What has struck me most is the resilience of the people, even when everyone in the country knows that hundreds of rockets are heading across the border.
By BENITA LEVINUpdated: AUGUST 22, 2018 12:09An Iron Dome anti-missile system fires an interceptor missile as rockets are launched from Gaza toward Israel on August 9(photo credit: AMIR COHEN/REUTERS)
I couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief when the voice at the end of the phone line was upbeat, friendly and helpful – that’s not always the case when you call your local cellphone provider hotline! After explaining my problem to the enthusiastic man, he assured me the matter would all be sorted out within 30 minutes. “Are you sure the phone will be working in half an hour?” I enquired, sounding cautiously optimistic. “Be’ezrat Hashem,” he replied. “With the help of G-d.”How can you not smile at that response? At the risk of sounding a little cynical, I silently hoped that he wasn’t just relying on ‘higher powers’ to sort out the telephonic issue, but his comment did leave me laughing with friends later in the day, as I retold the the story of our amusing interaction.A South African friend and veteran broadcast journalist sent me an SMS message in the middle of that same hot summer’s day in Israel. “What is going on – are you guys OK?” She’d heard that more than 180 rockets had been fired into the country in the space of 24 hours – “was it true that residents there only had 15 seconds to get to a shelter”?The reports she’d heard were correct. At that time, close to 200 rockets had been sent across the Gaza border into the southern parts of the country, close to the city of Sderot. Local television footage showed families clamoring for cover, amid much screaming, as the all too familiar sirens went off in the area yet again.Mothers spoke of their pain after they’d raced to the underground shelters, in some cases holding their babies. It’s a scenario communities in the area have had to relive several times in one night, as the conflict across the border continues to escalate. Playgrounds, homes, and buildings had been damaged. Children are shown going for trauma counseling, with residents of all ages describing how they’ve “got used to” hearing the sirens, warning of the latest incoming rockets.The escalating tensions in the region spark many different responses – opinions are heated, divided and real. It’s obvious that each side blames the other. Many lament the loss of civilian lives on both sides of the border, as unconfirmed reports circulate about the number of people hurt and killed. Most are grateful for the Iron Dome defense mechanism, which regularly intercepts incoming missiles, saving countless lives. Most have had enough of living in fear. Many believe the latest ceasefire talks lack real credibility and most believe any so-called truce would be short-lived. Some blame a lack of leadership on the Gaza side of the border for the humanitarian crisis there; others point fingers squarely at Hamas for spending millions of dollars from donors on building terror tunnels. Many believe the Israeli government isn’t being forceful enough in its response to the rocket fire. Critics believe the current government is part of the ongoing problem. Trust is an issue for both sides – will leaders ever be able to trust one another to discuss genuine peace?And there’s always an outcry over the way the conflict is covered in the media.What has struck me most in the short time we have lived here is the resilience of the people, even when everyone in the country knows that hundreds of rockets are heading across the border. We are living far from these sirens and rockets. We follow the updates closely, as do most in the country. Life goes on. And it goes on quickly. If you aren’t in an area where you’re forced to run for cover, you continue with your day, as per usual. If you want to be in the loop, cellphone “red alerts” let you know each time a siren goes off.People here have a zest for life and are adamant they won’t stop “living.” What they will do is try and help. Hotels and communities nearby offer accommodation to residents who may need to leave the area. Food parcels are sent en masse.The future is far from certain. One can only hope that good sense will prevail on all sides of the political spectrum, and that there will be peace for everyone in the region, all mothers, fathers and children… “Be’ezrat Hashem.”
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