The train to Ben Gurion airport last night... empty. The upper deck: I was the only person. The lower deck: Two soldiers from Home Front Command. (No, I am not an expert in IDF insignia, I just see that the insignia on their shoulders matches the Home Front Command app on my phone.)
Ben Gurion... a shadow of its normal self.
On the plane, you feel "the situation:"
Arrive at JFK and subway to Manhattan. The renovations at JFK help a ton. Global Entry is now... super wow (paperless, touchless). On the subway train, a smelly homeless guy has set up camp in one corner. At the station in Manhattan a guy is passed out in the middle of everything.
One set of issues for another?
In other news, one of my kids, M.Z. was quoted (about the economy) with a photo in the New York Times today! (PDF here) My boy! In da paper!
Does that make it a “good news day” from a "Zimberoff news" perspective?[1]
Back to the Middle East:
Read
Friend in the News
My close friend Dan Swedlow was interviewed by a Seattle journalist. He has a son and son in law who have been called up.
Hamas: Indiscriminate
IN MEMORIAM✝️The Tanzanian government announce that Clemence Matanga, one of two Tanzanian nationals taken hostage by Hamas on October 7 has been killed by Hamas. His body was found in Gaza. Clemence, a student, was in Israel on an agricultural program learning skills to take back to Tanzania. May he rest in peace.
Is This How?
From the 1960's through the 1980's the Palestinian Liberation Organization, under Arafat, was universally understood to be terrorist. He even ordered the deaths of Americans and American diplomats (more than once).
Is this "Public Relations" history (mixed with TikTok) the cause of today's violence-supporting pro-Palestinian agitation: The Inside Story of How Palestinians Took Over the World.
Seen
Al Shifa Hospital
Al Shifa is not just a building. It is a complex spanning more than a city block.
The Hamas presence at Al Shifa has been known for many years. In recent weeks, I have seen Al Jezeera broadcasts from within the hospital that show AK47-toting guys in the building. Reportedly, such material is quickly removed from the Al Jezeera web site.
More recently, when the IDF entered Al Shifa, it was observed that the hallway cameras had all been taped over. It seems that this was done some time after October 7, as the recording system shows activity related to hostages that morning.
For example, here shots on Oct 7 next to Al Shifa of stolen IDF vehicles brought into Gaza, and Hamasnikim with weapons in the hospital
Tunnels under Al Shifa Hospital
IDF Spokesman:
Fortified Terror Tunnel Exposed Underneath the Shifa Hospital Complex
Based on IDF and ISA intelligence, IDF troops exposed a 55-meter-long terror tunnel 10 meters deep underneath the Shifa Hospital complex.
Above is footage of the tunnel shaft
The findings prove that numerous buildings in the hospital's complex are used by Hamas as cover for terrorist infrastructure and activities. Further evidence of the cynical manner Hamas uses the residents of the Gaza Strip as a human shield for terrorist activities.
In related news: Four IDF soldiers were killed two days ago by a booby trapped tunnel entrance.
In NYC
The question asked: What is the purpose of these posters? Inspire action? To make people feel sad/mad/bad? Or _____ ?
Where Does This Go?
From a recent opinion piece by Uri Dromi
By launching its monstrous attack on Israel, Hamas has indeed accomplished its goal of reminding the world of the Palestinian pro blem. The consequences, however, will be the total opposite of what it had hoped for. President Biden, in Oct. 25, summarized it well: “There’s no going back to the status quo as it stood on Oct. 6, that means Hamas can no longer terrorize Israel and use Palestinians as human shields” Biden said. “It also means, when this crisis is over there has to be a vision of what comes next, and, in our view, it has to be a two-state solution.”
That there should be the leadership and the tenacity to achieve this.
Relief Area
Aleph
Seen at an NYC pizza place today
As I am in NYC for a week, the “Is Raf OK” series may be less than daily. The feeds I monitor are variable. Some days more. Some less. Also my proofreader is no longer in my time zone. This is “raw Raf.”
With thanks,
Raf
(Thank you A.K. for material.)
[1] “Good news day” is a ShipRush team phrase. For some years, every afternoon we would go together to coffee. Raf would look at the New York Times. If there were “guys with guns” (e.g. soldiers) on the front page, it was a normal day. If there were no “guys with guns” it was a good news day.