SITUATION ANALYSIS -- IX

Tel Aviv, Israel

WOUNDED ISRAELI SOLDIERS WANT TO FINISH THE JOB

It is the 19th day of the war. Today, I drove to Tel Hashomer Chaim Sheba hospital to visit Israel’s wounded soldiers. The parking lots are so filled with cars that it is hard to find a space. Wounded soldiers are scattered throughout the various hospital wards, depending on what their condition is, and what surgeries have been scheduled.

Many young men and women in green IDF uniforms, as well as family and friends, carry sacks filled with presents. Most are being distributed to the soldiers who have just come off the Gaza battlefield.

Tel Hashomer is the largest hospital complex in the state of Israel, sitting on 150 acres of land, boasting excellent medical services, patient care, and advanced research facilities. To get from one end of the campus to the other you have to drive. It is too far to walk.

At the rehabilitation center, I meet Yvgeny, 20 years old, and originally from the Ukraine. He is an Israeli army sergeant with the elite Givati Brigade. On Sunday, January 4, two days into the IDF ground incursion, Yvgeny was shot in the left leg while fighting Hamas in Gaza. There are 30 soldiers in his squad, but only 16 went into Gaza when he did, along with several commanders. Five soldiers were moderately wounded. Another two received light injuries and have already been released from the hospital.

For one week before the war, Yvgeny’s unit trained specifically for urban warfare. They understood that there would be booby traps, ambushes, attempts to kidnap soldiers, and bombs in houses. They also knew that Hamas gunmen were using young children and women as human shields. They knew what to look for and what to be aware of, because of their specified training.

Now, smiling, Yvgeny tells me his troop morale is high and they can feel the support of the Jewish state. More than 90% of Israelis support this war in Gaza. The war has garnered much greater support from the Israeli population than the Second Lebanon War of 2006.

Meanwhile, some of Yvgeny’s soldiers are still on the battlefield and he wants to join them soon. “I have a few weeks of therapy left, but I am hoping to return to the army and get my job back,” he explains.

When I ask him if he thinks there should be a cease-fire now, or should the IDF continue until they root out Hamas completely, he responds, “We have to finish it. I think all the soldiers want to finish the job. Everybody is very serious inside (Gaza). Nobody wants to leave. This is what we were trained for.... We are not going in there blind.”

On the way out of the rehabilitation center, I meet Dr. Yhuda Pilosof who has been making prosthesis materials for 40 years to fit the needs of his patients. He tells me that there is now a new prosthesis completed with special materials in place that cause movement, similar to fingers on a hand.

Dr. Pilosof proudly shares that several years ago he made prosthesis materials to fit three teenagers who had come to Tel Hashomer from Gaza. It was difficult to fit them properly. One had a leg that was amputated above the knee; another had an amputation all the way up to his thigh. A third was fitted with a prosthesis that went into his hip area. All three were fitted successfully, and they were grateful for the help that came from Tel Hashomer.

The teenagers stayed in touch with Dr. Pilosof for three months after they were released from the hospital. Then, Hamas took over the Palestinian government in 2006. The contact with the teenagers stopped immediately. Dr. Pilosof could only speculate that his three patients weren’t calling anymore because they were afraid of what Hamas would do if the terror organization found out where they had been treated. But, Tel Hashomer, like many hospitals in Israel, treats Arab and Jewish patients together. One nurse emphatically told me that they consider every injured person the same and treat them accordingly.

Sarah, my friend and a hospital volunteer who has been caring for wounded soldiers through many of Israel’s wars, catches a ride with me to the main hospital on the Tel Hashomer campus. In the lobby, Snir a 19 year old combat soldier is sitting with friends. He explains that his arm was severely injured in a “friendly fire” incident. He also received light injuries to his legs.

Snir is not sure exactly what happened on the battlefield, but thinks that those in charge of communications failed to tell an Israeli tank unit that Snir’s combat division was going into a certain building. Then, the tank soldiers saw movement, and thinking it was Hamas gunmen, fired a canon shot through the window into the building. Snir was wounded in the attack.

Sometimes there can be poor communications between tanks and infantry in the field, especially in urban warfare. While Israeli units are well-trained, tight urban settings provide great challenges to armies that are technically superior but not well adapted to densely populated areas. Soldiers can sometimes lose contact with one another and fail to know who they are firing on.

Snir has only been in the army eight months. He’s in the famous Golani Brigade. He wants to fight again when he is released from the hospital. “Israel, my country; Israel, my land”, he tells me in broken English, and adds, “In war people die. We have an army. We have power. We have to use it. We can’t be afraid of injury or death. We’re not afraid. We have a mission. We have a target. I hope we will do it. This is the best army in the world.”

Snir also thinks the IDF should finish the job in Gaza and root out Hamas before any cease-fire is in place.

When I tell Snir that I have heard about miracles taking place in Israeli cities where rockets are falling, Snir relays to me that there are also miracles on the battlefield. He explains that a lot more Hamas members are being killed than is being reported in the media; while at the same time many Israeli soldiers have been protected during the war.

One story he shares is about a soldier who went into a house in Gaza. The soldier saw a bomb. He ran away. And, within seconds the bomb exploded. The soldier was unharmed. To Snir this is a miracle he will not forget.

As I am talking to Snir, I notice several young ladies coming to see two soldiers sitting in the lobby. So, I walk over to Mickey, a 25 year old company tank commander. As an officer, Mickey is responsible for 60 men in his army unit. He’s been serving in the IDF for 6 l/2 years. Mickey’s finger was crushed by an accident that happened in his tank. He has already been back in Gaza to fight. But, now he has to go through rehabilitation for two weeks, and will not be able to join his unit until his finger is healed.

Mickey thinks the war will be over soon. But, he believes fighting the war was necessary so that Israel could defend itself. “Everybody wants to be in Gaza and fight. It’s very important for all Israel. It’s a big war,” he explains.

Mickey’s buddy, Ronen, is sitting next to him, embarrassed by all the attention he is getting from the young girls who are visiting. An officer over 25 men, Ronen has been in the IDF for 3 l/2 years. During an explosion in Gaza, he was hit in the right soldier. He says it is no big deal, but admits to me that the injury is painful.

Both soldiers are reluctant to have their pictures taken, but they appreciate that all these people have come to visit and bring them gifts. It seems to be the personal attention that makes them feel like heroes, and helps them to forget their injury and pain, at least for a moment in time.

Sarah and I find our way to the third floor of the hospital to visit 21 year old Daniel. He accepts gifts from us – a large bag of “Bomba” (a popular Israeli salty snack), and a big stuffed animal, which Daniel cuddles while smiling for a picture. Many friends and family are visiting with him, and they explain to me that Daniel just arrived to the hospital on Monday, January 12. A girl friend of Daniel’s translates his testimony into English.

While in Gaza, Daniel was holding his position in a house with an open gate. Suddenly, there was a shot from outside. He started running, and then was hit by a Hamas gunman in the back. Another soldier pulled him out of the combat zone, and they waited for an Israeli helicopter to rescue him. According to Daniel’s report, the bullet entered his back and exited through his stomach. He is not paralyzed, and he is expected to recover from his injury.

Daniel is a sergeant with the Israeli Paratroopers, and wants to go back in the field. Three others from his unit received light injuries. Yet, he claims the soldiers are very strong. “They want to kick Hamas in the buttocks, and they are not afraid. They should finish the job,” he says.

As soon as Daniel is finished with his testimony, his mother Sophia walks in the room. Instinctively, I hug her, and she warmly hugs me back. Our eyes meet, and I see the concern on her face for her son’s well-being. Following her, an entourage of soldiers in uniform, friends, and more family members come into the room. It is now very crowded. A group representing the Tel Aviv “Hapoel” football (soccer) players brings Daniel a scarf to wear with their logo on it.

As I exit the hospital room, two soldiers talk to me about the Gaza war. One of them is in charge of border security with the Nahal unit in the north of the country. He reports that four rockets were just fired from southern Lebanon into Kiryat Shmona, a town on Israel’s northern border. Israeli units immediately retaliated in the direction of the rocket fire and killed one of the terrorists.

I ask him if he thinks that a war is now going to start with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Nahal soldier explains, “Hezbollah is afraid of what happened in Gaza. We think they will do nothing.” He adds, “I think Israel has no interest in a cease-fire because then we have accomplished nothing. We need to demolish the Hamas infrastructure and get all the leaders, weapons, and rockets.”

Standing right next to him is his friend, Yaniv, 21 years old, and in charge of an artillery force in the north. Yaniv is not in uniform. He received an injury some time ago, and is recuperating, so he is not on the northern border with his squad. He reveals that he is commander over 12 people in the Alon platoon.

According to Yaniv, “to each solution there are consequences. We have to enter Gaza and to destroy the infrastructure. If not, our civilians will be injured.” I ask Yaniv, what about the civilians of Gaza who are caught in the cross-fire? Yaniv responds, “Before the air force bombs buildings, the army has ways to warn the people before they bomb.”

Yaniv is referring to the psychological campaign the IDF has waged in Gaza. They have distributed hundreds of thousands of leaflets warning Gaza residents not to stay in buildings where Hamas members dwell. They have told these same Gazans to be careful not to agree to be human shields. And, before the IAF (Israel’s Air Force) strikes buildings in Gaza, they make phone calls to thousands of mobile phones, telling citizens to get out of the area.

Sometimes, Gazans go on the rooftops, hoping the IAF will see them and not strike. But, if the IAF plans to strike, they will fire warning shots, so the Gaza residents run out of the building to escape. No other state army, like Israel’s, has gone to such unprecedented measures to warn citizens of their intentions, which they continue to claim is not to hurt innocent people, but to kill the terrorists.

Yaniv makes sure I understand that the Islamic belief is to die on behalf of Allah, which Moslems consider a sacred act. So, the most simple of combat techniques learned by contemporary armies, doesn’t work on Moslem terrorists. “It is hard to fight them. They don’t mind dying,” says Yaniv. He adds that Hezbollah is worse, as they are tougher fighters. He admits that Hamas is learning from Hezbollah.

Yaniv’s friend joins in the discussion again. “Israeli kids here are educated to go in the army. They do it for the love,” he says, meaning that they do it for their country and people. “It’s part of the culture.”

What’s obvious from all these soldiers I meet is that love is extended from family member and friend to each soldier, and vice versa. Israelis are strong on family commitment, and they stick together. They have to, because they are fighting for the survival of the state.

Before leaving the crowds at the hospital, Sarah brings me to a special unit where an Israeli Druse family is being comforted by Myan, a 19 year old Israeli female soldier from the Golani Brigade. Her job is to counsel family members when their sons or daughters are severely wounded in combat. There are still many soldiers scattered throughout other hospitals in Israel she has visited. I ask Myan what the terms mean: lightly injured; moderately wounded; seriously injured; and critically wounded. She describes each term for me.

(1) Lightly injured is when there is no danger to the body or to a person’s life. Most soldiers lightly injured are treated and discharged from the hospital within hours.

(2) Moderately wounded is when there is danger of losing a part of the body. But, the person’s life is not in danger.

(3) Seriously injured is when there is danger of losing a part of the body, and also the person’s life is in danger.

(4) Critically wounded is when a person is between life and death.

In the case of Druse soldier, Wael, his family tells me he is critically wounded, and they are not sure if he will make it. Sitting around a table together, with some family members wearing the traditional white scarf on their head, their faces are somber. But, they graciously offer me Turkish coffee and something to eat. I decline the strong caffeinated hot drink and accept a glass of sweet orange soda, and a chocolate cookie. I listen intently to their stories, mostly in Hebrew.

Hoping that I can give them some ray of hope, they explain that Wael was in a Golani unit that was hit in Gaza. He is in a coma with an injury to his head. If he makes it, he will need long term care.

Sarah gives more details. Many families, like this one, will stay in the hospital for days until their loved one has recovered. They sleep in hotel rooms nearby. Their children come and stay with them. It’s costly to these families who only get a small stipend from the government or charities. Sarah clarifies that more people need to give funds, not just to help the soldiers, but also the families who suffer along with them. Some families have to renovate their homes to accommodate those who are now disabled by permanent injuries.

Before I leave, Wael’s father, Adl, and his mother, Afaf, show me a picture of Wael so I will pray. His big sister Nasreen cries on my shoulder. And, his grandmother, Galea, hugs me and kisses me several times on the cheeks. They seem very happy that I have come to visit them, and they hope I will come, again, in better times.

As I walk out to the hallway, an elevator door opens up, and a mass of people exit with hands full of gifts. Taking my place in the elevator, I realize that these gifts are going to be distributed to the soldiers I have just visited. My heart is touched as I recall the smiles I have seen by those who know that love has no boundaries. This is what holds Israeli people together. The bond of love is so strong, and the gift of life so precious.

Despite their injuries, they read Psalms and pray to the God of Israel. Somehow, they know He is watching over them, protecting them and their land forever.

“He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” Psalm 123:4 (This is a popular verse that Israelis have been quoting during the war).

SITUATION ANALYSIS -- VIII

Jerusalem, Israel

ISRAEL’S WAR WITH HAMAS

On Saturday, December 27, 2008, Israeli war planes struck Hamas targets in Gaza. Taking Hamas by surprise, the IDF (Israel's Defense Force) operation took place to put an end to eight years of rocket attacks on Israeli citizens.

Reports indicate that Israel’s current war against Hamas is the heaviest military strike by Israel since the 1967 Six Day War.

Mark Regev, spokesman for the Israeli prime minister’s office, talked recently to journalists on a conference call from Israel. Hosted by The Israel Project, Regev explained why Israel’s Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert; his Defense Minister, Ehud Barak; and, his Foreign Minister, Tzippi Livni all agreed to attack Hamas at this time.

Regev commented that Hamas publicly tried to abrogate the cease-fire understandings with Israel that were recently negotiated through Egypt; and, Hamas had acted to accelerate the situation on the ground by increasing the rocket attacks against Israeli civilians. He added that Israel is creating “a new reality on the ground; a new security environment in which no longer will hundreds of thousands of Israelis live in fear.”

Israel’s leadership has been united in wanting to neutralize Hamas to protect Israeli residences living in southern communities so they will no longer be on the receiving end of a rocket war.

“The ultimate truth is that Hamas is holding hostage not just the civilian population in southern Israel, which is living under the threat of the rocket barrages, but also its own population in the Gaza Strip,” Regev stated.

Hundreds of thousands of Gazans have had to live under suffering and hardship while Hamas continues to reject international demands. This has caused a humanitarian aid crisis, at times, and isolated the people of Gaza because of their rebellious leadership. Hamas has refused to accept the demands of the international community – that is, to recognize Israel’s right to exist; to stop the violence and renounce terrorism; and to act in accordance with those agreements already laid out in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.

Part of the strategy of the current Israeli government has been to show the Palestinians of Gaza that Israel is not fighting them; and, that Israel’s enemy is Hamas. Despite the continued rocket barrage, the Olmert government has taken steps to allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza in order to make sure the population does not suffer shortages. Soon after Israel’s December 27 military offensive, officials opened the border crossings and truck loads of food, medicine, fuel and other supplies were allowed through. Israel will continue to help the Gaza population while, militarily, trying to stop terrorist attacks by Hamas and other militant groups.

Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in June 2007. Since then, Gaza has been infiltrated by extremist forces including Iranian operatives and Al-Qaeda. Hamas has also instituted Sharia Law and is forcing it on the Gazan population, persecuting Christians and others that do not comply.

Hamas has built its military wing into a substantial force, with many members trained in Iran, and with Iranian money helping Hamas to purchase longer-range missiles and larger explosives for its weapons arsenal.

Hamas has been influenced by Hezbollah guerillas in Lebanon, adapting the strategies that the terrorist group used against Israel during the Second Lebanon War of 2006. They have played on Israel’s weakness – that is, the inability to stop short-range rockets from infiltrating Israeli air space. Currently, Israel has no effective way of stopping these rockets from hitting Israeli cities and towns, now in a range of 20-40 kilometers. In the future, Israel hopes to stop the rockets with a special anti-missile defense system, but it will not be ready to be deployed until 2010 or beyond.

Another way that Israel is looking to stop Hamas is to completely destroy not only its military infrastructure, but its weapons arsenal, and its underground rocket launchers. Therefore, Israel has had no choice but to send in thousands of ground troops. The ground operation began on January 3, 2009, signaling a much longer and brutal war ahead.

During the past several weeks, Israeli army officials have admitted they do not have an exit strategy for getting out of Gaza once they go in. Analysts in Israel are concerned that Israel will get stuck in a Gaza quagmire similar to what happened in Lebanon in the 1980's.

Responding to questions from journalists about the multitude of casualties on the Palestinian side since Israel began “Operation Cast Lead” on December 27, Regev said that Hamas has a propaganda interest in highlighting civilian casualties and minimizing damage to their military machine. He reiterated that Israel is trying to do surgical strikes aimed at Hamas only.

“We don’t want to hit Palestinian civilians. We don’t see the people of Gaza as our enemy,” he stated several times. Medical sources, human rights activists, and Israeli officials have reported that the majority of Palestinian casualties have been Palestinian policemen and gunmen belonging to terrorist groups.

From June until November 2008, Israel and Hamas entered into a hudna – a temporary cease-fire. It was suppose to last until December 2008. In November, Israel blew up an illegal underground tunnel in Gaza that was allegedly being used by Hamas to stage a terrorist attack. Hamas responded with increased rocket attacks on Israeli border towns which have continued.

Hamas also used the cease-fire to build-up its weapons arsenal, including missiles which are now not only being launched against citizens in Sderot and the western Negev, but also aimed at Ashkelon, Ashdod, and Beersheva. More Israelis have been wounded and killed since the war began.

Contrary to some reports in the media, Israel has no interest in re-occupying Gaza. After unilaterally withdrawing from the Gaza Strip in August 2005 under the leadership of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Israel’s current government has made it clear they do not want to rule the Palestinians. And, they say the IDF is merely acting defensively to protect Israeli citizens.

So, what are Israel’s next steps? According to Regev, “We are willing to live in peace with Gaza. The question is whether Gaza is willing to live in peace with us. It is the Hamas regime that tore up the cease-fire agreement.”

Israel is looking for another cease-fire with Hamas, and wants to see Gaza restored, especially the structural damage caused by recent Israeli air raids.

When this current war against Hamas began, more than 50% of the Israeli population supported the government’s effort. That support has increased to more than 90%. Talking to Israelis about the current situation they almost unanimously say, “This needed to be done”. They believe that Israel is acting in self-defense. Most would like to see the current war finish quickly, and they hope they will then live in peace with the people of Gaza.

In the meantime, the Olmert government is bent on breaking the Hamas stronghold in Gaza, while at the same time, hoping that the United States and the Quartet will convince the Hamas leadership to accept a cease-fire and stop the rocket attacks immediately. One can only pray this happens sooner than later as Israeli combat units fight Hamas on the ground inside Gaza.

PRAYER POINTS:

• During this current ground war, pray that Hamas will not be able to fortify military posts in the Gaza Strip, nor dig effective tunnel systems and underground bunkers for its troops.

Pray that all plans Hamas has to use anti-tank missile units will be disrupted. Pray that any bombs they have prepared or placed on main roads into Gaza will be clearly seen by Israeli troops and detonated safely.

Pray that Israeli soldiers will discern and discover all hidden booby traps and all deceptive ambushes created by Hamas and other terrorist groups. Pray that terrorists will not be able to use anti-aircraft cannons or shoulder-to-air missiles against Israel.

Pray for Israeli combat soldiers to have effective back-up and reinforcements prepared and ready for action on the battlefield. See Isaiah 35:3-4.

Pray for the weather to cooperate. The Israeli Air Force cannot provide effective support for ground forces when there is poor visibility.

Pray that the Lord will protect Israeli forces stationed along the security fence. Pray that He will not allow Hamas to re-institute suicide bombings against Israeli citizens anywhere in the country. Pray that Hamas will not be able to kidnap Israeli soldiers.

• According to reports, Hamas, in coordination with other militant groups, has 15,000-20,000 armed men in the Gaza Strip. Pray that there will be confusion in their ranks. Pray that they will not be able to carry out the plans of Israel’s enemies. Please declare Psalm 70:1-3.

• The war in Gaza could place Corporal Gilad Shalit in even greater danger. He’s been held prisoner by Hamas for over 900 days, since June 2006. Pray according to Zechariah 9:11-12 and Hebrews 13:3 for Shalit.

• Declare Zechariah 9:14, Zechariah 10:4-6, and Psalms 144:1-8 for the IDF in its current battle in the south.

• Proclaim Psalm 144:12 for those Israeli young people who must start their military service fresh out of high school.

• Pray Psalm 145:14-21 for both Israeli and Gazan citizens caught up in the cross-fire of this war.

• If there is to be a cease-fire, pray that it happens very soon, and is favorable towards Israel, and that Hamas is not able to smuggle any more weapons into the Gaza Strip. Pray that Hamas honors the cease-fire.

• Pray that Israel’s current government will not make decisions based on political ambitions. Some are concerned that Barak and Livni have unified to act now against Hamas to boost their popularity with the Israeli public before the upcoming February 2009 national elections. It’s also possible that Olmert has stood unified with Barak and Livni because he is looking for a legacy that includes a successful war against Hamas, instead of only being remembered for his failures in the Second Lebanon War and the corruption charges filed against him during his reign as prime minister. Pray for righteousness and justice to prevail within this current government!

• Pray against the unbelief that plagues Israeli leaders. Pray that they will rely on God’s promises to them and that no root of bitterness will spring up that causes them to act with wrong motives. See Hebrews 12:15. Declare James 4:10.

• Agree in prayer that Israel’s goals will be accomplished:
(1) To stop the rocket attacks from Hamas. (2) To stop the smuggling of weapons into Gaza. (3) To stop the Gaza terrorist activity against Israel.

• Pray that Israel’s goals will be clearly understood and approved by a majority of international leaders. Pray that there will be quiet on Arab streets and neighborhoods throughout the world. Pray that all anti-Israel protests and riots will cease immediately.

• There is a high alert in the north of Israel. Recently, Lebanese armed forces discovered eight Katyusha rockets that were ready to be launched against Israel. Pray that Hezbollah will not attack Israel’s northern border while a majority of Israel’s forces are concentrated in the south.

• Pray that the Lord will reveal any Hezbollah plan to attack global Jewish interests. Pray that the terrorist group will stop trying to avenge the death of Hezbollah's military commander, Imad Mughniyeh. The one year anniversary of his death is February 2009.

• Stand in agreement with Israelis throughout the nation who are reading and speaking Psalm 121 and Psalm 130, claiming God’s spiritual promises to them.

• As an intercessor remember that this battle is not only in the natural, but also in the spiritual, and that much is accomplished through your prayers. (See Romans 8:37).