Israel
‘Boom!” – report from Israel
By BRUCE BROWN May 12, 2023 Rehovot, Israel Working from home. It was after 6:00 PM and my global Teams meeting just started. Comfortably settled and talking about suppliers, delivery times and prices. My smart phone, resting next to me, was beeping incessantly with the Code Red missile warning application. Over 350 missiles fired at Israel over the last couple of days, that’s a lot of buzzing and ringing.
Rehovot managed to dodge the missiles over the last couple of days. While we could see the missiles soaring overhead and hear the guided collision with our Iron Dome anti-missiles. And the non-stop news cycles informing in real time of where rockets were being intercepted. But in Rehovot… all was quiet. For the time being.
Since arch-terrorist WhatsHisname died from his hunger strike at an Israeli prison, Israel was bracing for reaction from the Islamic Jihad in Gaza. In the same way my Canadian cousins warn their loved ones about a pending blizzard – Did you hear the weather report? It’s going to be a cold one. Potential white out. Bundle up. Hurry home. We do the same here but for somewhat different reasons – Did you hear the news? WhatHisname died. Might be terrorist attacks or missiles from Gaza. Be aware of your surroundings. Hurry home.
That was last week. And sure enough Israel felt the reprisals with about a hundred missiles indiscriminately fired from Gaza. Israel waited with its reprisal. Preferring to respond at a time and place of its choosing – as Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Gallant warned. Sure enough our reaction came about eight days later. Revenge, as the nineteenth century French novelist Eugene Sue Mathilde said, is a dish best served cold. So it was with the pinpoint, targeted assassination of three Islamic Jihad leaders; their names of no consequence. But each responsible for reprehensible terrorist crimes over the years. Good riddance. And with that Operation Shield and Arrow began.
Back to Teams. About ten minutes into the meeting another siren went off. This one not only coming from my Code Red application. But also from outside. Rehovot was under attack. “Bruce!” my wife yelled. “Missiles!” “Hurry!” Running to our reinforced safe room which doubles as a den during quieter times. Not sure my European and US coworkers understood when I shouted into my headset, “Missile siren! Gotta go!” Abruptly exiting my meeting and darting to our TV room. Er… safe room.
We have about seventy-five seconds to reach our shelter before a missile hits or, preferably, gets knocked out of the sky. As apposed to the fifteen seconds for those living closer to Gaza. Can’t imagine their stress during these times. If I feel rushed while showering. Or, dare I say, while going to the bathroom. Hey, I like my quiet time. Settling down with a newspaper or book. Sometimes surfing YouTube for favorite TV show clips or music videos. Really taking my time. But not recently. Just want to get it over with. Poop and flush, as it were. I digress…
Anyway. We just managed to close the heavy steel door and fortified iron window shutter. Then. BOOM! The loudest boom we ever heard. My wife and I almost hit the ceiling. Knowing this was more than the reassuring and softer crash of an Iron Dome antimissile intercepting an Islamic Jihad rocket high in the sky. No. This was something much closer. Much more ominous.
Numerous calls from friends and family followed. Were we okay? Amazing how quickly news travels in times of crisis. My son texted from the safety of his dorm in the U.S. A missile landed next to Amit’s home (his best friend). Then my daughter texted from the relative safety of her work north of Tel Aviv. A missile hit near Shira’s home (her best friend and Amit’s sister). And on it went. With more chilling calls from neighbors.
I tried rejoining my Teams meeting. To create some normalcy and attempt a return to routine. But was too hype. Too distracted. Too much happening. Too much uncertainly becoming clearer as the minutes passed. Couldn’t focus on discussions about price variances and purchasing systems. I excused myself again, advising them the precariousness of the situation.
Rehovot suffered a direct hit. Due to the malfunction of our Iron Dome system. Just around the corner. Not far from Amit and Shira’s home. Curiosity being a strange animal, I walked the two blocks into what was literally a war zone. A chill engulfed my entire body as my skin crawled with goose flesh.
My favorite bakery nearby. A gathering place for the shocked. I considered buying cookies and cakes for our first responders. Then thought better of it. Didn’t want to be confused with the celebrating Palestinian street which hands out sweets after such attacks.
The dark smell of sulfur, carbon and potassium nitrate dominated the air. A flash back to younger days, of playing with cap guns and the sweet smell of gun powder. My mind looking for a safer place.
Time came to a halt. Somewhat apocalyptic. Traffic snarled and jammed. Red and blue flashing lights from police vans, firetrucks and ambulances. Army sappers and Israel’s famed 669 search and rescue unit moving about in their yellow vests. Local and international news crews mustering about. Unfortunately ZAKA – the famed orthodox volunteers who collect the remains of the wounded and dead after terror or missile attacks- were scouring the area. 5 wounded. 1 dead.
Alas. Israelis have learned to move on quickly. Within hours the streets were reopened. The destroyed building draped with Israeli flags. And I joined a Teams work meeting later that evening, this time much calmer than earlier. Again in search of normalcy and routine. Echoing Herb Keinon from the Jerusalem Post, specific memories of these military operations -some lasting weeks, some lasting days and some only a weekend – quickly fade into the background. Difficult to differentiate one from the other. First Rains. Summer Rains. Autumn Clouds. Black Belt. Breaking Dawn. Cast Lead. Pillar of Defense and now Shield and Arrow. The list unfortunately goes on.
While Israel takes maximum precautions to avoid collateral damage. We are known for our warning methods. Sometimes a ‘knock on the door’, unarmed missiles skimming the roofs as a warning of incoming rockets. Sometimes dropping leaflets warning of a pending attack. Even aborting missions when civilians are spotted nearby. While our enemies indiscriminately shoot missiles -hundreds of them- towards Israel. Hoping for maximum death. Maximum damage. Fortunately our missile defense system renders much of this arsenal ineffective. Until one gets through. As it did in Rehovot. My little shtetle.
Paraphrasing from the New Testament, John 20:19 – may peace be amongst us.
Bruce Brown. A Canadian. And an Israeli. Bruce made Aliyah…a long time ago. He works in Israel’s hi-tech sector by day and, in spurts, is a somewhat inspired writer by night. Bruce is the winner of the 2019 AJPA Simon Rockower Award for excellence in writing. And wrote the 1998 satire, An Israeli is…. Bruce’s reflects on life in Israel – political, social, economic and personal. With lots of biting, contrarian, sardonic and irreverent insight.
Israel
Israel report by former Winnipegger Bruce Brown
10 minutes
(Posted Dec. 24, 2024)
02:11 AM: Sound asleep.
2.11.01 AM: Wide awake. Awoken by a blaring missile alarm. Incoming. Took me no time to react. Ivan Pavlov would be proud. I quickly scooped up my dog. Grabbed my glasses. An inhaler. My phone and power cord. And sprinted to the safe room. Right across the hall. My wife overseas on vacation. So did this one alone. Er with my dog. We have 90 seconds to reach safety so no real panic, relatively speaking.
2.11.09 AM: In my safe room. Slid shut the heavy steel slabs across the window. You can hear this happening throughout the building. Kinda like a horror movie. Screech. Slam. Screech. Slam. Screech. Slam. Then mine. Screech. Slam. Next I jumped across the room and slammed shut the heavy, reinforced, steel door. It also makes a slamming sound, a really loud one. Then slumped down on the couch with my dog. With some level of relief. Where is this missile coming from. Can’t be from Gaza, they don’t have the capability anymore…I hope. Nor Lebanon, living too far south…I hope. Yemen? Possible. Those dang Houthis?
2. 14 AM: Oh oh. Need to pee. Like really bad. Once in the safe room, you should stay there for ten minutes. Unless there is another siren. Each siren requires a ten minute respite. Respite? Odd choice of words as you are not really resting. Way too tense. Especially as you can occasionally hear the booms of intercepted missiles up above. Kind of unnerving. Back to my need to pee. Its quite dangerous leaving the room during this period. Should your place be hit by the missile or falling debris from the sky. You don’t want to be caught with your pants down, literally, hovering over your toilet. And condos have been hit in Rehovot with some death and much destruction. Hmmm. To pee or not to pee. That is the question. Whether tis better to suffer the pangs of having to pee or the missiles of outrageous fortune. You get the point.
2.14.10 AM: Peeing in the bathroom.
2.14.40 AM: Back in the safe room. With my dog. Sitting on the couch. Fiddling with the remote control. I work in hi tech. The semiconductor world which can be pretty complex. But I simply have not mastered the remote. Really want to see what’s going on. Where is the missile from. Are there more attacks elsewhere in the country. Pushing this button and that button But the TV still off. Okay. Will check my cell. Although the connection sometimes comes and goes when shuttered in the heavily reinforced concrete and steel safe room. Works! Ya! Showing three bars. Sometimes four. Checking my feeds. But no news yet.
2.17 AM: Seriously. I need to pee again. Like really bad. Dang prostate! To pee or not to pee. That is the question…. You get the point. I chose to pee. This time I don’t actually slam shut the heavy, reinforced, steel door. And my dog follows me out. This could get complicated. But first things first.
2.17.10 AM: Peeing in the bathroom.
2.17.40 AM: Chasing after my dog around the condo. Poncho!!! There he is. In the living room. Like master. Like pet. He too is relieving himself. Probably the tension. Dogs can sense these things. “Faster Poncho!. Faster!” I encourage him.
2,18.02 AM: We’re back in the safe room. The heavy, reinforced, steel door slammed shut. And then I start worrying. What if I have to pee again. Its really dangerous out there. Idea! I’ll bring a cleaning pail in here. And if worse comes to worse. Well, I am alone. Sans my dog.
2.18.22 AM: I dart for the cleaning cabinet in the bathroom to grab the pail. Making sure the heavy, reinforced, steel door is shut less my dog run out again. Wait! As it dawns on me at 02.18.22 AM. This is not the smartest thing to do. At least I could have combined grabbing the pail with actually having to pee again. Like maybe I could hold out for the next three minutes or so in the safe room. No urgent need for the pail. But I am already there….
2.18.25 AM: Grab the red cleaning pail
2.18.28 AM: Back in the safe room. The heavy, reinforced, steel door slammed shut again. Siting on the couch with my dog again. Red pail glaring at me from the side of the room…daring me. But my bladder is relaxed. I try the remote again. I feel like my 85 year old mother who often complains about getting her remote to work. I console myself thinking that it must be the batteries. Hmmm. Maybe a mad rush for the utility room to get some new batteries. But that would be mad. I’ll take care of it in the morning. Only a few more minutes and I can safely leave the safe room and go back to bed.
2.19.45 AM: I pour myself a glass of mineral water. This I store in the safe room per Homefront commands. Fresh batteries not, hrmph. As I down the water I realize this is probably not the best idea. Less it creates the urge to pee…. Alas no. Start surfing my feed again. The intercontinental missile was fired by those crazy, dang Houthis from Yemen. All of central Israel sent to their safe rooms. Dang Houthis! The next couple minutes go by pretty smoothly. Although seems like an eternity.
2.21 AM: Back in bed. Albeit sleep comes slowly as my adrenaline starts to reside.
As it were. Israel bombed the dang Houthis that night. For the third time since the outbreak of the war. In retaliation for them firing over 200 ballistic missiles and 170 drones at Israel, which fortunately had not resulted in much damage. We struck them with over 60 bombs in two air raid sorties. Destroying mainly military targets as well as ports and energy infrastructure. Maybe that will teach them for waking me -and a million other Israelis- in the middle of the night.
As it were. Falling debris from the dang Houthi attack landed on a school in central Israel, forcing its collapse. Fortunately and thank G-d it was the middle of the night. Sometime between 2:11 AM and 2.21 AM. So no casualties. Can’t even imagine the tragedy had this strike occurred mid-day.
As it were. I changed the batteries in the remote. It works just fine now. And I left the red cleaning pail in the safe room….just in case. But I hope the dang Houthis finally learned their lesson. Although probably not.
As it were. Two nights later. Another 2:00AM missile from the dang Houthis. . They just wont let me sleep….
As it is. Please continue donating to the Israeli war and revival efforts. You may have given earlier. But give again. The financial costs to Israel are and will be billions. Billions! Sderot and Metulla and Tel Avi and Haifa are Israel’s front lines. Israel is the diaspora’s front line.
Bruce Brown. A Canadian. And an Israeli. Bruce made Aliyah…a long time ago. He works in Israel’s hi-tech sector by day and, in spurts, is a somewhat inspired writer by night. Bruce is the winner of the 2019 American Jewish Press Association Simon Rockower Award for excellence in writing. And wrote the 1998 satire, An Israeli is…. Bruce’s reflects on life in Israel – political, social, economic and personal. With lots of biting, contrarian, sardonic and irreverent insight
Israel
Join the Masa Canadian Professionals Volunteers Program!
You are invited on a 4-week volunteer program in Israel from October 14th to November 10th. Help rebuild Israeli society post-October 7th over Canadian Thanksgiving, Sukkot, and Simchat Torah. Spend three weeks based in Tel Aviv and one week based in Eilat!
This program is exclusively for Jewish professionals aged 22-50, working at Jewish organizations or remotely in any field.
The cost of the program is $150 USD to the organizer and $50 USD to Masa. Participants will receive a Masa grant of $2650 USD that is applied to participation and to cover additional costs. The cost of the program includes housing, meals while volunteering, transportation on travel days, health insurance, leadership training, and more. Volunteers are required to commit to the volunteer schedule, with the understanding that there will be the flexibility to work remotely for 8 specific days during the program. Flights are not included but you get a 15% discount from El Al.
Sign up here: https://www.masaisrael.org/go/canada-jp/ space is limited!
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to make a difference and connect with fellow professionals. For more information, contact Mahla Finkleman, National Manager of Partnerships and Outreach, Masa Canada, atmfinkleman@ujafed.org and/or Sam Goodman, Senior Manager of Israel Engagement, sgoodman@ujafed.org.
Save the Dates for Info Sessions:
- Thursday, September 5th, 12:00 – 12:30 EST
- Wednesday, September 11th, 12:00 – 12:30 EST
Join us in Israel for a meaningful and impactful experience with Masa!
weeks based in Tel Aviv and one week based in Eilat!
This program is exclusively for Jewish professionals aged 22-50, working at Jewish organizations or remotely in any field.
The cost of the program is $150 USD to the organizer and $50 USD to Masa. Participants will receive a Masa grant of $2650 USD that is applied to participation and to cover additional costs. The cost of the program includes housing, meals while volunteering, transportation on travel days, health insurance, leadership training, and more. Volunteers are required to commit to the volunteer schedule, with the understanding that there will be the flexibility to work remotely for 8 specific days during the program. Flights are not included but you get a 15% discount from El Al.
Sign up here: https://www.masaisrael.org/go/canada-jp/ space is limited!
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to make a difference and connect with fellow professionals. For more information, contact Mahla Finkleman, National Manager of Partnerships and Outreach, Masa Canada, atmfinkleman@ujafed.org and/or Sam Goodman, Senior Manager of Israel Engagement, sgoodman@ujafed.org.
Save the Dates for Info Sessions:
- Thursday, September 5th, 12:00 – 12:30 EST
- Wednesday, September 11th, 12:00 – 12:30 EST
Join us in Israel for a meaningful and impactful experience with Masa!
Israel
Top 7 Dumbest Things Said About Israel Lately
US Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks to the media following a meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House in Washington, US, July 17, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein
The team at HonestReporting has scoured the Internet to bring you some of the dumbest things people have said about Israel in the last two months. From sheer malice to total ignorance, it’s incredible just how far some people are prepared to go when it comes to criticizing Israel. Here’s just seven examples:
1. HAMAS WANTS A PEACEFUL ONE-STATE SOLUTION, AND IT WILL BE LIKE THE UNITED STATES
Briahna Joy Gray, podcaster, host, and former Bernie Sanders National Press Secretary, confidently made this statement recently: that when Hamas talks about eliminating Israel, “it’s not talking about killing all of the Jews.”
According to her, Hamas really means eliminating the idea of a “Jewish state” and replacing it with something more akin to the United States of America.
Here’s @briebriejoy claiming Hamas does not want to genocide Jews (despite it being their charter,) claiming they want a “peaceful” one state solution and that Muslims were not involved in October 7th.
This is a delusional fantasy multiplex. pic.twitter.com/03w32Gja1V
— Brianna Wu (@BriannaWu) June 1, 2024
Guess we misinterpreted Article 7 of the official Hamas charter — “The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight Jews and kill them” — and Article 13, “Palestine is an Islamic land… Since this is the case, the Liberation of Palestine is an individual duty for every Muslim.”
Briahna, if Hamas was nearly as wholesome as you say, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would have been resolved decades ago. This naïveté is painful to watch.
2. ISRAEL IS AN ISLAMIC COUNTRY
We commend the below ex-study abroad student for being open to listening. However, it is important to highlight the average Western young adult’s knowledge and understanding of the Middle East. This is the situation that countries like the United States have found themselves in, with various social justice movements ultimately backing values that oppose their own.
It may be lost on some that Islamic-run Palestinian territories like the Gaza Strip are generally unfriendly towards the LGBTQ community. What is surprising here, is that this woman apparently visited and spent time in Israel. It would be assumed that she would know that Israel is a Jewish state.
Do queers for Palestine understand what they’re supporting? pic.twitter.com/j4vglLfOCO
— Lady Maga USA (@LadyMagaUSA) June 3, 2024
3. ISRAELIS, PALESTINIANS MUST HAVE HARMONIC ONE-STATE TO LIVE IN “HAPPILY TOGETHER,” BUT “IT’S NOT FOR ME TO DECIDE HOW”
Jackson Hinkle has been on our radar, and his recent appearance on TalkTV proved that he lacks knowledge of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, especially regarding diplomacy.
In an ideal world, everyone should live ‘”happily together.” Unfortunately, the world is filled with strife, and there are difficult conflicts across continents that have not been solved. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is incredibly complex, and both sides have been in on-and-off negotiations with each other for decades to no avail.
Why bend over backward to attempt to become a respected public figure if you have no will to study the history of conflicts you speak so staunchly about?
4. “ALMOST ALL ISRAELIS HAVE TWO PASSPORTS: THEIR HOMELAND AND ISRAEL”
This is a particularly common trope we have seen rise in popularity — but it is not true. Research by author Yossi Harpaz estimates only about 10 percent of Israel’s population holds dual citizenship.
As writer Simone Somekh noted in a thread on X, Israeli Jews of North African and Middle Eastern descent, for example, are not welcome back to live in those countries and do not hold citizenship.
“Almost every Israeli has 2 passports.” This is what happens when you attend TikTok University: your opinions are based on lies.
Let’s debunk this claim https://t.co/2Ne0Ltaj1C pic.twitter.com/vZsuZjlb1f
— Simone Somekh (@simonesomekh) June 5, 2024
In conclusion, there are many who desire another passport, but to Avon Lady’s dismay, 10 percent is not almost every Israeli.
5. IDF SOLDIERS RAPED PALESTINIAN WOMEN DURING AL-SHIFA HOSPITAL OPERATION
This despicable comment was made live on Al Jazeera by a Gazan woman during her interview with head news presenter Elsy Abi Assi back in April. She claimed that during the IDF operation in Al-Shifa Hospital, soldiers raped Palestinian women and violently slaughtered other Palestinians who were taking shelter in the hospital at the time.
But, according to a tweet on X by Al Jazeera columnist and former director Yasser Abuhilalah, Hamas even disproved this claim.
The woman later admitted she inflated these claims in order to “arouse the nation’s fervor.”
6. ISRAEL ETHNICALLY CLEANSES PALESTINIANS BY ROUNDING THEM UP INTO ENCLAVES
Unfortunately, this isn’t the only shocking accusation about Israel that TikToker Guy Christensen has made.
His main point: Israel uses these tools to move Palestinians into enclaves so that they are easier to target and control. There is major context missing here. Guy also makes false claims about apartheid.
One outrageous claim he makes is that roads in the West Bank are made separate for Israelis and Palestinians. This is simply not true.
Guy also fails to give context to IDF checkpoints across the West Bank, which exist for security purposes. Checkpoints are meant to prevent terror attacks on Israeli civilians. Previous terror attacks and intifadas indicated the necessity, and have proven effective. The same goes for the contentious security barrier.
His accusations that Gazan restriction of movement is so that Israel can keep them oppressed is also false. Gaza is ruled by a terror organization, in case you haven’t heard.
7. ISRAEL IGNORED DANGERS TO DISPLACED CIVILIANS IN RAFAH BEFORE STRIKE MISHAP
Israel is quite right, how was it supposed to know there would be civilians crowded in a refugee camp https://t.co/Ta5XUt9Qnq
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) June 4, 2024
Perhaps the most unfortunate thing about this statement is that the IDF itself said it was aware of where the displacement camp was, and that it did not strike it. The Hamas terror target was roughly 650 feet away. Further, targets were pinpointed with smaller munitions to reduce surrounding damage. A devastating secondary explosion due to the strike, believed to be a Hamas weapons truck, resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians.
The author is a contributor to HonestReporting, a Jerusalem-based media watchdog with a focus on antisemitism and anti-Israel bias — where a version of this article first appeared.
The post Top 7 Dumbest Things Said About Israel Lately first appeared on Algemeiner.com.
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