Re “Gaza War Does Not Deter Immigrants from U.S., Europe”
[Editor’s Note: As Hamas terrorists continue firing rockets into Israel, sending frightened residents underground, our correspondent resumes her daily update.]
Dateline Jerusalem — “All Quiet on the Western Front,” an inaccurate English translation of the novel titled “Im Westen nichts Neues”, literally “In the West Nothing New,” by Remarque, describes the latest cease fire between Israel and Gaza, on its south western border. The phrase “all quiet on the Western Front” is an expression used when there is stagnation or lack of visible change. Although the rockets have stopped since just before midnight Sunday night, I have yet to see any change in the behavior of Hamas. Their rhetoric still spews hate. Their lack of morality in demanding release of hundreds of live Palestinian terrorists for the body parts of two dead Israeli soldiers, may their memory be a blessing, speaks for itself.
Among Hamas's other delusional demands, it wants Israel to give them a list of the names of the Palestinians who work for Israel in the West Bank, not Gaza. Interesting to note, during the cease-fire, Hamas has been murdering anyone in Gaza they “think” may be cooperating with Israel. Of course those scores of people have been added to the total Gaza casualty count. That Hamas is asking for info on the West Bank means they either plan on over-running Abbas or they plan to join Fatah in terror coming from that side of Israel. When the Israeli army was looking for the three kidnapped students in June, they found terror tunnels in the West Bank, too. All Fatah has been doing is bragging about the number of Israelis it has killed over the years. If we are ever going to have peace in the region, it will have to be with the people, not the terrorists or their leaders.
Israel already has rejected Hamas's demands for a seaport and airport. They will, however, agree to a larger fishing area and opening of the crossing between Egypt and Gaza. The problem is that Egypt's al-Sisi is in power now, but for how long? His government may have toppled the Muslim Brotherhood government, which had close ties to Hamas, but their movement is still active.
Because of the cease-fire, life was back to normal in my town. People were sitting in outdoor cafes, sipping cappuccinos and savoring bourekas and pastries under colorful awnings and umbrellas on the main street that runs through the city. The shops were crowded in bumper to bumper traffic. I took the opportunity to shop at one of the local supermarkets, stocking up on items I might need if there is another violation of the cease-fire. Sorry, I cannot help being pessimistic. I love shopping in Israel. I go to the market and my groceries are delivered to my home. No need for a car, no lugging, loading and unloading heavy packages.
One day down, two to go.
L'hitraot. Shachar
