Environmental Terrorism: one or more unlawful or even hostile actions that harm or destroy environmental resources or deprive others of their use. It is different to [sic] environmental vandalism, which is a rather permitted but ethically disputed destruction of environment. – Wikipedia
Yesterday started out quietly enough with our morning coffee on the balcony. We had planned a subdued day with a short visit to the local cemetery to pay our respects at the graves of the fallen soldiers and victims of terror from our city. The national siren blared at exactly 11:00, just about the time the wind picked up.
With wind gusts reaching up to 80mph, and the temperatures climbing into the mid 90*F, combined with a very dry winter, the setting was perfect for acts of resistance against the occupation. You see, it was the beginning of Nakba Day, the day the Arabic speaking countries surrounding Israel lost the war they started in 1948. The Palestinian people were still mad. Bent on revenge combined with the desire to do as much damage as they could do the land. To disrupt. To frighten the “settlers” away. To kill Israelis, aka Jews.
By noon, the air was already dusty and sandy from the wind. Then the smoke started to pour in over the hills. I checked the news. A major breaking national crisis was unfolding as the hills around Jerusalem were engulfed in flames. Civilians, caught in the main highway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, were fleeing their vehicles on foot. Emergency crew from Hatzalah were going from to car to char to make sure everyone had evacuated.
Our friends, were visiting a soldier’s grave in BeitShemesh, the center of it all. I texted her and she sent a frightening photo-
It would take them over four hours to get through the traffic. My friend, Elli, in Modi’in was waiting for the call for her family to be evacuated. And the news started pouring in.
All public events for that evening and the next day, Israeli Independence Day, were cancelled. There are to be absolutely no barbecues, grilling or open fires throughout the country, Backup firefighters from Cypress, Greece, Croatia and Italy were coming in to help spray fire retardant.
All across Arab channels, messages were going out for all people to go out and start more fires. They weren’t even bothering to hide it. Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, Telegram. No shame. No cowardice. Here it is- and the Palestinians were celebrating it.
While we were trying to mourn our fallen heroes, they were setting our forests on fire. All over the country. As of my writing this, there have been 18 arrests. The massive wildfires spread by the strong wind through central Israel. Volunteers were asked to help go out and patrol their own areas for any suspected arsonists. It’s a national crisis, and to tell the truth, it might be a preview of what’s to come over a long, hot, dry summer.
The air quality index has listed the whole country as under a danger warning. People are instructed to stay indoors. The torch bearing ceremony, which included people who helped strengthen, defend and unite our country, has been canceled. There will be a televised previous rehearsal shown instead. More news comes in showing a map of all the fires burning.
I didn’t come up with this comparison, but it fits the narrative perfectly. Recall the story of wise King Solomon and the two mothers. The women were sharing the same bed with their two infants. In the morning one baby was dead. Each accused the other of murdering the infant and claimed the surviving baby was their own. What to do? King Solomon said to cut the baby in half, each mother taking half the child. The real mother relinquished and gave up her own baby to the accuser rather than seeing her precious child harmed/killed. These monsters (and yes, I am labeling them evil monsters) claim rightful ownership of the Land. What kind of person would destroy their own territory to spite the other?
In other news, yesterday in Renaana, a Reform synagogue held a public memorial service for both Israelis and Gazans/ Palestinians. Israelis were furious and protestors showed up. They tried to shut the service down, things grew ugly, the police were called in and people were injured. Israelis don’t take kindly to comparing our soldiers to Hamas terrorists. Meanwhile, also in Renaana, streets were renamed for the local fallen soldiers.
In southern Israel the high winds caused a massive, blinding sandstorm. Visibility was zero in the desert to Eilat. And at 11:13pm there was an emergency warning. A terrorist infiltrated the village of Giv’at Binyamin in Samaria. Everyone was ordered to enter a building and immediately lock all doors and shutter all windows. Go to a safe room or protected space. Sit on the floor below all window lines until further notice. The three terror suspects armed with knives and grenades were found, and after a gunfight with the IDF, neutralized and arrested.
Yesterday’s blogpost was entitled Beauty for Ashes. Today it’s mostly ashes. I’ll be happy to see the Beauty when it shows up.
Israel Dreams 