More News Coverage

As you probably well know, Israel began a ground offensive in Gaza yesterday. Again, life here in Jerusalem continues as usual, and in fact we didn't know about it at all until we got back from dinner and opened up our e-mails. (Incidentally we had a terrific dinner with a former professor of ours from UVA). We've been concernedly reading news and op-eds, and I thought, as before, I'd share what I've been reading with you:

http://blogs.rj.org/reform/2009/01/on-gaza-sense-and-centrism.html

http://blogs.rj.org/reform/2008/12/in-response-to-the-current-isr.html

http://www.jstreet.org/campaigns/gaza-stop-violence

http://muqata.blogspot.com/ -- This is pretty good play-by-play coverage

http://idfspokesperson.com/ --- The Israel Defense Forces blog

http://wwwjackbenimble.blogspot.com/2009/01/gaza-update-75.html -- a good news 'round up'

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3649818,00.html -- EU President says Israel is acting defensively

http://www.commentarymagazine.com/blogs/index.php/category/contentions

http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052299.html - Haaretz reports on sending ground troops into Gaza

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230733129564&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull -- about the role of Jews outside of Israel

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2009/01/200913163956673954.html -- Khaled Hroub, author of several books on Hamas, including Hamas: A Beginner's Guide, talks to Al Jazeera about the organisation's social and political strengths and explains why he believes Hamas is looking forward to an Israeli ground incursion into the Gaza Strip.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/weekinreview/04myers.html?_r=1&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink -- on the goals of the offensive

http://www.mererhetoric.com/

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1052336.html -- Haaretz analysis of goals of the operation

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1051949.html - Arab Israeli journalist in support of Israel's actions

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/03/gaza-diary-israel -- journal of a Palestinian in Gaza

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/03/AR2009010302154.html?hpid=topnews

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/01/04/world/20090104_ISRAEL-HAMAS_TIMELINE.html?hp -- interactive timeline

http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKTRE5021XK20090103 -- Europe at odds over Israeli land offensive in Gaza

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/02/AR2009010202196.html?hpid=opinionsbox1 -- "As my son goes to war, I am fully Israeli at last" ---- this is a very good article that I highly recommend.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gvkupiBcwxWZ3b8yDzfzrKUtszUg -- UN Security Council Fails to Agree on Gaza Ceasefire Call

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7809371.stm -- an article very critical of Israel's propaganda effort




This list could go on forever, but I hope that these articles help you to understand the situation in Gaza a bit better. We will, of course, keep you updated, but please know that here in Jerusalem we are safe.

Thank You for Your Concern About Our Safety

A number of people have written to us expressing concerns about our safety in light of the crisis in Gaza. Thank you for your concern - we appreciate your thinking of us. It is a little scary to know that we are so close to the violence, but mostly very sad to read the news and learn about the escalating conflict. Daniel and I have both spent hours poring over blogs, news sites, etc. and we both feel sympathy for both sides of the conflict and are very saddened by the increasing numbers of casualties. We wish there was something we could do to make the situation improve.

We are talking about it a lot. We talk about it in synagogue when we pray for peace, we talk about it with over-anxious students who have become irrationally concerned for their safety when doing activities that are clearly not threatening, and perhaps most enlightening, I've been talking about it with some of my Israeli classmates, some of whom view the Israeli military activity with cynicism and believe that it will only worsen the situation, and some of whom are strongly behind the actions of the military and believe that the violence is the only option. I hate the violence, and I don't agree that Israel should have taken this action, but I think I can understand it.

In terms of our personal safety, for the time being we are not at risk. Although Gaza is only a few hours away, notions of space and distance are very different in Israel. Life goes on here as normal, and we are being told by some very frank people at both of our schools, who are in contact with Israeli security and government agencies, that safety in Jerusalem, at least for now, is not a concern. I know that if there was any suspicion of a change in the security situation, Daniel and I would be informed very early, especially as Daniel's school in particular is very concerned with safety and alert us often top even the smallest activity of which they think we need to be aware. So, basically, we're more worried than we were before this happened, but we're not really that worried about our own safety.

While we may ourselves be safe, we are praying for the families both in Gaza and in Sderot and other nearby communities, and hoping for an end to the violence...