My plane took off from Ben Gurion airport during the early hours of May 9—only minutes before an Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed three leaders of Islamic Jihad, a nefarious terrorist group based in Gaza that had launched 100 missiles towards Israel days before. Those now dead leaders were responsible for organizing and launching terror attacks against Israelis. Since then, hell broke loose, with Islamic Jihad firing 1,469 rockets and shells indiscriminately at Israeli citizens. Iron Dome intercepted 437 of them that otherwise would have struck populated regions in Israel. The David’s Sling defensive-missile system intercepted two others. Of those Islamic Jihad fired at Israel, 291 fell back to earth in Gaza due to malfunctions, killing three of Islamic Jihad’s fellow citizens. One Israeli citizen and one Palestinian laborer died in Israel.
There are at least three takeaways from the five-day conflict:
Hezbollah and Hamas (the larger Gaza terrorist organization) stayed out of the conflict, maybe due to Israeli deterrence, maybe for other reasons. I’m sure pundits will explore that issue in the coming weeks.
Israel’s methods for hitting military targets while avoiding civilian casualties continue to improve at a miraculous pace that is unparalleled anywhere else in the world.
It is shocking that there was very little coverage on American news media of Islamic Jihad’s unprovoked attack designed solely to kill Israeli men, women, and children. Apparently, terrorists killing Israelis and Israel successfully blunting the attack and achieving its military aims without much collateral damage is not newsworthy. Hmmm, I wonder why.
Three other things.
First, I suggest downloading the Red Alert app to your IPhone or Android phone. I can think of no better way from thousands of miles away to try to understand what it is like for those under missile attack than to hear the beep from your phone every time a missile strikes and then see the location a map provided by the app.
Second, the last article highlighted in this newsletter is a much watch video of an Iranian UAV base!
Third, there is a new four part series called the Ghosts of Beirut streaming on Showtime. The first show was aired on May 19. I was disappointed. It is about Imad Mugniyeh, a Lebanese terrorist who first worked as a bodyguard for Yasser Arafat and then for Hezbollah. Mugniyeh, who appears many time in my book (Israel’s Struggle with Hezbollah: A War Without End), has the blood of much more than a thousand souls on his hands, many killed in the most awful ways. Rather than focusing on that, at least the first episode spends an inordinate amount of time humanizing Mugniyeh. It also gives a favorable portrait of American CIA agent, Robert Ames. A view that I do not share. Here are two reviews; one from Times of Israel, the other from Robert Ebert. I still recommend watching it, but at least for me, the producers of Fauda who produced this show have so far disappointed me.
And to all of you receiving this bi-monthly newsletter for the first time, please write to me about what you think could be improved. And, of course, unsubscribe if you would rather not get this. But, if you think it worthwhile, please forward this newsletter to anybody who you think would be interested in reading it.
The Latest Gaza Escalation: Israel Exhibits New Capability Against Terror Armies with a Message to Other Areas —May 15, 2023—Written by Sarit Zehavi and Tal Beeri for Alma. This is a concise overview of the recent fighting with Islamic Jihad and takeaways from it.
Israel’s Operation in Gaza: A New Level in Precision Fighting - Opinion—May 18, 2023—Written by Yaakov Katz for the Jerusalem Post. This is another excellent overview of Israel’s recent fight with Islamic Jihad coupled with a perspective on what the present Israeli government is spending on.
Despite Constant Rocket Threats, Many Israelis Remain Without Adequate Access to Shelter —May 18, 2023—Written by Karen Setton for Media Line. This shocking fact needs to be rectified.
Check out this incredible video brough to you by Colin Davis from Alma on May 17, 2023.
Israel’s Struggle with Hezbollah—A War Without End is now available in eBook and hardback format on Amazon. This compelling narrative explores Hezbollah’s origins and cancerous growth, traces Israel’s response, and reveals Israel’s present readiness to meet Hezbollah’s challenge.
Below is a picture of an Israeli hero that is the subject of a forthcoming book that I am presently researching with the hope of publishing it in early 2024. Send me your guess as to who it is and where the picture was taken (the person who accompanied me on my recent trip to Israel and his family are excluded from the contest - sorry about that!).
Cliff Sobin
Important Link—Alma Research and Education Center: Understanding the Security Challenges on Israel’s Northern Border