Thank You- And My Request For Your Help
January 1, 2024 - Issue #68
Today, marks the beginning of a new year—one that I hope will bring all of you happiness and health— and for Israel, release of all the hostages and peace.
Today, I want to thank all my subscribers and followers for your comments, likes, and engagement. It is your willingness to take a few minutes out of your day to read what I write that provides me with the sustenance to continue and prioritize the newsletter over other projects. And it is your referrals that have helped drive a sevenfold increase in readership from October 7, 2023, to today.
In the March 7, 2023, inaugural issue I wrote, “This newsletter highlights information and issues impacting Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hezbollah that have come to light since I finished the final draft of [my latest book] Israel’s Struggle with Hezbollah—A War Without End.” Obviously, October 7 broadened my focus somewhat, and what I perceived was the need. Since then, I have worked hard to provide you in each issue with explanations of complicated events, nuances derived from my sources in Israel and my many visit there, and a perspective that will help you anticipate and evaluate events to come. Generally, each issue takes me about fifteen hours to complete but the newsletter will always be free because its goal is to educate and mobilize support for Israel. The same is true for the books I write about Israeli history. All of the income I receive from the books defrays the costs of researching and producing them, with any remainder going to the Alma Education and Research Center in northern Israel.
But I do have just one request and a need from all of you—feedback!
Right now, in addition to doing some public speaking, I am working on multiple new book projects, all of which I am determined to finish and publish over the next three to four years while simultaneously continuing the newsletter. In that regard, since all the projects will require many hours of work, I am seeking your input regarding what you would like to see me to finish first—taking into account your personal interest and your view as to which projects are most important from the more global perspective of helping Israel. Although I intend to complete all the projects I list below by the end of 2028 and have already done extensive work on most of them, over the next few days I need to decide which to focus on in 2025. In addition, I am thinking of starting a monthly podcast and adding to my newsletter an audio file consisting of me reading the newsletter for those who would rather listen than read. But that too will take time from my writing and research. Therefore, I am asking for your input which will help me decide where to focus my energies. Please also feel free to make suggestions for other topics for book releases or projects that you think might be worthwhile for me to undertake.
Below is the list.
A sequel to my book Israel’s Struggle with Hezbollah: A War Without End that I published in February 2023. This book, written in the same intimate style as my prior books, would focus on Israel’s struggle with Hezbollah from March 2023 to the present and continuing, to the date it is published with obvious emphasis on the war since October 7, 2023. It would incorporate events in Syria and Iran while also highlighting the impact of how the war in Gaza impacted the war with Hezbollah. Also, the book would include in depth updates regarding the communities and personalities highlighted in my 2019 book, Living in Heaven, Coping with Hell, which was about settlement in northern Israel and the people that live there. By doing this, readers will learn through firsthand accounts how the war has impacted Israelis living along Israel’s northern borders with Lebanon and Syria. In essence, it would complete a trilogy about the trials and tribulations of northern Israel. I am rather passionate about doing this project sooner than later. Probably, I could complete this book by the fall of 2025 if I focus on it.
An edited compilation of my newsletter essays since October 7, 2023, with possibly a prologue for each as to why I chose that topic, coupled with a timeline of the war so readers can see how my writing fit in with what unfolded. I could complete this project by the Spring of 2025, while also working on other projects. I see it as my personal perspective of the war and something that newer subscribers to my newsletter might have an interest in reading, as a book that might be gifted to people who have had little in depth exposure to what has happened to Israel and Jewry in the Diaspora since October 7 but might be willing to learn about it in a comprehensive but easy to follow format, and perhaps a marketing item to attract more readers and followers to the newsletter and more consumers of my other books. It also would be inexpensive to produce and any profits I would donate to worthy causes in northern Israel and give as a gift book for others that might choose to do so too.
A three-volume historical fiction about Ariel Sharon whose life was much intertwined with Gaza and Lebanon as well as many other things. Sharon is a fascinating figure whose accomplishments and failures both shine onto and shadow the present. I have chosen a fictional platform as opposed to non-fiction to more easily introduce a fact-based narrative that will create a compelling tension that I hope will both be enthralling and educate the reader. If I give this project priority:
I envision being able to complete the first volume by the end of 2025. It would cover Sharon’s early life, including his near death in the 1948 war; the early 1950’s when he led much of Israel’s response to terrorism emanating from Jordan, Gaza, and Egypt; and then his controversial leadership of a paratroop unit in Sinai during the 1956 war.
The second volume, which I would complete in 2026, would cover the years 1967 through 1982 when Sharon masterfully led a division in the 1967 war, by some accounts led Israel to victory in the 1973 war in the Sinai, and then maneuvered Israel into a war in Lebanon in 1982 as Defense Minister before resigning in disgrace.
The third volume, which I would complete in 2027, would cover Sharon’s return to politics, ascendence to Prime Minister, and fateful decision to withdraw the IDF from Gaza in 2005 which led to Hamas’ rise.
A deep dive into Israel’s information war. Before October 7, I was working hard on researching and interviewing people in Israel for this book. And, I had started down the road to exploring options for translating it to Hebrew for the Israeli market. However, after October 7, the scope of what I need to do to fairly describe the problem and express solutions much expanded, as did, I think, the need for it with regard to the explosion of antisemitism worldwide.
A book tentatively entitled "How the UN has failed Israel and Why." This book would delve deeply into Israel’s relationship with the United Nations since 1948 and highlight depravity surrounding the creation and conduct of UNWRA, The Human Rights Council, and all other creations of the UN that have plagued Israel with their bias.
A history of Israeli Ambassadors, how they function, and their impact on the American/Israeli relationship. It would be based much on personal interviews as well as research.
A podcast that would feature interviews with Israelis that I think you might fight interesting. I am already blessed with many relationships with people in Israel that I believe I could attract to appear on the podcast that range from Generals to researchers to journalists and writers. They have different perspectives and backgrounds but speak English well and share a common trait—their passion for Israel. I would start with a monthly broadcast and if all goes well, present a new podcast every other week. I suspect each broadcast would take ten hours of my time to produce.
Send along with my newsletter a link to an audio version read by me of the essay contained within it. This would probably add an additional two hours of prep for each newsletter.
I know I am asking a lot of you, but your input really would help me decide what to do and when. Please feel free to respond to me through Substack or directly.
Next week, I will issue a new newsletter in the format you are accustomed to.
Cliff Sobin
Israel’s Struggle with Hezbollah—A War Without End is now available in eBook and hardback format on Amazon and IngramSpark. 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.
Cliff Sobin
Important Link—Alma Research and Education Center: Understanding the Security Challenges on Israel’s Northern Border
Thank you Sheri. As for time - I write fast to get my thoughts down and then edit. I also find that I work best when I do it in a large block of time rather than multiple short ones. Of course, this often drags me into the wee hours of the morning.
As for research, I spend much effort in organizing potential sources using a combination of Scrivener, folders and Word. Then, I focus on distilling information from those sources sequentially in one or more sessions rather than doing so when I first find the source.
All info gleaned goes into a sectioned word document that follows an outline for the newsletter or potential chapters in a book.
Then, after putting my draft document side-by-side with my research, my writing process puts in red source material used or that I find not valuable.
How I do this is still a work in process but so far it has worked effectively for me. The key though, is to write a poor draft quickly and then edit, edit, edit.
Steve - Great to hear from you! And thank you for the feedback. It is exactly what I am looking for. Your question on Sharon is an interesting one. My suspicion is that he had little confidence that the Palestinians would sort things out after the withdrawal. Perhaps, as you suggested, he did think it was a way to bring things to a head and resolve it, but in concert with at least some form of world approval. As you know, Sharon had disdain for Arafat, but I also think he had little use for Abbas, although perhaps he was willing to give things a chance with him.
Also of note, Sharon's devastating stroke happened on Jan 4, 2006 and Hamas (Haniyeh) won the Palestinian legislative elections later that month. It is fair to speculate that Sharon would have taken a much more active stance immediately if he he had been in charge when Hamas threw Fatah reps from the rooftops in June 2007. But then, also, I doubt that the results of the Second Lebanon War in 2006 would have been the same if Sharon was still in power.
To me, Sharon is a fascinating figure who was so important in shaping Israeli history, and very much involved in creating the conditions that exist today, but that people now in their 20s to 50s know little about.