I Support Israel!

On June 10th, three Israeli teenagers were abducted and murdered by Palestinians from the West Bank. Hamas called the murderers heroes and held celebrations where Palestinians danced and passed out candy. The news never reported these celebrations because everything reported must slam Israel in the

eyes of the world; however, you did hear reports of how an Israeli murdered an innocent Palestinian boy in revenge of the killings. Did the news tell you that Israel immediately condemned this murder, and Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to hold the murderer accountable? Or, did they report how Israeli police have arrested a suspect in the Palestinian boy's murder who will be punished if found guilty. This is quite a different reaction to the murders. In fact, this disgusting cartoon was posted on "The Palestinian Movements/Fatah's" central page depicting the murdered Israeli boys as rats caught in a fishing line with a caption translated to, "A Master Stroke." 

Sparked by these controversies, Israel is now involved in what looks like the start of a full blown war with Hamas. Today's New York Times headline reads, "Gaza Deaths Spike in Third Day of Israel Air Assaults." The article goes on to discuss Palestinian deaths while over 100 rockets have been shot into Israel. Try over 400 rockets! 

When these rockets bomb Israeli areas filled with civilians, sirens sound for Israelis to take cover in bomb shelters. Furthermore, five 55 million dollar iron dome missile defense systems knocks many rockets out of the sky before they can do damage. This is why Israeli deaths have been absent, knock on wood.

On the Palestinian side, missiles are targeted at the rocket launchers that threaten Israelis and at the Hamas leaders. Before such attacks begin, Israel has dropped leaflets, phoned civilians in the area, and launched radio reports warning people to leave the area before the attack. Rather than leave as told, people are used as human shields to win the media war. "Look at all of the innocent children the Israelis have killed." Some of the photos have been found to not even be real, but rather deaths from as far back as 2009 or from a war between Syria and Iraq. Are Israelis really killing innocent people, or are they being killed by Hamas terrorists who put them in harms way? The news media is quick to blame everything on Israel as does a good part of the world. But let me ask, if missiles rained down on your country, would she defend herself? IF so, you need to support Israel. 

You may donate to help Israel if you desire.

 https://memphis.secure-fedweb.jewishfederations.org/page/contribute/stop-the-sirens

You may even donate pizza to the IDF soldiers in Israel. 

http://pizzaidf.org/

Gilad Shalit

Gilad Shalit captured at age 19

Although I'm a humor blogger, every now and then, news happens and I'm compelled to voice my opinion about it.

Gilad Shalit today

With the recent release of Gilad Shalit, Israel has once again shown that she is unlike any country in the world. In case you missed it, this Israeli soldier had been held prisoner by the Palestinians for five years. Yesterday he was released in exchange for 1,027 Palestinian prisoners. Several of these prisoners were terrorists who had made threats, carried out vicious attacks, or even murdered Israeli citizens. Israel swapped 1,027 prisoners for one, and the citizens of Israel were mostly in favor of the exchange.

Free Gilad Shalit open air concert

This is not the first time Israel has done this.  Over the last 30 years, Israel has released about 7,000 Palestinian prisoners to secure freedom for 19 Israelis and to retrieve the bodies of eight others.1

Many folks are probably asking the obvious question, "Why exchange one soldier for a thousand criminals?" If that one soldier were your son, wouldn't you do anything to get him back? That is the attitude of Israel. Every life is important and the country will do whatever it takes to get its soldiers home safely. As a result, Israel has one of the most loyal armies in the world. Those soldiers take risks because they love their country and know that the country loves them.

Let's contrast this with the mentality of Hamas who encourages their young to strap suicide belts around their wastes and kill innocent civilians. How can Israel make peace with people who hate them more than they love their own children?  


1 Wikipedia

A to Z and Back Again

It's already June, which means the Z to A Challenge has ended. A month ago, I reflected on the A to Z Challenge, and now I must reflect again. On the plus side, it's been wonderful having a theme to guided me through the blogging world--the hardest part about blogging is knowing what to write about. A-Z and Z-A has made topic choosing easier.

I have also become an expert at choosing titles to fit the given letter. For example, "From Cage to Convertible" a letter C story about adopting a dog; "Nah, I Won't Do That," an N post to fit the "Laughter is the Best Medicine Blogfest"; or "Oh, No. Not Again" my O post about an annoying Russian dating group who Skypes me. Although these topics have nothing to do with the letter they represent, I've found a way to make it work just like one closes an overfilled suitcase. You sit your tush down and make it happen.

Also through this challenge, I've had the opportunity to visit wonderful blogs and meet great followers. I've also met one foul-mouthed screwball, but that's another story. ;-)

On the negative side, everyday blogging is not necessary. Most people don't make rounds everyday, so why write so much? In fact, my Saturday posts received the most hits because folks had two days to explore. I would like to continue blogging regularly, but leave a new post up every other day.

I hope y'all will continue to visit even though the challenges are finished. Seems like just yesterday, it was April 1st and I was interviewing Agent Harold Baer for my first A to Z post. If you haven't read that one, it's one of my most popular posts. It's especially helpful for you writer types, like me, who are trying to get published. He's a wonderfully unique agent! Check him out.

If I could get you to read any post from April or May, I would like for you to read B for Backing Israel because there are a lot of facts I'd like the world to know about this fragile situation.

Thanks!
Joyce