If/when the Balloon goes up

 Posted by JeanIne Hirschhorn

Yet another war with Iran and its proxies Hamas, Hezbollah, Houthis, etc. seems to be in the offing.  But we in Israel have been through this so many times, and we continue to pursue life because it does indeed go on.  This morning, I was contacted by my Internet provider about upgrading my subscription.  My kupat cholim (health fund) Maccabi reminded me of upcoming appointments, as well as future workshops and health discussions that may be of interest.

If/when the balloon goes up, I will provide daily From the Frontlines reports from my flat and my building's bomb shelter, just as I did every day during the 34 days of Hezbollah bombardment in August 2006.  Or at least as long as the power and Internet allow me.

For now, I offer two realities for thought:

 1.  That there are 1.5 million non-Jews living in Israel, some of whom are citizens, a few of whom proudly serve in the IDF protecting me and the other 9  million Israelis.  So while governments, media and the legion of Jew haters chortle in glee about "those f**king Jews" being bombarded by Iran's missiles, keep in mind - because neither your government nor the media will make mention of this - that Muslims, Xtians, Druse, Maronites, Circassians, Achmedi, Baha'i and Bedouin living in Israel are also being bombarded by Iran's missiles.  

 2.  That "peace" is a Western concept, unknown in the 4,000 year history of this region. That in this region, as in much of the world, the pursuit of power and control is unending. That the best one can hope for is the lull between skirmishes.  That's how it is in a culture and mentality where brute power reigns absolutely, where perceived weakness is challenged to obtain power, control and the wealth that goes with it. And there are always plenty around ready to mount that challenge.  Like Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, DAESH, the Muslim Brotherhood, the PLO, Islamic Jihad and the plethora of thugs, terrorists and murderers who wait patiently for their turn to usurp power and reap the benefits.  Given this, it may help to understand why this region is in a constant state of upheaval.  And why "peace" is a ludicrous, laughable concept postulated by the ignorant, the woefully naive, the agendaed, and the disingenuously blind.

 This war just like all the other wars is not about land, occupation, freedom, self-determination, or rights. Or "Palestine", the name given to this area in the 2nd Century CE by Emperor Hadrian to annihilate the history, presence, nationhood and nation of Jews who had the temerity to rebel against Rome. It was about "those f**king Jews" 2,000 years ago and it's about "those f**king Jews" today.  The rest is Jew-hater justification.