777 Days. More Thoughts

 

It is 777 days since October 7, 2023.    The war has NOT ended.  3 hostages are still to be returned. "Strikes" continue in Gaza.  Hamas remains as leaders.  The north of the country is exploding as Hezbollah rebuild and strengthen in Lebanon.  Iran and Israel are on the verge again.  The country is imploding - I wont go into details. Those who want can read about it, but just be sure you are not reading fake news.  I think we are galloping toward a civil war - if we are not yet in it.  

But what truly horrifies and saddens me is what is happening in the West Bank.  Above are  my illustrations of olive trees from photos I have taken of them (NOT in the West Bank.). I really love the olive trees, their ancient trunks that hold the stories of centuries.  The sunlight which gleams through turning the leaves silver.  They have been nurtured and harvested for ever.  Their oil and fruit have fed and nurtured us.  They. bear silent witness to the past and the present.  I draw these trees and have entitled them "protect those who harvest us."

As for the West Bank, I have only been there once, and that was not long after I returned to Israel.  I went with a group of people who dare to hope for peace - to listen to each others' stories.  We listened to the story of someone who has been imprisoned.  Israelis told their stories, equally tragic.  We were graciously fed and hosted.  It was an uplifting day, before October 7th.  Other than that time I have never been because I do not, and never have, supported the occupation.  Beside many other reasons, I am deeply concerned about the morality of being an occupier.  It corrupts us - and now, as the olive harvest has begun, the West Bank has exploded.  The settlers are rampaging, torching, abusing, pillaging those who live there.  The insane Hilltop Youth are to me, petrifying.  They abuse Israeli civilians, male and female, who come to help and support the Palestinians. What they do to the Palestinians who live and work on the land defies belief in humanity.  Their hatred seems to know no bounds. Unfortunately the IDF are not containing them.  Of course. this is going to explode - why would anyone be surprised?

And so, I draw and pray, and give what I can to the many groups who are working for peace.  

We do not live in 'easy' times.

758 Days. Some thoughts

It is already November 2nd.  Recently I have been thinking (I still do that sometimes, i.e. - think/ponder) that I came back to Israel on October 23rd 2022.  I moved into my new home on November 14, 2022.  

The elections were held on November 26, 2022. I could not vote, even though I am a citizen, because of some bureaucratic snafu.  Bibi Netanyahu was voted in - again - that is, his Likud party.  Would my one vote against him have made a difference? I actually do think that one person does make a difference in the grand scheme of things. 

At that time the people I know in Israel were very upset that he returned to power.  They knew things were changing, sliding downhill, but I don't think anyone foresaw the dreadful war that would erupt on October 7th, 2023, and still continues to this very day.  From November 2022 protests began against the judicial reform - nothing changed, then came the war, protests continued - this time to bring back the hostages

, to end the war. Nothing changed.  There is a "ceasefire" that is broken, remade, broken, no victory, still 11 hostage remains to be returned. Protests continue.  The nation is traumatised.  Last night I spoke to my. niece - I told her that every time I hear a car door slam, a siren, any kind of screech, my heart kind of stops, then pounds - "Oh no," I think, here we go.  She says it is exactly the same for her, and her children, and everyone she knows.  Two years of being on high alert is not particularly good for one's nervous system.  People are angry, sad, confused. There are thousands of soldiers - wounded in body and spirit. Almost 1000 killed, the judicial reform continues, the corruption of the highest officials worsens ----  there is little hope, the religious continues to protest enlistment.  Who would EVER have imagined what is happening. 

As you may see, I am not writing for the people of Gaza - it is almost impossible to imagine their suffering.

All of the above is my excuse for not posting entries for almost three weeks.  I just have not the heart to say anything, but I suppose I should - sort of to bear witness, so here, I have posted an entry.  Thanks to those who read this.