Just a very short post, since I have two Exams tomorrow. I will write more on monday after my last exam.

Because Israel did not succeed to stop the constant rocket with their airstrikes, they just started a ground offensive. Furthermore they called up “ten thousands” reserves, which probably includes hundreds of students from my university. 

In East Jerusalem, heavy riots took place today. I heard explosions the whole day, smoke was rising, it was kind of scary. I really dont know how I am supposed to study in this atmosphere:)

I am actually really glad that I can be hear right now. It is thrilling to follow things happen so close, seeing the riots, hearing shots, seeing the facebook statuses of my friends from both sides of the conflict. Dont misunderstand me, I am not happy what is happening, but I think it was necessary and if I could choose between it happening now or in February, I would choose now.

Concerning the last days, I litterally read hundreds of articles about what is going on (one very interesting here) and I will tell more details next week. I will also go out and try to get more own impressions. 

But now I have to study “Foreign Policy of Israel”…although events of today can also be relevant in the exam tomorrow..this is seeing history happen I guess;-)

Hey everybody, 

I wish you an amazing year 2009!

My New Year’s Eve was really good, we had a great party  and it was good to celebrate all together one last time!

Nothing special happened in the last two days concerning Gaza. Israel is still attacking and threatening with a ground offensive, Gaza is still firing dozens of rockets every day.

No I am wondering where I am gonna be in a year from now. Could basically be anywhere in the world…hopefully i can see all of you in the meantime. 12more days till i land in Berlin:)

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

On day 2 of the battle for Gaza, life is going on as if nothing happened. Staying inside to be safe? Not a single Israeli seems to have that idea. After 60years of wars and terror, they seem to be used to the situation. The only not normal thing today are the helicopters flying everywhere.

The international student are reacting more worried(which you can see reading the facebook statuses I posted yesterday). Some are leaving the country a few days earlier then planned. Some cancel their traveling.

Today was no university, because its Chanukka, an 8-day festival which is ending tomorrow. Im curious what the atmosphere in university will be tomorrow…

I found a lot of comments about the war in German, English and, of course, Israeli newspaper. Here is a German one which is pretty good in my opinion, trying to show why the strikes had been inevitable.

View from my window: Thats how all started... you can see the Hadassah hospital and behind that the tower of my university, 10min walking away

This was definitly the most thrilling day I ever had sitting at my desk…

Explosions still go on, although  you can still voices shouting from the sites of the riots. A police man got hit by a car, probably by purpose. We got a text (sms) from our university to avoid East Jerusalem (which is where we are living…) and the old city “due to the current security situation. On Facebook, wild discussions go on about the events everybody could follow from his window.

Here an excert from the Facebook status of my friends, this is really interesting;-). I just took all related to the political situation, so nobody can charge me with being biased (maybe in the selections of my friends…): I left out the names.

• is relieved to be leaving tomorrow
• to everyone going to the base today and in the coming days: PLEASE BE SAFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• is GAZA 3ala baliii … FUCK israel & Israelis and go to hell…
•  is hoping for little escalation in Israel.
• is praying for the welfare of the idf. [me: which is the Israeli Defense force]
• hates how aircraft can kill civilians who had nothing to do with the problem. There are ways to get what you want without using brute force [which led to a discussion about civilians killed, who to find out if and how many etc] 
•  wants to know how they expect her to stay out of East Jerusalem when she lives in East Jerusalem
•  Refrain from going out and getting involved in a suiside bomb retaliation.
• prays for safety for all her friends returning to their bases and all of the IDF soldiers protecting Israel.
• is no one’s hands are clean.
• gazza ya 3arab !!!
• would like to let you know that he is safe in his dorm which is a security compound. The Israelis have dealt with this before, so everything should be fine. :)
• is listening to helicopters, police vehicles, and loud “noises” outside the Kfar tonite… 

For me, I am fine and nobody has to worry. I feel totally safe though it is scary to walk around outside, hearing bangs (shoots?) close by. Lets see what day 2 brings…

Thats distracting from studying… in front of my window, I can see clouds of smoke rising into the sky, police cars and ambulances rushing by, can hear sirenes, and loud bangs which sound like explosions. Thats the first I got in the media half an hour later(which is now).

Ok, my post from 3 hours ago is already outdated.

After rockets today, Israeli began a surprising air attack on Hamas installations, catching Hamas unprepared. The announcement of a cabinet meeting on Sunday, deciding about an attack was obviously a pure bluff.

Hamas reacted and killed one person so far.

Unfortunately, I have to talk about politics and war again since Israel is going to begin a major offensive against the Hamas in the Gaza strips in the next 2 days.

For years, the Hamas and other even more extreme groups, which does not recognize the existence of Israel, are shooting missiles at Israeli cities (I wrote about that) near the Gaza strip and is thereby endangering 125.000 people. Thanks to strict isolation of the Gaza strip and the “wall” protecting Israel, they did at least not succeed to conduct a major terror attack inside the country for a long time.

Furthermore, Hamas still helds hostage the Israeli soldier Gilat Schalit, kidnapped 916 days ago.

On December 19, a 6-months cease fire ended, a cease fire the Hamas mainly used to refill its ammunition stocks, allegedly with weapons mainly from Syria. Which does not mean,that Hamas didnt fire at all. For a week now, Hamas strongly terrorizes the inhabitants of Sderot and even of the major city Ashkelon. On the 24th alone, there were 80 rockets. Fortunately, there were no casualties till yesterday. Ironically, the first humans hit by a Hamas rocket were two little Palestinian girls, which live in the Gaza strip. The rocket went too short…Hamas announced to “investigate” the event, nobody doubts that they will finally blame Israel.  This is a symbol for how the Hamas holds the 1.4 millions living in the Gaza strip as hostages. Its true that they got democratically elected in 2006, mainly because of social services and anti-corruptability.  But the event shows maybe THE major difference between both sides: The Hamas wants to kill civilians, kids, innocent people. Israel tries to act hard against terrorists.

The Hamas “legitimizes”  their attacks not only with the usual hate of Israel and retaliation for the “cruelty of the Jewish occupation”, but also by casual air strikes of Israel. For example a few days ago an Israeli drone killed 3 terrorists preparing to fire missiles.

People often say that this is a circle of violence. Nevertheless, the Israeli government tried to get out of that circle by seeking a new cease fire, appealing at the Gaza population and showing good will by letting in Humanitarian Aid. At a last measure after ongoing rocket attacks, they set an 48hours ultimatum to stop the attacks. The Ultimatum ends soon and afterwards, and when the weather gets better again (short look out of the window: its good this morning), Israel will definitely strike if the Hamas doesnt stop. And they wont, since it is in their interest that Israel attacks. They will hide behind school, etc so as many kids as possible get killed. Which is wonderful for them to use ideologically against Israel.

The public pressure in Israel is enormous, like what every population on the world would do, Israelis demand security. If the country will not act, the terrorists will do the next step to test out the country. They already threaten with suicide attacks. Hopefully the wall keeps them out.

I know that many will disagree (if yes, comment on this and lets discuss), and the media will again mainly talk about the suffering in Gaza (which happens, but in my eyes is Hamas’ fault), but I think its easy to talk about that living somewhere in Europe. Germany wouldnt sit still and fold their hands if the Czechs would fire thousands of missiles on Nürnberg.

Lets see what happens the next days.

Spiegel Online covering these events:

Olmert’s last minute appell

Breite Zustimmung der Israelis zu einem Militärschlag

Allgemeine Übersicht über das Geschehen

The news coverage of anything that happens in Iran is unbelievable here. No surprise, since Israel is fearing a nuclear Iran which would be the first serious danger for the very existence of Israel since the 1967 war. After that date, Israel (supposedly) developed nuclear weapons and all wars, also the one from 1973,had been limited but not targeted at the complete destruction of the country (promised, I will write about the very interesting history of Israel sometime when I am back in Berlin!). But when I read Mahmoud Ahmadinedschad’s speeches, think about Iran’s history since the Islamic revolution and the history of Jewish people, I clearly understand that a nuclear Iran is a unbearable risk! I actually think that many parts of the Iranian government would use it against Israel. Nevertheless even if not, a Islamic and strongly anti-semitic state would have a much stronger position in the region, on one level with Israel, and would cause a regional arms race, since the Sunni regimes in Saudi-Arabia, Egypt and most Arab states also fear a nuclear (Shi’ite) Iran.

A lot of experts say that Iran will acquire the bomb in 2009. Just one more year. Thus I clearly understand that Israel is considering a strike against Iran. Israels army, especially its airforce, is superb. The army is an integral and important part of the society, influencing everything, even making possible economic growth. Every woman has to serve 2 years,every man 3years(Apart from Arabs and Ultraothodox Jews). Without this, the state wouldnt exist, its military supremacy in the region is essential.

Israel could handle the extraordinary challenge of stopping Iran. But this would mean a major war in the region, for Iran could stop 40% of the world’s oil supply in the strait of Hormuz, since Iran has long-range missiles, since Iran has allies at Israel’s borders, the Hamas in the Gazastrip, the Hizbollah in Lebanon. So would Israel take that risk? Finally yes, I think. But they are waiting on US support, which would make things easier, for example because of fly-over rights over Iraq.

Lots of people expected a strike for the time between US elections (because Israel would never influence the elections) and Obama’s step into office (because Bush is seen much more friendly to Israel, also Obama showed support with the choices of Hillary Clinton and Rahn Emanuel). Nothing happened yet, I dont think anything will happen till January. But I am sure something will happen in the next one and a half year. Israel will protect itself. Hopefully with US support. Probably Europe will reduce itself to a passiv role again…

more: http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1227702421218&pagename=JPost/JPArticle/ShowFull

sorry for mistakes, im kind of drunk and tired, just felt like writing about that…

leila tov/good night

Of course, the terror attacks in India had a special impact on Israelis. Not only are they struggeled by a history of terror attacks on their own soil, but the terrorists even in India selected Americans, Britains and … Israelis. One of the main targets of the operation had been a Jewish center in Mumbai. This was clearly not targeted randomly,but because it was Jewish. Overall, 8 Jews got killed, some of them Israelis. The bodies of all of them will get buried in Israel.

In Israel, the attack is topic nomber 1 till today, covering especially the story of a 2-year old baby which was rescued by an employee after its parents got killed.

Israelis know how terror feels, everybody knows people affected by it. Remember: Only 7million people are living here, and attacks had been more frequent during the intifadas and before the construction of the security fence.

Nevertheless, I have to point out that such an attack would never be possible here. I will write about security conditions in the future, but merely the fact that soldiers are present everywhere and a lot of private persons where big guns stops every terrorist moments after an attack begins. This happened in every single incident this year and thanks to it only one civilian was killed as far as I know this year (not including rocket attacks in the north and south).

Definitly, it was a very special feeling to see how strong my environment here, consisting mainly of Israelis, and Americans (a lot of them Jews either) was affected and felt with people in India!