Israel's Operation: Between The Devil And The Anti-Semites

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                     

Israel has repeatedly used its elaborate system of air defences to counter missile and drone attacks in recent months.  It has come under attack from Iran, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the Houthi rebels in Yemen.

The Devil happens to be the Hamas terrorists who fight Israel in ways completely new to the world; with lying and advertising being one of their pieces of ammunition.  They have taken advantage of Israel's laws of morality which thrusts us into the arms of the anti-Semites who hate Israel no matter what; holding rallies, marches, demonstrations against the tiniest state fighting for its life to keep from drowning in the deep blue sea of the Mediterranean.  Israel has from necessity invented defending mechanisms such as their Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Thaad missile defenses.                                                             

Iron Dome is said to be the world's best-tested missile defence system.  Designed by Israeli firms Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries - with some US support - Iron Dome was deployed in 2011.It was first used in combat that year, intercepting a rocket fired from Gaza.  Since October 2023, Iron Dome missiles have intercepted thousands of rockets fired by Hamas and other militant groups from Gaza.

                                                                    

A David's Sling launcher pictured during a military exercise:  Like Iron Dome, David's Sling only targets missiles which threaten built-up areas.  Both David's Sling and Iron Dome are designed also to intercept aircraft, drones and cruise missiles.  Each David's Sling "Stunner" missile costs about $1m.

                                                                

Arrow 2 is designed to destroy short-range and medium-range ballistic missiles while they are flying through the upper atmosphere, about 50km above the Earth.  Work started on the system after the First Gulf War in 1991, when Iraq fired dozens of Soviet-made Scud missiles into Israel. It entered service in 2000.  It can detect missiles from 500km away. It intercepts them at comparatively short range - at distances of up to 100km from the launch site.  Its missiles travel at nine times the speed of sound, and it can fire at up to 14 targets at once.  Arrow 2 was reportedly used in combat for the first time in 2017, to shoot down a Syrian surface-to-air missile.

Arrow 3 is designed to intercept long-range ballistic missiles as they travel at the top of their arc, outside the Earth's atmosphere. It has a range of 2,400km.  It was used in combat in 2023, to intercept a ballistic missile which the Houthi rebels in Yemen fired at the coastal city of Eilat, in southern Israel.  The system was developed by state-owned Israel Aerospace Industries, with help from the US company Boeing.

Thaad missile defenses come from the USA.  The US is sending a high-altitude anti-missile system to bolster Israel's defences.  Its Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (Thaad) battery will sit alongside Israel's existing systems - Iron Dome, David's Sling, Arrow 2 and Arrow 3.   The defences are designed to intercept incoming missiles at a variety of altitudes and distances.

So Israel has the defense mechanisms when attacked, not withstanding the fact that the whole country comes to a standstill while in bomb shelters the whole while.  Sometimes the time period runs for days on end.  Israel has been attacked by missiles since 2019 to 2025.  A big attack was in 2022  August 5-8: An estimated 1,100 rockets were fired from Gaza by Islamic Jihad, with the Iron Dome intercepting 380. 

A standoff attack against Israel around midnight on 13 April.2024.   Iran's attack sent around 170 drones, over 30 cruise missiles, and more than 120 ballistic missiles toward Israel and the Israeli Golan Heights. The Israel Defense Forces used Arrow 3 and David's Sling systems to shoot down many of the incoming weapons. 

This time,  American, British, French, and Jordanian air forces also shot some down. France, which intervened at Jordan's request, deployed warships to provide radar coverage. Jordan said it had intercepted objects flying into its airspace to protect its citizens.

But now they all are showing distain towards Israel because they believe that Israel isusing starvation against the Palestinians due to false claims.  They do not want to accept the fact that trucks loaded with food have entered but taken over by the terror-ists, Hamas who sell the food and keep it all for themselves.  It is they who are responsible for any people going hungry, not Israel who has tried many times to get themfood.  CBS reports that the UK, France and Canada are reacting to the food problemby being against Israel.  They should know better.  

The people of Gaza voted in Hamas government.  A government's job is to protect itspeople.  The oldest and simplest justification for government is as protector: protecting citizens from violence.  Hamas terrorists use their people for protecting themselves.  

Instead, while Israel is belatedly trying to make up for October 7th in their failure of protecting their citizens from the Hamas terrorist attack that killed many.  During the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, an estimated 1,139 people in Israel were killed. This breaks down to: 

• Civilians: At least 736 Israeli civilians were killed, including 36 children, according to Wikipedia.
• Security Forces: 379 members of the security forces were killed.
• Foreign Nationals: 79 foreign nationals were also among the casualties. 

Note: Some sources indicate a slightly higher overall death toll, reporting "more than 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals" killed in the attacks. The U.S. Department of Defense (.gov) also stated that approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed. These differing figures may reflect the ongoing nature of casualty assessments and the challenges of verifying information in conflict situations.  

Hamas accused Israel of upending the ceasefire agreement and said the renewed strikes had put the fate of the remaining hostages in jeopardy. Hamas-led militants abducted 251 people in the Oct. 7 attack and killed around 1,200, mostly civilians.  Israel received back only one ;who was alive  the other day-Alexander.  146 hostages have since been freed or released since Oct.7th of the 251 leaving 105.  82 have been confirmed as dead, leaving 23 who may yet be alive that Israel wants now; not one at a time where they can yet die.  

And yet, the anti-Semites are holding riots, marches and such against Israel for being defensive, defending their own people from "animal"

hatred of the terrorists.  It Israel did as they expect, that would be the end of Israel---and they should realize that.  All Israel expects is to end the Hamas regime and to get back all their hostages;  those alive and those dead. 

The UN helps to  spread this belief:  United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, speaking at the Arab League summit in Baghdad, said he was "alarmed by reported plans by Israel to expand ground operations" and renewed his appeal for an immediate and permanent ceasefire. He also issued one of his strongest statements yet on the crisis in Gaza, calling the situation for Palestinians "beyond description, beyond atrocious & beyond inhumane."  I would say that these are the very words that should be used about the attack on Israelis on October 7, 2023 by Hamas.  Determining the precise number of civilians involved in the October 7th attack is difficult, but reports indicate that around 2,200 civilians and other fighters entered Israel during the attack. It's important to note that this number is provided by Israeli sources and may not represent the full picture.  Some of the citizens were recognized as people that entered their homes every day during their work.  Israelis were shocked as they had thought of them as friends.  

 Hamas appears rattled following Israel’s intense military offensive, Operation Gideon’s Chariots. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have launched a series of strategic attacks that have reportedly pressured Hamas into reconsidering its stance and returning to the negotiating table. This development signals a potential shift in the ongoing conflict, with Israel leveraging its military operations to force Hamas toward dialogue and possibly de-escalation.

Resource:

CBS

CBS

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3927710/statement-by

-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-marking-one-year-since-ham/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_7_Hamas-led_attack_on_Israel

Letter To Biden From A 90 Year Old Jewish Woman

 Nadene Goldfoot                                                     

                             Today's Middle East

                         c. 475 BCE Persian Empire of Queen Esther's Day

You have to understand, President Biden, that Jews learned quite a lesson from Haman, Chief Minister of a king of Iran long ago when it was called Persia.  Haman expected all people to bow to him because he was 2nd in line to ruling Persia, a vast swatch of land, even in those days.                                               

               
Along came a lesser Minister of the country of Persia named Mordecai, and he wouldn't bow down to Haman.  He happened to be one of the many Jewish people of that land, and Jews didn't bow down to anybody.  As it was to be, they didn't even bow down to their G-d!  Jews today stand and sway to and fro when praying together.   Haman plotted a Jewish annihilation of all in the land and it started in several places.  

Now Mordecai's niece was Esther, a most beautiful girl, who had been selected in a beauty contest as the wife of the king.   She could have kept quiet about being Jewish.  After all, if Haman felt this way toward Jews, perhaps her husband did, also!

No, she was brave enough to speak to her husband and tell him she was Jewish and might also be killed.  The king was so shocked and angry about Haman's decision that he had him hung along with his many sons as well.  

What was our lesson?  Mordecai did not appease Haman.  He stood his ground, refusing to bow down.  You cannot appease bullies.  You must face them!  They only respect strength!  Even Esther  refused to appease Haman and told on him to the king!  That was the first time anyone dared to slaughter a whole people, and this time it was the Jewish people, just for someone's arrogance who thought themselves as better than anyone else.  

That anti-Semitism still exists.  The late President of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,  called Jews every name under the sun.  

                                       Young Benjamin Netanyahu, a strong soldier

President Biden, Netanyahu's grandfather was a rabbi.  His father was a learned scholar of his people, the Jews.  We don't just select our religion, we are born to our religion.  Our ancestors were also Jews.  The religion is in our blood.  Netanyahu was a soldier at a young age and belonged to the strongest unit of all of IDF.  The men were all spectacular!   He does not bow down!  He uses his sechel, his k0p, his mind and intelligence.  He knows when to duck and when not to duck.   If he feels the time is right, then it's right.  He is not about to call for a cease fire now !                           

 David (Israel) fighting against Goliath (Iran) with a slingshot

Backing up my supposition was the recent report this morning that many generals in the USA and maybe others are in agreement with his decision.  Besides that, dear Biden, we feel that G-d is on our side and will also be in agreement.  Israel is not out to take lives but to put an end to them taking ours!  Whose side are you on???  Why the hold-up with the ammunition?  How do you expect them to protect themselves without the proper ammunition?  With a slingshot?  Well, we already gave David's Sling to the world now.  

                                                                     

                             David's Sling Stunner missile launch during tests, 2015

 In order to enable Israel to make use of the financial aid provided by the United States to further develop the system and to produce it, a partnership was established with Raytheon which developed the missile firing unit and overall logistic system and assisted Rafael with developing the interceptor.   In 2006 Rafael was awarded a contract to develop a defense system to counter the threat of medium- to long-range rockets with ranges between 70 and 250 km (43 and 155 mi).  Thus the partnership !  Still there?  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mordecai#:~:text=Mordecai%20was%20also%20the%20cousin,to%20exterminate%20the%20Jewish%20people.