AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/12/2003 09:03:00 PM
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BODY: A couple of notes on today’s suicide bombings

Two Israelis were killed and more than a dozen injured in 2 suicide bombings, one in Rosh Ha’ayin and another one in Ariel.

These bombings will not break the Hudna, both Israel and the Hamas rushed to say it today. Each side has its own interests to keep this cease-fire with occasional attacks. Hamas leadership know that when fighting returns to the level it was before the Hudna they will soon find out whether there really are 72 virgins awaiting to each one of them or if they just believed this bullshit all their lives for nothing. Israel enjoys the relative calm, the money that is being saved from the reduction in military activity is being used to prevent a crisis in the social-economical area. Commerce is increase and even tourism. Reserve soldiers are not being called to often, which is good for the soldiers (who are first of all civilians who wants to live quietly) and to the business they work for.

Israel also hops that the slim chance that the PA will act against the terror groups will be realized (it won’t).

How can you tell that the Israeli government was relying on this Hudna? Defense Minister, Shaul Mofaz, went on a private vacation in France. He did call it off today, but some commentator suggested he hurried home to silence the complaints made by the right wing ministers in the government.

This Hudna will continue until those “small” attacks will get nastier, the PA will continue not do anything to stop it and a large Israeli military will follow and so on.

Last note: I don’t recall previous attacks in Rosh Ha’ayin though the town is right on the green line. Why Rosh Ha’ayin now? The first segment of the Security Fence, which is semi finished, that begins in Salem (near Megiddo) ends near Rosh Ha’ayin. The fence pushed the suicide bomber south even though he came out of Nablus further north. There is no eascape from fencing all of the West Bank.



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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/11/2003 12:48:00 AM
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BODY: I don’t know whether to laugh or to cry



Translated from Ma’ariv’s fine weekend satirical section.



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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/10/2003 11:34:00 PM
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BODY: Hizballah is pushing it

A 16-year-old Israeli boy was killed today from anti-aircraft shells the Hizballah fired on the border town Shlomi.

The anti-aircraft shell exploded on the ground, how come? The answer is very simple – it was set to detonate on the ground.

This one of Hizballah’s dirty tricks. The Israeli Air Force resumed reconnaissance flights over Lebanon shortly after Hizballah violated UN decision 425 (which Israel fully fulfilled by withdrawing from South Lebanon) and kidnapped 3 IDF soldiers from the border.

There is no presence of Lebanon’s Army in south Lebanon, Hizballah has control there. Although financed and helped by the Syrians and Iran Hizballah doesn’t stand a chance of hitting IAF jet planes. I doubt if they can hit anything flying with their anti-aircraft shell.

So they found a smart way to harass the Israelis living near the border. They set the fuse of some of the shells they fire in a way that the sell will not explode in the air but on the ground. They also shoot the shells in such an angle that leaves no chance for it to even get near a jet, but it is an excellent angle to reach to Israeli towns and villages near the border. Another thing is that they usually don’t fire those shells when a plane flies by, sometimes they do it hours after planes have passed.

So the IAF fights are just an excuse for the, to try and intimidate Israelis. This time it went to far and a boy was killed, I’m sure they are not crying about it in Lebanon.

Hizballah grabs Israel balls with their 11 thousand long ranged rockets. Israel is currently choosing to restrain rather to go into a major attack that will no doubt harm many Israeli civilians and damage the economy. The question is what is the red line that Hizballah must not pass in its provocations.

I don’t think that this red line was crossed today. The Israeli air strike was aimed directly on the battery that fired today’s shells. This is part of the rules of the game in which Israel attacks only the area where Hizballah fired. Israel will continue with the restrain policy and there won’t be another reprisal attack. If something big does happen I will be ripped out of civilian life to the army.

I have to say that I find those IAF reconnaissance flights over Lebanon stupid. I’m no expert on reconnaissance but I’m sure Israel’s state of the art spy satellite can pick anything those planes do. I know Hizballah will probably find a different excuse but why should we help him to find reasons.

More background on this bizarre game Israel and the Hizballah are playing in this Ha’aretz commentary.

Update: I've been asked by my military unit to be on standby.



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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/10/2003 01:02:00 PM
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BODY: Didn’t travel north

A friend’s Jeep broke down so the trip was cancelled. Spend the weekend working on my tan. Friday in a posh pool party on the roof of one of Tel Aviv’s beachfront hotels. Saturday in Hertzlia’s beach playing volleyball.



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