Just heard from my daughter in Tel Aviv, whilst watching it all on the BBC. Israeli TV has reported that a shop in Haifa was hit by Katushas just now.
My daughter works for a think-tank which is trying to implement the peace process. But even she thinks I should now maybe delay.
But, I skyped someone I know on my street-to-be and she says: 'Don't back out now, because you don't know where you might be hit in the world by these people. And anyway, as long our government gets rid of Hezbollah, that is the main thing'.
And, funnily enough, I still don't feel frightened at all.
All I feel is that we have been through this before and that the timing seems mad, but that Haifa still beckons.
And this person I don't know yet, but whose name I was given some month ago, thanked me for ringing and enquiring after her and her family.
Just learned from people in Haifa that it wasn't a shop, but the Stella Maris Rd. No-one hurt: no buildings damaged. But if you access below, you will see that the Carmelite monastery is there and that is where they think Elijah's cave is - he of the 'still small voice': my favourite part of the Bible, especially in Hebrew. And as far as I am concerned, there is no way that Hezbollah or anyone else is going to silence that voice, now or ever.
However loudly they shout, or whatever the destruction they wreak.
And here is an excellent assessment of who is behind the whole thing, and how it is being reported by the British media.
I do hope you'll be safe. While I'm praying for the people of Israel, expect the prayer-volume to increase next month!
Posted by: Liz | July 13, 2006 at 02:21 PM
My non-believer preayers are with you as you prepare to head into a war zone. Your courage in making aliyah to Haifa at this time is truly admirable. You'll be out there driving a tank next!
Talking of the attack on Stella Maris Road, I just had an e-mail from
Moshe Sharon in Jersualem, and he tells me a rocket fell just across
the road from the holiest Baha'i shrine at Bahji, near Acco. The
first strike on Haifa was very close indeed to the Baha'i gardens,
shrines and administrative buildings on Mt Carmel. Who do the
Iranians actively hate more than even the Jews? Whose shrines have
been bulldozed several times in Iran itself? I think that, though
this is far from hard evidence, it may point to Iranian involvement. What's the point of aiming a rocket at the top of Carmel, when the real targets are all down at the bottom, especially in the port area? Bahji is also not an obvious target: it's in the countryside, pretty far from any major habitation, so
why would Hizbollah waste an expensive missile if it weren't to
satisfy deep-seated Iranian/Shi'ite hatred for the Baha'is?
Posted by: Denis MacEoin | July 17, 2006 at 06:27 AM