Last week the Jerusalem Post had a very interesting and well-timed column by Dr Mark Gropper, Co-dependency: Why can't I stop putting others before myself? At least I consider it well-timed, because of how the USA keeps treating the State of Israel.
Shiloh Musings
My musings, reflections on life here in Shiloh, Israel. Original, personal, spiritual and political. Peace, security and Israeli sovereignty. While not a "group blog," Shiloh Musings includes the voices of other Jews in The Land of Israel. **Copyright(C)BatyaMedad ** For permission to use these in publications of any sort, please contact me directly. Private accredited distribution encouraged. Thank you.
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
Hamas/Gaza War Musings #23: USA vis-à-vis Israel, A Sadistic Abusive Relationship
Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Hamas/Gaza War Musings #22: Bibi Failed Judicial Reform; Time for New PM from the Right
I have no doubt that Israel desperately needs Judicial Reform, and it's clear to me that Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu has sabotaged the campaign. The task to get Judicial Reform passed was given to Minister of Justice Yariv Levin, who had emerged number one in Likud Primaries.
Saturday, April 6, 2024
Hamas/Gaza War Musings #21: Bibi, If You Can't Take the Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen!!
This photo of PM Netanyahu was taken by me at the First International Jewish Bloggers Conference in 2008. |
Bibi, If You Can't Take the Heat, Get Out of the Kitchen!!
Tuesday, April 2, 2024
Rosh Chodesh Nissan Means Pesach's Soon
Tuesday, March 26, 2024
Hamas/Gaza War Musings #20: Israel Needs New Esther and Mordechai, ASAP!
This is inspired by a challenge to compare the Biblical Purim story with today's situation concerning the Jewish People, The State of Israel and our war for survival. Which of today's Israeli and world leaders are like the five main characters, King Achashverosh, Haman, Vashti, Mordechai and Esther of the Purim story?
Fairly easily I was able to decide on the Persian King Achashverosh, who's very much controlled by his advisors and seems terrified or unwilling to move without the approval of his backers. Haman is also easy to name, and he, too, represents a coalition of supporters and advisors. Vashti took a bit more thought to decide on. She had her moment of fame and then was pushed off the stage. Only our two heroes are missing, Esther and Mordechai. Try as I can, I just don't see anyone or team showing the capabilities and daring needed to topple King Achashverosh and Haman.
Following are my three Purim characters of today.
- King Achashverosh- Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu
- Haman- US President Biden
- Vashti- former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett
Sunday, March 17, 2024
Hamas/Gaza War Musings #19: Disgusting Condemnation by Biden and Schumer Expected, Because...Simple Math
Most Israelis are furious about the outrageously chutzpadik words of US Senator Chuck Schumer, his unabashed interference in internal Israeli politics, which has been given full backing by US President Biden. Prime Minister Netanyahu, among others, are ranting that "we're not a banana republic" and other complaints.
But to be perfectly honest, Bibi's constant consultations with Biden, Blinken and other American officials during this dangerous war for our very survival made us looks weak and dependent. As a long-time Israeli, I felt embarrassed, and I'm not the only one. And worse than embarrassed, I felt endangered and then not surprised, as simple as 1+1=2, when the elected head of a country keeps taking advice from another country, he doesn't look like a strong, competent, sovereign leader, so why should he expect to be treated with respect?
Considering that the USA has never fought a war on its own territory for its very survival against terrorists who rape, decapitate etc, I don't see what expertise they have. And the minute Biden started talking about his plans for establishing "Palestine" sic in Israel after the war, Bibi should have cut off all contact. But that topic is for another war musing.
The truth is that the Democrats don't like Bibi and they never have. The Clintons loved Peres, and Obama couldn't even fake a smile when Bibi was in the same room. Biden has a ready smile, but it's fake. He knows the saying:
"You can get catch more flies with honey than vinegar.."
It makes Biden more dangerous, because people don't expect a knife in the back. And now Bibi got stabbed.
Biden isn't the first American President to be involved with interfering in Israeli elections. Barack Obama's administration financially supported the "anyone but Bibi" crowd nine years ago. Follow the money... I have no doubt that American money has been supporting all of the anti- Bibi/Likud demonstrations which have plagued Israel for years. They've also been supporting the anti-Judicial Reform movement, even though the present Israeli judicial system goes against every fair proper justice principle American law demands.
The only American President who has treated Israel with proper respect was Donald Trump, who couldn't/can't understand why American Jews continue to support the Democrats who have always treated Israel so poorly.
It's time for the State of Israel to cut its dependence on the United States. Every "gift" we get has strings attached which are really a noose. We get "shop in America only" shopping coupons. Other countries get actual money to spend wherever. These shopping coupons have weakened Israeli military industries. We could be exporting weapons all over the world. Instead we're begging the USA for more bombs.
Enough is enough! Let's finally be a fully independent country. That's the only way we'll be safe and win this war. We don't need America!
In 1967 we had no allies, and we won in six days. I remember it well. That's because Gd helped. Yes, simple math...
Tuesday, March 5, 2024
Hamas/Gaza War Musings #18: Demand to Force Draft of Chareidim is to Break Coalition
One of the most beautiful and encouraging things I've seen in this horrifying war for the State of Israel's very survival has been the involvement of all sectors of Israeli society, and that does include chareidim.
In the more than half a century I've lived in Israel, there has been a steady, quiet change in the involvement of chareidim with the rest of Israeli society. Today Israelis of all levels of Torah observance enjoy the services of various gmachim like Yad Sarah and first aid services established by chareidim. As strictly Shabbat observant chareidim are, those who are in first aid and emergency services keep their phones on 24/7, so they were among the first to try to rescue the dead and wounded in southern Israel on that nightmarish Simchat Torah on October 7, 2023. This was even before the army had gotten themselves organized. And, yes, if you're wondering, ambulance crews were murdered, too.
Within days of the start of the war, Hamas trying to destroy Israel, many chareidim made their way to the IDF offices to sign up and join the army. Joining the army is a process, since recruits and volunteers must be assessed to see their abilities to find the most suitable unit. Newspapers and television news showed them lined up waiting their turn for assessment. It certainly made me feel good. And to make it clear, I'm not at all chareidi. It's not my cup of tea.
As this war has dragged on, one of the most comforting thing has been seeing the volunteerism in Israeli society. Yes, that includes chareidim among others coming to the hotels where Israelis who had to leave their homes were staying, and bringing them supplies, toys, doing people's laundry and more. Yachad Ninatzeach UNITED WE WIN!
So why did Defense Minister Yoav Gallant suddenly make a speech demanding an end to the army exemption for yeshiva students*? With his army experience he must certainly know that angry resentful people make for terrible soldiers! And why now, in the middle of a war for the country's survival would he want to shake up Israeli society in such a way?
No doubt Gallant wants to break up the coalition, which simply put is Likud plus dati leumi (national religious) and chareidi parties.
Considering that a sizable portion of Likud MKs are either religious or traditional, I guess Gallant feels like a fish out of water. Has he made a deal with another political party....? Considering Benny Gantz's unauthorized trip to the USA... something stinks for sure.
*Despite the exemption, chareidim do serve in the army in various roles, and numbers have been growing.
Monday, March 4, 2024
Guest Post: The Intentional Silence re: Crimes Against Jewish Women by Hamas, October, 2023
Friday, March 1, 2024
Hamas/Gaza War Musings #17: Bibi, Who's Minding the Store?
Before I get started with this post, I really recommend that you watch listen to Caroline Glick. Here she's exposing important facts/truth about American Politics and some very fishy stuff about American interference in what's happening here in Israel, especially its connections with the Gazan Hamas terrorists and more. Get comfortable and listen, please.
This morning's bad news, just hours after two innocent Jews were murdered by Arab terrorists a couple of miles from my house, is the shock that convicted Arab terrorists were released from jail. The Jerusalem Post article didn't give a number, but Arutz 7 said "dozens." Of course I have no idea.
What made the biggest impression on me was what was said on the radio that nobody is taking responsibility for the decision, especially Prime Minister Binyamin Bibi Netanyahu. Before the war, scandalous news was that prison directors had been assigning young females to the terrorist wing, and the women were raped. Something definitely stinks in that branch of the prisons, and I'm not talking about the loo.
The decision to release these terrorists is bad enough, but for me the lack of leadership and responsibility from the Prime Minister reminds me of all the stories about how our security forces pooh poohed reports of imminent Gaza Hamas attack, neither raising security, nor consulting with the PM. What's going on? Who's the boss? Something stinks for sure.
Heads should have rolled, as the expression goes. Lots of top "head" people in the defense establishment of Israel should have been fired and replaced with those out of the establishment. Netanyahu has not been acting as a strong leader. That's for sure, and it's very worrying.
Prime Minister Netanyahu's weakness is also apparent with his kowtowing to America's Biden, Blinken and other foreign leaders.
Israel is all alone. The "advice," or to be more accurate DEMANDS of international leaders and bodies that we treat this war for Israel survival as a sports game. Why haven't we condemned the demands that we protect so-called "innocent" civilians? No doubt that If The WW2 Allies Had Fought Morally, Nazis and Japanese Would have Won... A simple NO! NEVER! would have stopped all the pressure. The "nicer" we are the more the pressure.
We definitely should have demanded that the International Red Cross take a list of all of our missing and investigate who's alive, dead, injured, ill and missing. Israel should be the one making demands!!! Our Magen David Adom should have demanded to be part of the delegation with full protection. If these things hadn't been done, then we could have been totally justified in condemning the International Red Cross.
I don't know what's really going on with Bibi, but ever since I heard him, in person, at the International Bloggers Conference in the summer of 2008, I lost my confidence in him. Then he told us that when he returns to the position as Prime Minister, he'd do it as a "centrist," and that's what he has been. Even now in the midst of this dangerous war for Israel's survival, he has sent our IDF soldiers to destroy new Jewish communities, and the army has practiced how to deal with various acts of Jewish terror, as if that's a reasonable possibility. But they weren't prepared for a multi-targeted invasion of southern Israel, which DID HAPPEN!
I don't accept any denials that "Bibi didn't know." Again I ask: Who's the boss?
US President Harry Truman is known to have said: The buck stops here! That's the type of leadership we need ASAP!
What do you think?
Sunday, February 25, 2024
Hamas/Gaza War Musings #16 Israel's Victory Sabotaged by The USA-- OF COURSE WE SHOULD JUST SAY NO!
The two greatest and most unexpected victories in the twentieth century were Israel's The IDF's, in the 1967 Six Days War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War. I'm not exaggerating. And to be honest, Israel almost lost in 1973, because the USA leaders kept lying and misleading Israel. Read Deceit of an Ally and listen to Bruce Brill
During the Yom Kippur War I was a young mother of two living in Jerusalem, and as I listened to the news and read the paper I became convinced that something was wrong. Prime Minister Golda Meir seemed addicted to consulting with America, especially Henry Kissinger who seemed to have too much influence on our -meaning the Israeli- government. I had this awful feeling that Kissinger and Nixon, who had been US President at the time, had envisioned Israel becoming too weak to win and then agree on being a "protectorate" of the USA. Then Kissinger would come to "lead/save" us.
A couple of decades later I discovered from various sources that my suspicions were pretty close to the truth. America knew about the war well before the first bullet was fired, and they continuously told Israel that they shouldn't go on alert, because the Arabs weren't planning any attack.
Here we are fifty 50 years later, and again it seems obvious that the United States is interfering, trying to sabotage Israel's success in this war for our very survival. Unfortunately in the past half century, we've become more dependent on getting shopping coupons aka "gift cards" tied with noose-like strings for American military equipment. Even some of our own military inventions need parts from the states, which we can't even buy without the American "approval." We must totally wean ourselves from the USA.
The American State Department has always been against Israel and had recommended to Harry Truman not to vote for Israeli statehood. Truman disagreed and had his ambassador vote "yes" at the United Nations.
More recently, the USA has interfered in Israeli elections by supporting the Leftist parties, and more recently it has been shown that all sorts of foreign money has been supporting the anti-Bibi, anti-judicial reform and get the hostages out NOW movements. Once the USA opened up and stated that they were planning on establishing an Arab country, which they'd call Palestine" in the Heartland of Israel, it became clear that the war was part of the plan. The Americans must have had this planned and knew it could only happen if they weakened Israel first. This is my gut feeling. I can't prove it yet, but it makes sense to me.
The bottom line is that we shouldn't trust America. They speak with "forked tongue" like the bad guys in old cowboy movies.
Monday, February 19, 2024
Nothing's New! אין חדש תחת השמש These Old Buttons Say It Best
Who should be edited in over Yitzchak Rabin*?
I suggest one of the "NOW" leaders. Basically whoever (among Israelis) is pushing a "deal" with the Hamas/Gazans instead of defeating them, until they beg us to stop.
We must stop begging!!!!!
Israel's demand re: the hostages, most who have been imprisoned by Hamas/Gaza must be LET MY PEOPLE GO, not LET'S MAKE A DEAL. Negotiation, making a deal just makes danger, bad business and, as we saw with the Gilad Shalit fiasco, more kidnapped Israelis.