Today in the News

I woke up early today, took my wife to the bus station so that she could go to ulpan, and then came back to my apartment to prepare for prayer. I turned on the radio to hear the news.

This is what I heard:

The army undertook an unprecedented mission into Rammalla resulting in the arrest of 29 wanted terrorists and the uncovering of a bomb munitions factory.

I already knew that the army was in Rammalla because Rammalla is my next door neighbor. The night before, I heard artillery shelling, gunfire, and the annoying buzz of an army drone flying overhead. So when I heard the news reporting on the mission I was happy that my hunch was confirmed. But then an army officer in charge of the mission came on the radio and he said the following:

'This mission was aimed at destroying the Hamas cells in Rammalla - and it indeed struck a blow to the organization - but its not as though Hamas in Rammalla woke up this morning and had nothing to do - its not like they now don't have the capability to send out a suicide bomber out of Rammalla today.'

The radio announcer came back on and said that now that this mission is over the army can turn its attention to the pressing matter of dismantling outposts of Jews who illegally occupy the Land of Israel.

Then I heard that in Geneva, a group of Knesset members attended a gala event in which a new peace initiative was signed with Palestinians.

Basically, it's the same old story: give up land, kick out the settlers, create a Palestinian state, and have total peace.

We've been down this same road before and we know that it just won't work and it will lead to more Jewish death. These MKs, lead by Yossi Beilin, sit in the opposition because the people of Israel did not choose them, meaning that they have no mandate from the people. Yet they audaciously, and treasonously masquerade as leaders of Israel. With Europe footing the bill, and even the quiet support of the US, this Oslo look-alike initiative is the talk of the town. So here we go again!

Then I heard that the union of workers is threatening to turn-up their three month general strike. Now the hospital workers want to join as well.

The country is pretty much shut down and all government agencies don't answer phones. I know this well because our Aliyah process is not budging. But the workers union is promising that it will get even worse.

So basically there is no security; Jewish guns are about to be turned on the settlers; leftists are willing to take us down the road of suicide and the major powers support it; and internally, the country is shut down with no end in sight.

After I heard all this, I went to Shul, had a nice prayer session, and went to work.

"Blessed is the man whom You chasten, O Lord, and teach him from Your Torah, so that you may give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast off his people, nor will he forsake his inheritance. But judgement shall return to righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it." (Psalm 94; 12-15)