Israel under attack – personal update

Friends,

All political commentary gets tabled and replaced by today’s reality, as the personal and national mix together once again. Let me share, to give you a glimpse inside the real picture from here today.

Take a look at our day – as I see it from the national and personal point of view.

My brother and sister in law’s Iron Dome, from the personal viewpoint and then the explosion in the sky, detonating the deadly incoming rocket from Gaza and protecting our Jewish state.

Second, see a rocket hit on a major Israeli highway just south of Tel Aviv: This morning on our roads, from the air; and how it looks to the person on the ground, filming on their cell phone.

~

National: One million school children in the Tel Aviv and southern areas stayed home from school.
Personal: Circling the Lieberman wagons, in touch with our 2 girls studying at Beer Sheva’s Ben Gurion University.

Me: Did you find the safe room near your apartment?

A & M: Yes, I went in the morning, it was open but I’m checking for the key or to see if it’s going to be open all the time.

Me: Want to come home, since classes are cancelled?

Girls: Right now everyone’s here, studying in their own apartments. But we’ll see.

Me: Stay safe, love you.

What a ridiculous conversation. This is what our highways look like. This is what our kids are doing, or worse – running to the safe room with each siren, just imagine the panic and the long-term effect. Watch the news – live feeds showing the damage of a direct hit in Netivot, discussing what Tel Aviv malls are open or closed, whether to go to work, or stay home with your kids, wondering how long this should be expected to go on; Getting direction from the IDF home command to know what’s allowed – no gatherings of more than 100 people (what if your wedding is tonight?) and waiting for Prime Minister Netanyahu to take the mic and update his citizens… And the rest of us attempt to go about our regular schedules.

While right now we get another list of towns under attack, sirens screaming to run to the safe room.
Yes, terrorist masterminds were targeted in overnight assassinations. No, our children should not have to flee for their lives today.

~

“He was a ticking bomb” – PM Netanyahu said today, on the decision to take out mastermind terrorist Abu Atta in Gaza last night.

PM Netanyahu: “We proved that we can do did this with the absolute minimum collateral damage…
And we clearly state: If you hurt us, we will hurt you. We will do everything we must to defend ourselves.”

To Israel’s citizens, Netanyahu stated: “I warn you, this may take time. I urge Israelis to listen to IDF orders –
this is what keeps us safe. “

The IDF Chief of Staff reiterated the request to support our troops and to obey home front orders to stay indoors, to use the safe rooms, to do what we are told in order to save lives. He reminded us and the world, “We can and will reach anyone who threatens our people’s lives.”

I just wanted you to know.
Ruthie