Showing posts with label incendiary kites and balloons. Show all posts
Showing posts with label incendiary kites and balloons. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 11, 2018


ISRAEL MOSAIC

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
    and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.
 See, darkness covers the earth
    and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you
    and his glory appears over you.
 Nations will come to your light,
    and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Isaiah 60: 1-3

 Dorcas Gazelle, Yotvata Hai Bar Reserve (Photo: Talia Good)
Israel is a fascinating land, the land the Bible calls the Land of the Gazelles. These delicate, hardy and beautiful animals were once common in Israel, but hunting and habitat destruction brought them to the brink of extinction. Now protected by law, and with the help of breeding programs, they are making a comeback in many parts of the country. Occasionally I am delighted to see a small herd trotting along the trails in the forest across from my house. 

Israel is a mosaic of natural habitats ranging from tropical oases, deserts, wooded mountain heights and coastal sand dunes to everything in between. Consequently, its natural flora and fauna are varied and surprisingly rich considering the millennia of human impact. No less fascinating is the mosaic of human life in Israel. With people immigrating from over 70 nations, speaking a plethora of languages and influenced by a myriad of cultures, it is amazing that we, in just a hundred and fifty years, have sustained and built a cohesive and thriving Israeli society and identity. Of course, at times these different cultures clash and ruptures occur. 

False Messiah
One of the main stress points in Israeli society is the tension between the religious sector, particularly the more extreme ultra-orthodox sects, and the secular, with the gap between these growing with every year. Last week this gap came to the fore when the annual Lubavitcher Chabad "Messiah in the Square" rally was almost canceled over the issue of the separation of women. The Tel Aviv municipality tried to prevent the rally from taking place following pressure from secular women's groups. In the end, the District Court ruled in favor of the rally and it took place as planned, although there were a few scuffles and arrests as secular feminists tried to break through into the men's section  (1). 

The focus on the issue of the separation of men and women missed the point as far as I can see. The real issue should have been the identity of the 'Messiah' they were celebrating. It was not the true Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus), but Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the last Lubavitcher Hassidic Rabbi.  Schneerson died in 1994 and was expected to rise again within 4 years. He did not, but his followers still revere him as Messiah and expect his imminent return. 
Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson Billboard
Picture by Monica Almeida, The New York Times 2/25/96
http://www.realists.com/messiah-truth-vs-myth/
Schneerson is just the latest of a long line of false messiahs. It is very sad that those who follow these false messiahs do not read the Bible which prophetically outlines the 'qualifications'  for the true Messiah. Only Yeshua (Jesus) fits all the Biblical prophecies regarding the Messiah. He was of the kingly line of David, of the Tribe of Judah, born in Bethlehem, fled for a time to Egypt, grew up in Nazareth, healed and performed many miracles, proclaimed himself to be the Son of God, died and rose again after 3 days just to mention a few. For a good summary of Biblical prophecies concerning the Messiah go to  https://jewsforjesus.org/answers/top-40-most-helpful-messianic-prophecies/

While internal tensions sometimes threaten to tear us apart as a nation it is often the external threats that draw us together. These are continuing to increase in severity. 

The South on Fire
Today (Tuesday 10/7) marks the 103rd day since the 
first incendiary balloon flew over the Gaza border and started a fire in Israel. What began as a dangerous gimmick has now become a daily threat to the communities living close to the border. So far some 678 fires have been ignited burning 9160 dunams (= 2263 acres) of natural woodlands and, 6000 dunams of agricultural produce (mostly wheat), and thousands of dunams of open fields. Over 15,000 dunams of national forest land have also been burned (2).  Hundreds of balloons and kites, carrying incendiary devices and explosives, are carried daily by the prevailing westerly winds across the Gaza border and into Israel setting fire to the tinder-dry farmland and nature reserves.

Yesterday alone some 33 fires were ignited (2) and, in recent weeks, an average of between 20-30 fires per day have been caused by incendiary balloons or kites. Reserve soldiers have been called up to assist civilian firefighters in putting out these fires. New technology has been developed to spot them and direct firefighters to fires (3). 

Opinion is divided in the government and defense establishment as to how best to stop this phenomenon without escalating the situation to all-out war with Gaza.  They are treading a fine line. The defense forces have increased deterrent measures, such as shooting at empty vehicles that have been used to transport incendiary devices and firing warning shots over those preparing them, but they have as yet not shot at the perpetrators themselves since many are children (4). The latest measure is the closing of the Keren Shalom border crossing which will prevent the import and export of goods to the Gaza Strip thus bringing its economy to a halt.  Only humanitarian aid will continue to be allowed to pass through. Gaza's fishing zone will also revert to a maximum distance of 11 km (6 miles) from shore after it was temporarily expanded to 17 km (9 miles) (6). These measures are intended to force Hamas to rein in those sending incendiary devices across the border, and prevent the escalation of the situation into all-out war. 

Israeli civilians living along the Gazan border area are feeling the effects of pressure as their daily lives are being severely disrupted, livelihoods lost and children traumatized.  A new law has just been passed recognizing sufferers of PTSD resulting from chronic on-going trauma, in addition to those who have suffered a specific terror or wartime incident. This will enable sufferers, particularly in the south, to receive aid and treatment (7). Following an assessment of the escalating security situation in the south, the IDF this week increased the Iron Dome deployment around southern communities to protect them, not only from the short-range rockets, but also from projectiles as small as medium-sized mortars (8).

The North 

In the north, the situation is also becoming increasingly dangerous. As the Russian-backed Assad regime is attacking rebel-held towns in south-western Syria, near Israel's border, an estimated 330,000 refugees have fled their homes. Jordan, which has already taken in some 660,000 Syrian refugees, is understandably refusing to take any more. Denied entry to Jordan, the refugees are amassing on the Israeli border in the hope of entering Israel. There is no way Israel can allow the entry of such a massive number of refugees from an enemy country, still technically at war with us.  The refugees are therefore trapped at the border, in the midst of the hottest summer we have experienced for some years, without water, electricity, adequate shelter, food or medicine. 

Israel is doing what it can to ease the humanitarian crisis. One day last week Israel under cover of darkness took in 300 tents, 13 tons of food, 15 tons of baby food, 3 pallets of medical equipment and 30 ton of clothes. Last weekend, six wounded Syrians, four of them children, were brought into Israel for treatment. Since 2013 over 3,500 wounded Syrian men, women and children have been smuggled into Israel by the IDF and treated for free in Israeli hospitals (6). Meanwhile, the Golan Regional Council has spearheaded a grass-roots campaign to collect from communities in the north, clothes, food and 'care packages' of toys and games for the children (9).  In 2016 the IDF launched Operation Good Neighbor and since then has provided among other things, over 1524 tons of food, 250 tons of clothes, 947,520 liters of fuel, 21 generators, 24,900 palettes of medical equipment and medicine for Syrian civilians (10). Once our enemies many of these Syrian residents now express the desire to live in the Israeli Golan knowing they would be treated better by Israel than by those in control in Syria. Of course this is not an option, however we do hope that our generosity and care for the people of Syria will undermine the military threat from the Assad regime as it gains control of the neighboring areas. 

As Assad's Syrian army advances on rebel-held regions in the country's south-west it is also drawing closer and closer to the Israeli border. This is raising red flags of concern. There are indications that one of its next targets will be the currently rebel-held city of Quneitra, just 3 miles from Israel's border. This city was abandoned during the Yom Kippur War in 1974 and now lies in ruins. It is within the 25 km demilitarized zone agreed between Israel and Syria at the conclusion of the 1974 war, and if Syrian forces were to enter this area, Israel would view it as a serious infringement of the agreement, and it could precipitate war with Syria (10). Israel does not want this to happen but, just in case, the IDF has strengthened its defensive forces along the border and troops are prepared to defend Israel's border 'to the last millimeter', according to Captain Tsur Goldman of the 401st Armored Brigade (10).


Israel Syria border
IDF tanks are seen along the Golan Heights border with Syria. (photo credit: REUTERS)
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/IDF-troops-prepared-to-defend-northern-border-to-the-last-millimeter-561744

Quneitra from Har Bental in Israel  2006 (Photo: Talia Good)
On Friday a Russian-brokered deal was made between Assad's government forces and the rebel army. The rebels agreed to lay down their arms in return for the cessation of the Assad bombardment of the towns of the Dera'a province thus allowing the refugees to return to their homes (11).  This means that now the Assad regime will turn its focus onto the Quneitra region over which it hopes to regain control. 


Map showing rebel held enclaves (in purple) in Syria as of March 2018
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-27838034

Earthquakes

As if the north has not enough to contend with there has been a swarm of earthquakes centered around the Sea of Galilee area over the past week, the 9th strong enough to be felt was recorded just last night. While none of the earthquakes have been severe, the strongest about 4.5 in magnitude, some damage to buildings has been reported and there are fears that a major earthquake could occur. Israel situated on the East African Rift Valley is prone to earthquakes. In 1837 a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck the Galilee region and killed around 6,000 to 7,000 people. the last major earthquake occurred in 1927 measured 6.2 on the Richter Scale and killed 500 people (12).

As always when we experience earthquakes there is a flurry of activity in the government and security authorities, which generally results in very little action being taken. We are woefully underprepared for the event of a large earthquake. 
A report in 2016 by Israel's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees Home-Front Readiness Subcommittee warned that if  " Israel were to be struck by a 7.5 magnitude earthquake, an estimated 7,000 people would be killed, another 8,600 injured and 377,000 expected to be left homeless. In addition, the country could face damages of up to NIS 200 billion.

In addition to buildings being destroyed, the damage to critical infrastructures such as electricity, water and communication is expected to be great. According to Israel’s National Emergency Authority, there are 80,000 buildings, including schools and hospitals, over three stories high that were built before 1980, and not constructed to current standards" (13).

 (Photo: Roi Rubinstein)
Earthquake damage in Tiberias this week.
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307738,00.html

Israel is stealing the rain   :)

Now for a little light relief!  This past week the head of the Iranian Civil Defense Organization, Brigadier General Gholam Reza Jalali, claimed that  Israel is "working to ensure clouds entering Iranian skies are unable to release rain" and insisted that this was supported by scientific studies. Historically Jews have been blamed for pretty much everything, but this must be a first. I nearly wet myself laughing.  If this is true, then I wonder what we are doing with the clouds?  We, like Iran and all of the Middle East, are in the grip of a severe 5-year drought. I wonder who stole our clouds! Thankfully there are still some sane people in Iran (most of them actually) and the head of Iran's meteorological service contradicted Jalali saying "it is not possible for a country to steal clouds".  

Satan the Father of Lies
Although I found this silly accusation hilarious it is also a serious reminder of the lies that our enemies are trying to spread about Israel, lies that are easily believed by the undereducated masses of the Middle East, and the gullible West. 

One of the most powerful and successful weapons being wielded against Israel these days are the lies being spread in the media, either consciously by those generating them as a propaganda weapon, or unconsciously by naive and biased reporting.  

Some time ago a popular TV show host, Andrew Marr, when discussing the use of chemical weapons in Syria, interjected a totally irrelevant and factually incorrect comment about Israel 'killing lots of Palestinian kids' further south at the Gaza border confrontations. Initially the BBC tried to defend Marr but, following complaints from the public, changed their mind and censured his statement, saying that "In the absence of any evidence to support the reference to ‘lots’ of children being killed at the time of transmission, it seems to us to have risked misleading audiences on a material point. We therefore propose to uphold this part of your complaint" (15).

This incident highlights the power of public opinion. I want to encourage you to complain to your newspapers, TV stations etc when you see erroneous or biased reporting against Israel. You may feel that you are only one small voice, but especially in the world of the media, which depends upon public support, even one small voice can have an effect. Many small voices are powerful. 

Iran
Tensions between the US, Israel and Iran have heightened since Trump announced that the US will pull out of the 2015 nuclear accord. European nations are trying to save the agreement but already Iran is making preparations for restarting (if it ever stopped) its program to produce nuclear weapons, should the deal collapse. To this end, it has reopened a plant for the production of UF6, the feedstock for enriching uranium for nuclear weapons (16). 

Last week the nation of Israel was shocked to learn that one of our former Knesset Ministers, Gonen Segev, was being tried for spying for Iran, following his arrest in May. According to his indictment, he transferred dozens of reports to the Iranians with the intention of assisting Iran in its war against Israel (17) 

BDS and the Presbyterian Church
Another headline this week was about anti-Israel resolutions passed by the Presbyterian Church USA in its general assembly. Among the 11 resolutions passed on Friday (22 June) was one opposing anti-BDS legislation, another referred to Israel as an apartheid state. It also voted against resolutions that "were not sufficiently critical of Israel because they also mentioned Palestinian Authority transgressions, particularly of the terrorist group Hamas" (18). 

As someone who was brought up in a Bible-believing Presbyterian church this grieves me greatly. All I can say to Christians everywhere is to read your Bible and see what it says about Israel and God's plans for her. Be careful to not be found opposing God. 

at a kibbutz swimming pool - does this look lie an apartheid state to you???
Photo: Talia Good

SOME VIP'S VISIT ISRAEL


On the other hand, I am glad to say that during the last couple of weeks we have seen some important people come to Israel, if not actively in support, at least ignoring the BDS calls for sanctions. One of these was Ringo Starr who performed two concerts to thousands of fans of all ages in Tel Aviv (19). Good on you, Ringo!

We were also blessed by the first ever official visit of a member of the British Royal Family, Prince William, to the modern state of Israel. His 5 day Middle East tour was " intended to celebrate the UK’s bilateral ties with Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Authority, but otherwise remain strictly apolitical" (20).  His tour began in Jordan, continued for a 3 day stay in Israel and ended with a visit to the Palestinian Authority. While in Israel, Prince William stayed at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, visited Yad Vashem, met with Holocaust Survivors, viewed a soccer match involving a joint Arab-Jewish team, and interviewed Israeli high-tech entrepreneurs. He also laid wreaths on the tomb of his great-grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg,  and another ancestor,  the Grand Duchess Elizabeth Feodorovna, in the Russian Orthodox Church of Mary Magdalene on the Mount of Olives (21). 

On his last day here, Prince William visited the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah where his car was stoned by a group of Palestinian youth. He was unhurt. This incident was not widely reported in the international media (22). One must ask why?

Israel on the Moon

In December this year the Israeli non-profit organization, SpaceIL, will launch a spacecraft which will land on the moon on February 13, 2019. If successful Israel will become the fourth country to plant it's flag on the Moon, after the US, Russia and China.  The spacecraft was originally intended as an entry into the $20 million Google LunarX competition, but the competition was canceled.  The spacecraft cost around $90 million and was funded by private donors. While on the Moon it will collect data about the Moon's magnetic field for the Weizmann Institute and it is hoped that this project will stimulate the aerospace industry in Israel (23).  

The first Israeli spacecraft (Photo: Alex Polo)
It ain't pretty -  but it's going to the Moon - Israel's first spacecraft
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307792,00.html
This project exemplifies the phenomenal entrepreneurial skills of the people of Israel. Israeli's lead the world in so many ways largely because it is a nation of risk takers. Not a great quality on the roads but in the business and scientific world it pays dividends. According to the US News and World Report survey published this last weekend, Israel was ranked the 8th most powerful country in the world, for the second year running (24). This is an amazing result for this tiny country of fewer than 9 million people, only 70 years old and constantly fighting for her very existence. 

Humanitarian Aid

When disaster strikes anywhere in the world Israel's rescue teams are usually among the first to arrive. This past week the world's attention has been focussed on the 12 boys and their coach who were trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand. Divers from several countries participated in the daring and dangerous, but ultimately successful rescue of the boys. Israel helped out too. Emergency communications technology developed by the Israeli company Maxtech Networks was used to maintain communications in the complex cave system where no other existing form of communications will work (25). Without this technology, the cave rescue would have been much more difficult or even impossible. 

Earlier this month three Israeli doctors, Sion Houri, Lior Sasson and Akiva Tamir, of the "Save a Child's Heart" foundation received the UN Population Award for saving young lives in war-torn areas. The non-profit organization "Save a Child's Heart" was founded in the 1990's and since then has performed free-of-charge, life-saving heart surgery on nearly 5,000 children, including 2,000  Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza, and 300 from Iraq and Syria. Other children treated came from  Africa, South America, Europe, Asia and throughout the Middle East. The organization is now training new teams to work in the West Bank, Ethiopia, Kenya, China, Romania, Moldova, Kenya and Tanzania (26).

The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.
“I will make you into a great nation,
    and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
    and you will be a blessing.

I will bless those who bless you,
    and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
    will be blessed through you.

Genesis 12: 1-3 
References
1. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5296264,00.html
2. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307517,00.html
3. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/The-electronic-eye-on-the-sky-to-battle-terror-kites-561718
4. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5304427,00.html
5. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307076,00.html
    https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307164,00.html
6. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5304495,00.html
7. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5299264,00.html
    https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5300466,00.html
8. https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-said-to-boost-iron-dome-deployment-in-gaza-vicinity/
9. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-communities-collect-toys-candy-clothes-for-syrian-refugees/
10. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5304872,00.html
https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/IDF-troops-prepared-to-defend-northern-border-to-the-last-millimeter-561744
11. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5305240,00.html
12. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Emergency-meeting-to-be-held-on-earthquake-preparedness-562001
13. https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Emergency-meeting-to-be-held-on-earthquake-preparedness-562001
14. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5302428,00.html
15. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5295085,00.html
16. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5297991,00.html
17. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5304394,00.html
18.  https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/247964
19. https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/culture/177876-180624-ringo-starr-s-makes-israel-debut-rousing-beatles-nostalgia
20 https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5296172,00
21. https://www.timesofisrael.com/prince-williams-visit-was-a-pr-coup-for-israel-and-a-royal-pain/
22. http://www.israeltoday.co.il/NewsItem/tabid/178/nid/34310/Default.aspx
23. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5307792,00.html
24. https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-ranked-8th-most-powerful-country-in-the-world-survey/
25. https://www.israel21c.org/rescuers-turn-to-israeli-tech-to-help-save-trapped-thai-boys/
26. https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5299926,00.html



























Sunday, June 24, 2018


Whatever is Lovely

The Red Sea at sunset - from Dolphin Reef, Eilat
Photo: Talia Good

This week has been 'fairly uneventful' in Israel - just the usual acts of terror, incendiary kites, fires and trouble on the borders, bombing raids, corruption scandals and what seems like the daily inching towards inevitable war. How sad it is that it seems like an 'uneventful week'. How quickly one becomes accustomed to terrible things. Yet it takes its toll. I think every resident of Israel, Jew, Arab or other, suffers from some degree of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), only it is not 'post' trauma but rather continuing, ongoing, seemingly never-ending trauma. It is easy to slump into despair and sadness. Sometimes I feel like that 'Fiddler on the Roof' trying to keep my balance. 
The writer of the book of Philippians also lived in desperate times full of violence and sadness, but he had an antidote to sadness, as we all do if we walk with God. There is still much of beauty and loveliness in the world if we turn off the news broadcasts, and take time to seek it out. 
 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4: 4-9
Some years ago I was invited to speak at a conference of Ethiopian believers. Right up to just a few hours before it began I still had no inkling about what I would say. In one last desperate attempt to hear from the LORD, I got on my knees and after a short time found myself laughing and crying all at once. Just as well I was in the privacy of my bedroom at the time or perhaps someone in a white coat might have locked me up! However, I soon realized this was my message. Surely this is the heart of God. When he looks upon the works of his Creation he must cry for the darkness, the evil and the destruction which we have brought upon it by our sin, but he must also laugh with joy over those who have accepted his redemption gift. My Ethiopian brothers and sisters were going through a terrible trial. Many had just arrived in the country after a horrendous journey through Sudan on foot during which many died and others, many of whom were family members, were captured and still held in Sudanese prisons in terrible conditions with little hope of rescue. There were many tears at that conference but the Lord had me speak about the laughter and joy that we can still experience even in the midst of the worst suffering. We too can cry and laugh at the same time, if we have the heart of God. We can keep our balance 'on the roof' if we consciously look with a thankful heart on the good, the beautiful and the pure things around us. 
At the Dolphin Reef where you can come to swim with wild free dolphins 

One of Eilat's lovely beaches

This week the gardeners finished (almost) the work of landscaping my garden. No longer an overgrown, weed chocked 'wasteland' it is now a beautiful corner of rest and restoration. As soon as the flowers were planted several different varieties of butterflies arrived.  I was filled with thanksgiving to the God who had made the flowers and the butterflies, for my landlord and friend who had paid for the work, and the gardeners who had worked so hard and skillfully to create this beautiful space. Here is a picture of part of the almost-finished garden - they still have to stain the deck. 


Last week I took myself off for a little holiday, to get away from it all, down in Eilat. For three short days I played the tourist - lounging on the beach, eating in restaurants, sharing fellowship with a good friend who lives there, and enjoying the beauty of the desert and the Red Sea. It was very refreshing and I felt a little more balanced when I returned. I had gazed on things that are lovely and saw God. 
Some of the animals I saw at the Hai Bar Reserve where they breed near-extinct animals, some of which they have already successfully released back into the wild. 
Dorcas gazelle

A herd of  white oryx
Onager


A really mean ostrich lady who tried to eat my camera

Addax

Somali wild ass 
You may be wondering what has in fact been happening in Israel whilst I have been lounging on the beach.  So here is a brief summary of events:
1. The 'war of the kites' continues and we are now averaging between 15-20 fires per day in the vicinity of the Gaza border. The terrorists are now using balloons instead of kites as they fly further into Israeli territory carried by the sea breezes. Last Sunday alone some 20 fires were started by incendiary kites or balloons and hundreds of turkeys in a coop in a kibbutz died from smoke inhalation (1). The IDF has modified equipment designed to detect drones so that it can now detect incendiary kites and balloons, they have also begun firing warning shots over those preparing to launch such devices. Shortly after midnight on Tuesday the IDF attacked three military installations of Hamas and in response Hamas launched a barrage of 45 rockets and mortars towards communities in Israel. No one was injured but damage was sustained. Residents in the area spent the night in their bomb shelters. The following day, Wednesday Israel attacked 25 Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip (2). 
Police sapper handling a mortar shell near a nursery in the Eshkol Regional Council (Photo: Eshkol Security)
A police sapper handling a mortar shell that had landed beside a kindergarten (Photo: Eshkol Security)
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5292044,00.html
Beehives on fire (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority)
Beehives on fire (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority)
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5292044,00.html
On Monday six Gazan terrorists attempted to infiltrate Israel but were stopped by IDF booby traps. Five were injured and one killed. The IDF has studded the security fence with booby traps in order to deter the upsurge in infiltration attempts and the sabotaging of security installations and equipment which has occurred since the beginning of the "March of Return" which began some two months ago (4). 
All this terror activity is costing Israel a great deal. Apart from the loss of crops and farm equipment and stock, damage to nature reserves and the environment caused by fires, Israel is currently constructing a security wall designed to prevent tunneling under the border. This wall will cost around 3.34 billion shekels. A marine barrier is also being constructed to prevent infiltration from the sea. The damage to wildlife and the natural systems of the area is incalculable.  

Reptiles fall victim to fires (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority)
Reptiles fall victim to fires (Photo: Nature and Parks Authority)
https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5288946,00.html
2. Last Sunday the  Shin Bet, IDF and Israel police foiled a cell of some 20 Hamas terrorists, based in Nablus (in the West Bank), which was preparing to carry out a suicide bombing in Jerusalem, remotely bomb targets in Tel Aviv and attack the settlement of Itamar and carry out shooting attacks elsewhere in the West Bank (4) .  Since January this year, the security forces have similarly foiled around 250 significant terror plots and arrested some 400 individuals planning isolated terror attacks (5).
3. This week Sarah, wife of Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was indicted for corruption charges. Mrs Netanyhu is suspected of ordering private meals from high-end restaurants and having the State foot the bill of some 350,000 shekels ($US96,000). This is just the latest of attempts to convict the Netanyahu family for corruption. Although I am all in favor of stamping out corruption this latest episode all seems rather politically motivated to me and nit-picky given what the Netanyahu family has given to the State over a long time period. 
4. All eyes are glued to television sets as the Mondiale Football (Soccer) World Cup matches are played. Last week Israelis were disappointed when the Argentinian team, with their star player, Messi, cancelled a pre-Mondial friendly match here in Jerusalem after the players and their families received threats from Palestinian sources. Although I understand their fear the cancellation of the match is being seen as a great victory by the Palestinians and the BDS movement. It is also bound to impact Israel's hope of holding the next Eurovision Song Contest in Jerusalem. 
 The heart-wrenching photo of the mother with the dead child.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DdOPSMLX4AAFLwa.jpg
5. Do you remember the little Gazan baby who was 'killed by tear gas inhalation' during one of the March of Return protests? Of course this 'incident' hit the world's media headlines with Israel being made to appear monstrous.  This is the headline as it appeared in the British  Independent online paper:

Gaza protests: Eight-month-old Palestinian baby 'dies from tear gas inhalation' after ‘massacre’ at border

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/gaza-protests-palestinian-baby-dead-tear-gas-israel-soldiers-jerusalem-border-us-embassy-a8351971.html
This week Israel captured one of the baby's cousins trying to infiltrate Israel and, during interrogation, he admitted that the girl had died of natural causes and the family had been paid 8000 Israeli shekels ($US2,200) to say the child had died of tear gas inhalation at the border riots (6). This is just one exposure of the way that Hamas and other Palestinian sources are manipulating the media and 'massaging' the facts in their continuing propaganda war against Israel. 
6. On Tuesday 'someone' carried out an airstrike in a town near the Iraqi border in Syria. Fifty pro-regime fighters, including 20 members of an Iranian-backed Iraqi paramilitary group, were killed. Syrian forces and Iraqi forces blamed the US-led coalition for the forces but an anonymous US official pointed the finger at Israel. Israel has declined to admit or deny its involvement. If it was Israel it is a departure from its activities up to now which have targeted Iranian and Hezbollah military sites near to the Israeli border. On Sunday last week Netanyahu, however, did tell the Cabinet that Israel was “taking action — against efforts to establish a military presence by Iran and its proxies in Syria both close to the border and deep inside Syria. We will act against these efforts anywhere in Syria." (7). Whatever the case this attack represents a further increase in tensions between Israel and Iran. 

I will end with the reminder that though it is good to be informed of things happening in Israel and the world around us, we need to always be careful to keep our balance. Take a moment to give thanks for the beauty and goodness that remains in spite of all Satan's efforts to wreak destruction. 
 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 


References:
https://www.timesofisrael.com/hundreds-of-turkeys-choke-to-death-on-smoke-as-fires-rage-near-gaza-border/

https://www.timesofisrael.com/17-fires-extinguished-near-gaza-after-incendiary-kite-attacks/

(2) https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5292044,00.html

https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5288946,00.html

(3) https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5290428,00.html

(4) https://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-5289788,00.html

(5) http://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/34580

(6) https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/247799

(7) https://www.timesofisrael.com/iraq-denounces-mysterious-syria-airstrike-attributed-to-israel/