Enough Is Enough

Many of us were awakened at four o’clock this morning to the sound of air raid sirens as the Houthis once again launched a missile attack against Israel.

And shortly after 1 p.m. we once again sought shelter as Hamas fired rockets into the centre of our country.

Why should all of this be happening now? Because, having enjoyed several weeks of respite, our prime minister decided that the time had come to go back to war. Ben-Gvir is delighted and has rejoined the government coalition, while Bibi has replaced the Defence Minister and has a new Chief of Staff at his beck and call. And so the war goes on.

If the purpose was to free the remaining hostages being held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, then he should have learned by now that we face a cruel and stubborn enemy that has no intention of capitulating.

More than 530 days have passed since the bloody onslaught on October 7th and 59 hostages alive and dead are still being held in captivity.

Not only have not all of the hostages been brought home, but Hamas has not been defeated, and there is no end in sight. The two objectives of the military campaign entitled “Strength and Sword” – to destroy Hamas and free the hostages – have not been realized.

846 soldiers have been killed and 5,737 wounded since the start of this war and there is no end in sight.

Even if we don’t accept the Hamas Health Ministry’s figures, and we don’t, we nevertheless know that many innocent Palestinians have also been killed and most of Gaza’s population has been displaced. Those who are suffering will only add to the ranks of Hamas.

One is reminded of Bob Dylan’s words: “How many deaths will it take ’till we know that too many people have died?”

But it is not only that. It is also the damage that has been caused to our morale. The flights out of Israel are full as people seek a respite from the despair that many feel.

Enough is enough. It is time to end this war. We cannot destroy our enemies, but stopping this war could at least bring the hostages home. Israelis also need to see an end to a war that has gone on for far too long.