Extended family in Israel

My stepmother is an ex-pat Israeli now living in Canada and has one son who also lives in Canada with his wife and children. I was talking to them on the phone yesterday as I knew they still have family in Israel. I'll keep politics and religion out of this post as I know that is forbidden and simply state a few facts: My stepbrother's cousin, wife and children were all murdered as well as a close family friend who is an Israeli police officer in the initial attack. Two other family members are in the Sayeret Matkal (Israeli Special Forces) and their current whereabouts are unknown. Lastly, my stepbrother's uncle owns a vineyard on the Golan Heights where there are rockets being fired into from Lebanon and apparently Syria. I don't care where your sympathies lie but I think we can all agree that the fomenters of such horrific attacks need to be erased from the face of the Earth.

Been communicating since Saturday with various friends and family in Israel. I did my basic at Zikim (heavy in the news), and a couple of nephews have gotten their call-ups. This ain't gonna end well, but I think Hamas has really over-played its cards this time. At least I hope it has!

Fighting the good fight gets nowhere with these types it's gotta be bare fists and street tactics now Hezbollah has thrown their towel into the ring it would appear Israel may be fighting on 3 fronts.
These ppl are beyond reason literally who murders little children, women, families some were beheaded to defeat these types you must become them same deal same tactic the gloves are off the cowards hide behind their captives or use them as bargaining chips.
I'm extreme in my views on these types sadly get caned when I air my views as a free person that the peaceful nations rise as one like in WWII and stamp out these extremists once and for all and I mean completely so there is no lineage to come back years later on a jihad journey.
Scorched earth complete and utterly nothing left to ever threaten the peace and balance of the world given to us by the Greatest Generations sacrifice.

(Delete post if this is to OTT Badger.)

Such a terrible tragedy in an area where peaceful co-existance has moved so far to the good in the last two decades. So senseless.

"Only the dead have seen the end of war" Plato

Rest in peace to the innocent.

To the guilty not so much.

I didn't know until I looked it up that: There are approximately 1.6 million Palestinian citizens of Israel, comprising about 20% of the total Israeli population. And according to some sources approx 150,000 Palestinians (Gazans) cross the border and work in Israeli each day. Most working in the Agricultural and Construction fields. Many who will openly speak out despise Hamas. There are no real jobs or infrastructure in the strip, except making bombs. For decades their youth have been in Hamas training camps who just take advantage to promote a culture of violence.
Hamas are like the Drug Cartels, they don't care who the victims are.

Is this todays Sodom and Gomorrah?

God Bless the Innocent

Hamas = baby killers.

Just hope that Israel watches it's back if it goes into Gaza especially in the north of Israel.

Israel has apparently sent a few welcome cards up north, Egypt is trying to broker a ceasefire which may be wishful thinking as the former is not going to forget what has transpired and I don't blame them.
The time for retribution is now and needs to be complete that Israel and the free world once and for all dismember the Hamas and Hezbollah factions so they can never ever be a threat all the while the free world keeps a watchful eye on the Taliban.

In the words of a famous person who did something long ago and who's words were very prophetic in his life what was left of it;
"I fear we have awoken a sleeping giant" Admiral Yamamoto on the Pearl Harbour raid 07.12.1941

The real tragedy is still to unfold. Rehabilitation after the conflict for the hundreds of thousands on both sides who are the innocent victims. Careful thinking of what is taking place in Gaza and the long term implications if it isn't handled right will have very long term repercussions.

I agree with that sentiment Daan the innocents suffer but all that went out the window when Hamas launched that initial attack some witness reports on what they did and subjected people to defies one's thoughts.
This like the Ukraine will take decades and decades to repair if that will be at all possible, the big question I think Israel should ask is why their intelligence did not pick this Hamas attack or the preparations for it up!

Yes, similar to the previous one.

I had my flight to Tel Aviv canceled Monday. Obviously...
Had to go to Sderot and Be'Ersheva to see customers with my agent and friend.
Close to my customer, the kids at the music festival have been butchered. In Sderot and in many kibbutzes in the area, those inhuman massacres have taken place.
I'm really heartbroken.
My friend is ok, as is his family, but I've been traveling the Middle East for 27 years now. I know every country there.
Deal with them a lot. I know exactly on which side I am.

In July, I went to see the same people I wanted to see these days, and took my son Alessandro (20) with me.
He loved Israel immediately. He told me, he felt like in some kind of very young and dynamic Europe.
When I went in the Negev, he took the train from Rehovot and got a look at Tel Aviv.
In the evening, when we met and went for dinner, he told me what he saw, the people, the girls (he said that those in uniform and with the rifle had a terrifying appeal on him).
The last day, we went to Jerusalem, and met with customers. He came with us (me and my agent). He could see how Israeli, Jews and Palestinians can work together. Like anywhere else.
Some of the Palestinians also told him that they don't vote for the islamic parties, because they know what would come with them and prefer freedom and democracy.

All in all... it is the first time in my life that I can't go somewhere because there is a carnage going on.

I don't feel good about it at all...

I pray for my friends over there, and also for all the innocents being slain.
Not for the murderers. I wish them hell!

Today my friend told me that they are feeling some fatigue, but they know they are safe in central Israel. But everybody is worried and scared for those who live in the South. For them it’s not war. It is genocide. They will not be prisoners…
I think that is such a horrible thing. How can so many people here in the Western Countries relativize…
How can they hate the free world in which they thrive?

I hope your friends are safe Ovidio this is surely a worrying time sadly there is not much one can do except pray they stay safe along with being able to get out of that area to safety.
Sometimes I feel that there will never ever be peace on this rock as from the dawn of time till now there is always a conflict going on somewhere whilst along with poverty these two things will seem to haunt us for the milenia of time.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ovidio

How can they hate the free world in which they thrive?

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Because in their minds like so many today, Everything is Owed to them. And no matter what they see and are told it is Propaganda.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ovidio

I pray for my friends over there, and also for all the innocents being slain.
Not for the murderers. I wish them hell!

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Prayers here as well.

That is the first and best first-hand account I have heard from a trusted source. I do not trust the news much anymore.

---------- Post added at 05:24 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:18 PM ----------

Quote:

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Originally Posted by painter777

Because in their minds like so many today, Everything is Owed to them.

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Jack Webb said it better than I ever could.
50 Yr. Old Advice Still True Today - Sgt. Joe Friday Vs. Young Occupy Bernie Supporters - YouTube

I can't help but think that Hamas wants to draw Israel into a ground offensive in Gaza either because they are better equipped than Israel realises or Israel's other enemies plan to attack at the same time or both. A very difficult situation to know how to resolve either peacefully or militarily.

If Hamas was to stop firing thousands of rockets into Israel and release all the hostages that it holds in Gaza it would greatly help the situation.

I don't know why some are so quick to believe what Hamas say like we have seen recently at the hospital incident in Gaza.