On Monday, day 3 of the air strikes, I had some intense experiences talking to people.
But first a short overlook over what happened. Israel’s air-strikes went on and destroyed smuggling tunnels from Egypt, a university laboratory used for producing explosives and several private homes of Hamas leaders. Furthermore, they were attacking mosques which were used as weapon stocks. This again shows Hamas’ perfect use of the media: their centrals and arsenals are purposely built in neighborhood with dense population, sometimes next to schools, in mosques. Like this Israeli strikes will kill civilians, children and women, and destroy mosques, which gives good material to blame Israel and enfire the Arab world.
According to U.N. data(which definitly is not pro Israeli-biased), 300 people have been killed, among them 57 civilians. More than half of Hamas rockets are destroyed, but still dozens are flying into Israel every day. Today they killed one person.
Arabs all over the region are blaming Egypt for closing the border to Gaza and not helping Gaza’s population. This is partially right and in fact the governments of moderate states like Egypt, Saudi-Arabia and Jordan are probably secretly praying that Israel might destroy the Hamas.
I heard of some very interesting theories about the extremely complicated situation. The first one sees the conflict as a proxy war between the fundamentalist countries like Iran and Syria, being represented by Hamas, and moderate states. I think this is not really wrong, although Israel is definitely acting from own motivations and without active external support.
The second theory came from my professor and said that Israel is acting so hard and consequent because it sees the destruction of Hamas’ infrastructure and weapons as a preparation for a strike against Iran. Iran is threatening that it will retaliate strongly if Israel attacks their nuclear facilities(I wrote about that). One of their ways to harm Israel would be a terror offensive by their accomplices, the Hamas from Gaza and the Hezbollah from Lebanon. But not, Iran has one weapon less to threaten Israel and to strike back in case. This could also be an explanation for the fact that Hezbollah t fired a single rocket in the last days. In my opinion, this sounds reasonable and like a good Israeli tactic.
I was by the way happy and surprised to hear today that Angie Merkel clearly stands behind Israel. This would definitely not have happened under Schröder…
No to my day. First off all, we had some demonstration at the university. Since Arab and Jews are going there, it was one against and one in favor of the strikes. Later the afternoon, we had riots at a hospital which lies on my way to university. Some friends told me of a lot of police arounds. Furthermore there was a stabbing somewhere in the city.
Many of my friends are freaking out. Hamas and Hezbollah are talking about suicide attacks and a “third Intifada”. Me personally, I think the “Wall”, which now really deserves the official name “security fence” will keep terrorists and explosives outside. The terrorists would have attacked anyway in the last years if they would have the ability. So I expect many stabbings, car “accidents” and small stuff like that but no bombs. We’ll see, at least many friends dont think like that. People leave early, they forme groups to go together to university, they dont go out anymore.
But what are people living here doing? The Arabs are just striking for 3 days to protest. This affects my eating habits, no falafel right now…
Other Israeli students living with us in the student village have to go to Gaza. Everybody has to make years of military service before his studies, so everybody is a part of the reserves. And Israel called thousands of troops to the bases. People are talking about a ground offensive in the next days. I hope they wont do that, and I dont think so either. But its scary if neighbors, roommates have to go to war…
OK, that was my day. Im still trying to study for my exams, also Im checking the news every 5minutes. I got a lot of lovely messages today from friends asking how I am, which make me really happy! I am looking forward to see all of you again, also I am not at all looking forward to leave this country, whatever happens.
Comment on this if you disagree or dont understand anything I try to say (its 3:42 in the morning, there is probably a lot…)
Leila tov
