Dateline Jerusalem — When I have writer's block and cannot think of a topic for my essay, something always happens in Israel so I can make my  deadline .  Unfortunately, “peace” and “quiet” are fragile along Israel's borders.  This time it was not Hamas in the south but Hezbollah in the north that attacked Israel.  Hezbollah admitted their Quneitra Martyrs Brigade attacked Israeli Army vehicles on the Israeli side of the border between Israel and Lebanon, on a road used by both civilians and military. Two IDF soldiers were killed and several others injured.  A Spanish UNIFIL officer was killed in the crossfire.  

The Second Lebanon War in 2006 was a result of the kidnapping of IDF soldiers by Hezbollah.  That war ended with a ceasefire agreement, United Nations Resolution 1701.  Nine years later, Hezbollah is in direct violation of Resolution 1701.  Hezbollah fired upon IDF patrol vehicles with rocket propelled grenades and five Russian Kornet guided anti-tank missiles. Near the Golan, Syrian Hezbollah launched mortar shells at Israel just after the Lebanon missile attack.  Israel responded via artillery and air strikes.  

Although Hezbollah initially claimed they kidnapped an Israeli soldier, they finally admitted they did not do so. Just the thought of a possible kidnap attempt overplayed by the media puts fear in the minds and hearts of Israelis.  Horrific disinformation and outright lies have become the modus operandi of terrorist organizations that have now taken over the media to spread their psychological warfare. It worked in Gaza last summer, and although eventually some of the media later admitted they were manipulated by Hamas, the majority stoop to all-time lows that make William Randolph Hearst's yellow journalism seem lily white. 

Now that Israeli elections are approaching, media in Israel have caught the dreaded yellow fever of sensationalism and bias. Recent cross-border incidents between Hezbollah and Israel are blood for the mosquitoes spreading it. It is said that the mosquito is the deadliest animal in the world, but it appears that these blood-sucking parasites are not limited to one or two species.  In addition to the terrorists and media, too many Israeli politicians are trying to take advantage of recent events to further their political careers in political parties that appear as venom-swollen mosquito bites of empty rhetoric and spin erupting on the Israeli political scene on a daily basis. These new parties are created by the same old politicians, often with platforms just the opposite of their party's name. Nothing like an Israeli election with over 30 political parties on the ballot.    

L'hitraot.  Shachar