace and we are in for an interesting ride.