Last night, I listened to an hour-long update from my dear friend, Lt. Col. (Res.) Sarit Zehavi, the founder and CEO of Alma, a Research and Education non profit that focuses on security issues concerning northern Israel. She spoke much about the current state of the war on all fronts, including America’s military involvement in Syria. Much of that you can read about by clicking on the link below for her October 30, 2023 update. Since her briefing, more details have emerged, including that the IDF believes 240 souls are now held by kidnappers in Gaza, and that the IDF is fighting deep inside Gaza and has taken large steps towards surrounding Gaza city.
But I want to tell you about some other interesting things Sarit said of a more personal or human nature that struck me:
She is tired of the international press using the term “exchange of fire” regarding fighting in northern Israel. That creates a false impression that both Hezbollah and Israel are taking aggressive action when nothing could be farther from the truth. It is Hezbollah that is on the offensive, continuously attempting to infiltrate terrorists into Israel, firing anti-tank missiles and rockets into Israel, and trying to destroy Israeli surveillance equipment. The shooting Israel does is in response and is defensive. Israel has no present offensive intent regarding Hezbollah—although perhaps it should.
At least one UAV from Hezbollah got as far as Haifa before being shot down. That is particularly worrisome because Haifa is the home of a large-scale industrial plant that includes toxic chemicals.
Most Hezbollah operatives trying to infiltrate into Israel live in the villages close to the border. In effect, Hezbollah’s military people are closely imbedded with the people there.
There has been a hint of Hezbollah criticism for Hamas leaders sitting out the war safe in swanky abodes in other Arab nations.
The plan for Hamas’ attack on October 7 were in development for a long time but the schedule may well have been moved up to thwart Saudi Arabia from signing some form of a peace deal with Israel. Think about that. Israel’s attempt to make peace brought it war.
Sarit does not think Hezbollah’s leader, Nasrallah was taken by surprise with Hamas’ actions. There were too many publicized meetings between the leadership of Hezbollah and Hamas for that to be likely. However, it might be that Hezbollah does not want to open an extremely active front for now due to Lebanon’s present political and economic situation. Nevertheless, she feels strongly that Hezbollah will open an extremely active front in the north at some point, although that could be weeks or months away. Meanwhile, Hezbollah will keep the border active with pinprick attacks to draw the IDF away from Gaza and to keep Israeli citizens from returning to their homes in the north (at present, 65,000 of 250,000 displaced Israelis live in the north).
There is reason to question the accuracy of Hamas accounts of the numbers of civilian deaths and the like. This is a strategy that I disclosed in my book about Hezbollah that was used to great effect in its battles will Israel. Pictures were photoshopped, the same wailing women would show up in different places, even bodies were staged. I have no doubt that many Palestinian noncombatants, including children, have died. But the numbers disseminated by Hamas’ beholden institutions. Great doubt.
Life in northern Israel within a few kilometers has come to a halt. Schools are closed, playgrounds—some of which only a few feet from the border—are quiet, villages are ghost towns where only some farmers remain. Further back, life is not normal either, the war is a constant in peoples’ lives—they don’t go out in the dark, employees and owners of local businesses are not present because they have been called up to serve in the IDF and the boom of Israeli artillery is frequent, although comforting, because it means they are holding Hezbollah back for now.
Sarit has met with IDF reservists serving in northern Israel. She is extremely encouraged by their morale and fervent desire to protect the people. She said with emotion it is a great indicator of how Israeli society has come together to fight this scourge.
Sarit made clear her feelings, that there is no border in the world that is completely secure. If Hezbollah wants to, it will get through, but for now with citizens gone and the IDF deployed—those terrorists will be dealt with. However, the inability to secure the border in the north completely from another October 7 attack leaves her unsettled. What, she asks, will happen when relative peace comes, the soldiers demobilize, and citizens return to their homes? Hezbollah has ten times the strength that Hamas has and a similar desire to destroy Israel. Does this mean, she asks, that there is a need to preempt?
Sarit no longer believes in deterrence. She made clear that it is impossible to deter people that do not believe in the value of life. Of course that raises the question of what should replace deterrence? Regarding Hamas, the answer is eradication of its military capability and removal of its governance in Gaza—nothing short of that is acceptable. October 7 made a mockery of deterrence there.
And then, an interesting observation. Sarit spoke for a moment about how difficult it was in years past for women to advance in the army. But now, she observed with pride, the numbers of women serving shoulder-to-shoulder with the men—dying and rescuing others just like the men. And, she said, unlike in her day, the women are making no attempt to hide their femininity with baggy uniforms and the like—they are proud to serve and the IDF is proud to have them.
Then, one person asked Sarit what we could do in the Untied States to help. On this, Sarit was very clear. We need to spread the world about what is happening in Israel so that political leaders in the United States and elsewhere give Israel the time and space it needs to accomplish its goals. But also, she said, we must support the Jewish people. This she said, is also our campaign, “to fight antisemitism…and intimidation of those supporting Israel.”
Sarit is correct. Supporting Israel in its time without reservation and pushing back against antisemitism are both our fights. If Israel can come together as a society to defend itself, so can and should we. And the need to do so is becoming more urgent. Yesterday was Cornell and Russia, today brought Jewish houses being marked in Paris. Now their are marches in the streets condemning Israel without even mentioning Hamas’ atrocities. What will tomorrow bring?
I will tell you. More of the same and worse as long as we are quiet and divided, nuanced and unrealistic.
Antisemitism will only be defeated if we unite as one to confront those who would see Israel destroyed, those that apply double standards, and those that intimidate and do violence to us. There is no sitting on the sidelines. For now, our war is mostly one of words. But unless we use employ our collective power of speech and actions much worse may soon assail us.
And, I leave you today with this thought. What is happening in Gaza is necessary for Israel’s survival. No nation can or would allow a murderous organization that killed, tortured, and kidnapped so many of its citizens to remain on its doorstep free to grow stronger and more malevolent. Nor can or should Israel agree to a ceasefire short of its goal to eviscerate Hamas’ presence in Gaza. To do so short of Hamas’ surrender would jeopardize the mission, destabilize Israel, increase the number of IDF soldiers who will eventually die, perpetuate the suffering in Gaza that has been ongoing for sixteen years at the hands of an evil ruler, and embolden Hezbollah and Iran.
When Japan attacked Pearl Harbor, America went to war. There were no ceasefires. No opportunities given to let Japan regain its strength. Only unconditional defeat. To the contrary, when Hamas attacked Israel multiple times before over the years with its rockets and Israel responded, there were ceasefires. Israel agreed to them. What was the result? More war with a more deadly Hamas that now could kill more Israelis and continue to make life miserable for people living in Gaza. That history would repeat itself should there be a ceasefire now, but with one exception. An emboldened Iran, through its ally Hezbollah, would see a weakened Israel ripe for the picking in the north. And Sarit’s nightmare would more likely come true.
So—there just is no middle ground. No “on the other hand” mentality. No staying quiet. Not if Hamas refuses to surrender. Not if Hamas continues to use the lives and suffering of its citizenry as political weapons. Not if we want Israel to survive. Not if we want to survive rampant antisemitism and double standards here that I fear has become the popular “in” thing. An “in” thing where so many have become so caring for others as long as they are not Jews. A selective caring that I bet some of you have heard from a few you never thought would say such things.
Therefore, Israel must be resolute and so must we. We must avoid the death trap of the middle ground in which Hamas will strengthen, the resolve of our enemies will grow, and antisemitism will mutate.
Daily update: Israel at war Day 24 Oct 23, 2023, 8:00 PM Israel time - Written by Alma Research and Education Center—A comprehensive review of events.
Hillary Clinton: People Who Call For Ceasefire Do Not Understand Hamas—Written by Jerusalem Post Staff—October 30, 2023—Click on the Twitter video within the article and hear Hillary Clinton in her own voice explain why there should not be a ceasefire.
IDF Rescues Soldier Held By Hamas—Written by Sam Halpern for the Jerusalem Post—October 30, 2023
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