January 9th, 2009
Israeli and Palestinian doctors collaborated last week to save the life of a newborn. The Palestinian child and his grandmother were transported to Tel Aviv for emergency heart surgery. Funded by Save a Child's Heart, an Israeli nonprofit dedicated to procuring urgent medical care for Palestinian children, the organization has helped over 1,000 Palestinian and 70 Iraqi find life saving operations in Israel so far. Israelity has the video and story.
January 5th, 2009
Jewlicious posts a video “to the people of Gaza from the people of Israel” in Arabic, saying, “We do not hate you. We do not rejoice in your suffering… Please urge your government to stop their violent actions against us. Show the world that you are committed to peace and a better way of life… We know you yearn for a better future. But acts of violence against your closest neighbor is not the appropriate way for a better life.”
Allison Kaplan Sommer has a message to get across: Israel does not hate its enemies nor is it trying to exact revenge. “If we’re bombing them, we must hate them, right? Wrong. I’ve seen a lot of emotions over the past week, worry, fear, frustration, depression, and yes, maybe some anger directed at Hamas and those who elected them who continue to choose war and conflict instead of peace and prosperity. But hate? None. Not a bit. Not at all. Not even from people in Sderot, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Beersheva and environs who are getting fired at.”
The first Israel Defense Forces soldier has fallen since entering Gaza on Saturday night. Staff Sergeant Dvir Emanuelof, may his memory be a blessing, was 22 years old. “We do not want our sons to be martyrs or heroes, only that they live long and healthy lives,” writes A Soldier's Mother. “And yet we have no choice but to give them the responsibility to protect our land, and in so doing, we know that sometimes, some will be asked to make the most horrible of sacrifices.”
“UN Chief Ban calls for ‘immediate end to IDF ground operation!'” posts Treppenwitz's David Bogner. “Seriously, where were these useful idiots for the past few years while Israel was being pounded by rockets and mortars? Suddenly the UN is concerned about civilian casualties? Spare me!”
Dutchblog Israel questions whether “seekers of justice [and] demonstrators against inequality” will give as much attention to the victims of bombings in Iraq as to those in Gaza.