When something bad happens you always look at it from a personal level, meaning – do I know someone who was involved, or worst – got hurt. Well, in this present operation (oh well, War, no point in beautifying it), my mother is involved. And it doesn’t get any more personal than this.
I’ve been tracking the internet ever since operation Cast Lead started, trying to ‘fight’ the social war that has been going on, and also got some requests and concerned emails from friends and colleagues to explain my perspective. I watch CNN, BBC, Aljazeera and the rest, so I know how this portrays elsewhere in the world and what images and videos you’re watching:
- why are we killing 300+ people?
- what is the end game here?
- why can’t we just live in peace?
- what is a Qassam rocket?
- why not blow up only the terrorists?
- why are Palestinian civilians getting hurt?
- airstrikes? F-16s? isn’t that a bit of ‘over-kill’?
Well, first of, my mother is fine. She decided to leave Ashkelon (see map) Sunday (‘Dvir, I’m in the car, heading north’ were her exact words), and has been staying in our living room ever since. How’s living with my mother, again, after 7 years of freedom? A different discussion… She sends her regards btw.
Why? where? who? how? what?
Our goal is to stop the Qassam launches from Gaza strip to Israel.
In late 2005 Israel left Gaza strip, handing control to the Palestinian Authority. You can see in the graph below that 2005 registered almost the lowest level of attacks, which speaks for the validity of our disenagagement – we wanted to let the Palestinian Authority to govern. Without us. It worked for less than a year. Then Hamas took over.
In 2007 Israel was hit by 1,645 rockets. 4 rockets a day.
In 2008 (still counting, 2 days left) we’ll pass 2,000, going for 2,200. That’s more than 5 a day. On Dec. 24 alone some 60 rockets fell.
Today, Dec. 29 – more than 80.
What’s the big deal you ask?
Here’s what a Qassam hit looks like, as pictured in security cameras at Ashkelon. The rocket (90kg) appears in the first 30sec, one angle showing the hit itself, the other showing the shock wave. The kids filmed from 0:40 were in the house during the hit – it’s the first time they see the video.
Who are those 300+ people killed since the operation started? why civilians are injured?
This video shows the Qassams operators – Hamas terrorists, preparing a rocket for launch. Sometimes, they even fire from within civilian population, like school and residential homes, into Israel. ‘If you sleep with a Qassam at night, don’t be surprised if you don’t wake up in the morning’.
This is my perspective. I hope it’s yours too.
Links:
Operation ‘Cast Lead’ (excellent article from Wikipedia – the power of the web in action!)
2008 Israel – Gaza conflict and Israel-Palestine conflict
@qassamcount – follow the Qassams’ falls in Israel
Ahuva Berger – President Shimon Peres’ statement to the press
Niv Calderon – Help Israel on social media
@israelconsulate
Israel Defense Forces
Facebook group – I support the Israeli Defense Forces
