GIYUS

Longer range rockets pound into Israel from Gaza

Southern Israel is under attack tonight with several longer range rockets pounding into various cities causing injuries and severe damage. At least 9 long range Grad rockets hit Israel hours after the Israeli Air Force took out a group of terrorists preparing for yet another rocket launch.

Fire in Ashdod at rocket landing site (Photo: Shai Ben-Yishai)

Islamic Jihad took responsibility for the ongoing rocket attacks demonstrating faster rocket launching techniques which are typical to Hezbollah's method of attack.

Exchanges of fire are common between southern Israel and the Gaza strip controlled by Hamas, but this is the worst round in months.

One of the rockets hit a school yard. Luckily the school was empty so there were no injuries or causalities, but schools will not open tomorrow in several communities under fire.

Officials in Israel emphasized that Israel is not looking for escallation but is committed to protecting its citizens. Other estimated this round of fighting won't last long.

As events are unfolding what's clear is that Palestinians terrorists are specifically targeting civilians in Israel while putting civilians in Gaza in danger.

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Israel is waiting for Gilad Shalit

Update II: Here is the first picture of Gilad Shalit in Israel, in an IDF uniform

 

Update: IDF spokeperson confirmed Gilad Shalit is now a free man in Israel.

Here are the first images of Gilad as he was transfered from Hamas to Egypt.

 

This is a special day in Israel. 5 years ago Gilad Shalit was just a regular soldier doing his job in the IDF. In the last 5 years he spend in Hamas' captivity, Gilad Shalit became an icon, he became everyone's soldier. Gilad became a symbol of Israel's duty to protect it's soldiers.

Earlier today Hamas has transferred Shalit to Egyptian hands in the first phase of the prisoner exchange deal. Shalit arrived in Egypt looking pale and thin but in general good health. Despite Israel's objection, Egypt made Shalit interview for Egyptian TV before releasing him to Israel.

While an overwhelming 79% in Israel support this deal, the release of so many terrorists with blood on their hand is very emotionally challenging to the families that lost their loved ones due to terrorist attacks by those prisoners.

This is the end of Gilad's time in captivity. But it's a beginning of a long struggle to put those terrible times behind him. Gilad regains his freedom a day before Jews celebrate the Festival of Simchat Torah. Throughout the millennium, Jews have lived by and even died to preserve their holy Torah. Yet despite it’s intrinsic holiness Jewish law demands, that a community’s last Torah scroll must be sold off to perform one special deed: Redeeming a Jew from captivity. The feeling of all for one is part of what makes Israel unique. This feeling is very strong today as people rejoice the return of Shalit home to his family.

Welcome home Gilad. May you be able to put these hardships behind you and build your live again.. Amen. May this step brings us closer to peace.

 

 

Leaders appear to lose faith - Is there still hope for peace in the Middle East?

September 20th has come and gone and the issue of a Palestinian state was one of the main issues of the UN's General Assembly.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and Palestinian leader Abbas have traveled far to address their local crowd. They were speaking in the UN but not to the UN. Like Prime Minister Netanyahu said, anything can be decided in the UN's general assembly, even that the sun sets in the east, the truth is not an issue here.

Netanyahu conveyed Israel's genuine wish for peace and at the same time growing frustration of the constant demand for concessions. He reminded the UN community that Israel has taken great steps for peace by unilaterally evacuating from Gaza and leaving it in Palestinian control. Sadly, we all know how this "advanced" peace. Soon after Israel's withdrawal, Hamas overtook Gaza in a storm throwing out the moderate Fatah leaders. Israeli cities have not been safe since with Hamas constantly shooting rockets on civilian populations.

Abbas's statehood bid reflects his loss of faith after 20 years of failed peace talks sponsored by the United States, and alarm at Israeli settlement expansion in occupied land that Palestinians want for a state.

But the settlements in occupied land are not the issue. The issue is at the heart of Israel's reason of existence. It's the Jewish identity of Israel which the Palestinian refuse to acknowledge. It's the Jewish connection to the land of Israel. The historic connection that goes back thousands years ago. The Palestinians are not willing to accept Israel's right to exist in Tel Aviv, Haifa, Jerusalem and Beer Sheva. These are major cities in Israel, not occupied land settlements.

The refusal of the Palestinians to acknowledge Israel as a Jewish state is what's leading Israelis to lose faith.

While leaders seem to lose hope, it's the people that will pay the price of lack of peace. As the world changes around us, the window of opportunity to achieve peace is rapidly closing. Let's hope that despite the doomsday speeches at the UN Israel and the Palestinians will find a way to move forward.

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Arab Spring or Anarchy? Terror en route to vacation in Eilat

It's summer time and it's the high season in the beautiful resort town of Eilat. Sadly, the peace and quiet of the southern most city in Israel, was abruptly broken today as a chain of terror attacks claimed the lives of at least 6 people and injured tens of civilians.

In a well planned attack the terrorists fired shots at 2 buses and civilian car, assaulted Israeli soldiers, and fired mortars and an anti-tank missile.

Items are seen aboard a bus after it was ambushed (Image: Reuters)

Defense minister Barack commented on the attack saying ""This is a serious terrorist attack in a number of locations. The event reflects the weakening of Egyptian control over Sinai and the expansion of the activity of terrorist forces. "

The violence near the resort city of Eilat stoked concerns about growing lawlessness in the neighboring Egyptian Sinai Peninsula following the ouster in February of Egypt's longtime autocratic leader, Hosni Mubarak.

Democratic elections are yet to be seen in Egypt, but the direct result of the revolution is that anarchy rules in Sinai. The local Egyptian police is afraid of the armed Bedouins that rule the area and the smuggling route to Gaza is open to all.

Such anarchy is the perfect breeding ground for radical Islam. Today's terror attack is proof of that.

The beautiful town of el Arish in Sinai is known for its beaches and luxury resorts. But in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, el Arish is becoming known for something far different from tourism. A well-armed jihadist group is making its presence felt on the dusty streets here, intimidating opponents and demanding Egypt becomes an Islamist state.

If the Egyptian authorities do not move quickly to crush the extremists and regain control, the Sinai Peninsula could soon become a separate Islamic emirate run by Salafis, Hamas and Al-Qaeda.

The Arab revolution is creating fast paced changes in the Arab world. Sadly these fast paced changes will not lead to democracy and freedom for the Arab people.

Instead radical Islamic groups are quick to hijack the winds of change aiming to create Islamic regimes instead of democratic ones.

 

Flotilla Organizers should change course to Syria or Libya - Gaza not the center of injustice

Unless there will be another delay, this week a group of boats carrying determined activists (and probably some terrorists as well), will try to break the siege on Gaza.

From their talk you'd think Gaza is the center of injustice in the Middle East with Israel bullying and harassing its poor people.

Image source - AFP

I guess the organizers of this next flotilla didn't watch the news in the last few months. With Libya caught in armed struggle and Syrians crying for help under Assad's brutal repression, maybe they should consider to change course and sail to Syria.

You see, there is no humanitarian crisis in Gaza and Israel transfers all aid to the Palestinians. If this flotilla was about aid there would be no problem - the ship could dock in Israel, unload its humanitarian cargo and all aid would be delivered to Gaza.

But the flotilla is not about aid - it's about delivering weapons to Hamas, a terrorist organization bound on erasing Israel off the map.

Terrorists are manipulating the liberal crowds - recruiting support by crying havoc for the people in Gaza while all they want to do is deliver weapons to Hamas.

On it's end, "Israel is determined to stop this flotilla," said Israeli UN Ambassador Ron Prosor, "There is nothing humanitarian or anything that has to do with Palestinian welfare that the organizing of this flotilla wants to do," he added.

Leaders around the world have shown support for Israel on this issue. Even Turkey, pulled out of this flotilla with the IHH (whose activists lead the previous Flotilla in May 2010 in which several were killed in the confrontation with the IDF) announcing that as Egypt opened Rafah crossing it does not feel the flotilla is as urgent as before. UN leader Ban endorsed the Israeli government’s decision, saying that aid should be delivered to Gaza only through “legitimate crossings and established channels”. Ban added that the flotilla is not helpful in assisting the economy of Gaza and encouraged organizers to cancel their voyage. From a legal perspective, international maritime law expert Heintschel von Heinegg claims Israel has no choice but to stop this flotilla at any price and that the law is on its side.

We, in Giyus.org, feel for the people in Gaza - it's not easy living under the brutal regime of Hamas. But as the whole world agrees, there is no need for this flotilla. It's an unnecessary provocation which does not do good to anyone.