This week’s letter from Israel – December 15, 2023

December 15, 2023

My dearest friends,

This week began with the Brit (circumcision) of our great-grandson, Achiah Chaim. It was a particularly emotional event for both Phyllis and I. All our tribe members, with the exception of our serving grandchildren, Linor and Omer, were present. Being able to celebrate together as a family at this stressful time was wonderful. It showed us that every cloud has its silver lining.

The Brit was performed in a unique garment made by my grandfather in honor of my father’s Brit 113 years ago. Since then, it’s been used at the Britot of all the males born into my father’s dynasty. This garment now spans five generations.

Later in the week, Omer was home for a 24-hour break. It was great catching up with him and hearing his experiences of the past few weeks. Both he and Ori have since returned to their frontline units.

There’s been no movement on the release of the hostages. The fighting has intensified. Casualties continue to rise.

As predicted, the international community, through its multitude of irrelevant and corrupt institutions, has made a conscious decision to ignore the October 7 massacre which claimed the lives of more than 1,200 Israelis.

At this time, 135 hostages remain in captivity. Their state of health and well-being remains unclear. The Red Cross hasn’t visited them since they were taken hostage. One of my readers branded them, the “Red Double-Cross”. Indeed, an appropriate description for such an impotent and politically motivated organization. The Red Cross has become an integral part of the Hamas terror machine.

Of course, the humanitarian aid being poured into Gaza doesn’t include life-saving medication for the hostages. It does, however, include ammunition for Hamas wrapped in packages of rice and transported in UN humanitarian bags.

Unfortunately, none of this bothers any of the 153 member nations of the United Nations General Assembly who voted in favor of imposing an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in Gaza. If implemented, this  resolution will only serve to fuel the Hamas war machine. Implementation of the resolution will prolong the conflict. It’ll also enable the genocidal Hamas leadership to escape punishment for their war crimes and make future, bloody rounds of the conflict inevitable.

The resolution may not be enforceable but it does empower the proponents of terror. It gives them the moral ground to redefine the narrative and continue their acts of terror.

France, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and many European countries were amongst the countries who supported the resolution. Shame on them.

An amendment to the resolution proposed by the US condemning Hamas for its attack on Israel was rejected.

As Abba Eben, one of Israel’s legendary diplomats, said more than 50 years ago, “if Algeria introduced a resolution declaring the earth was flat, and that Israel had flattened it, it would pass by a vote of 164 to 13 with 26 abstentions”. The numbers have barely changed.

What’s become of the Judeo-Christian values that were once fundamental to our civilization? I can only conclude these have been blown away by the Jihadi tornado howling across our planet.

The international community has betrayed Israel. Their acquiescence is a crime. They are complicit in fueling the tidal wave of antisemitism engulfing our world.

It seems I wasn’t the only person appalled by the statements and attitudes expressed by the Presidents of Harvard, UPenn and MIT at last week’s Congressional hearing. One of the Presidents has since resigned her position.

What a pity the US Congress doesn’t have the authority to summon heads of nations and those representing international institutions to similar hearings.

The UK advertising company commissioned to manage the campaign aimed at promoting awareness for release of the hostages was forced to renege on its agreement with the organizers after receiving thousands of complaints and personal threats to its staff. After just six days, the campaign was terminated with immediate effect. I was convinced that releasing a baby aged less than a year not to mention the 80-year-olds and the women, represented a value that would resonate favorably with the British people. Apparently, I was mistaken yet again.

Obviously, terror, or whatever the BBC wants to call it, works. The British people may not want to be involved in Israel’s problems, but for their own good, they need to understand these are their problems just as much as they are ours.

Freedom of speech in the UK has become yet another victim of Jihadi terror. There’s no such thing as selective freedom of the press. It’s either black or it’s white. There are no compromises or exceptions.

It doesn’t end there.

Jewish communities in Europe are becoming increasingly isolated. Places of worship and Jewish schools require special security. Displaying Jewish religious artifacts in public is considered dangerous. Who would have believed that less than 80 years after the Holocaust, our world would, yet again, sink to this depth of moral bankruptcy?

The Danish government announced it intends calling up military reservists to protect its Jewish community of around 6,000 souls.

The skies are grey. The sun has stopped shining. Even the horizons have distanced themselves. But we will prevail, even if we have to do it on our own. We only have ourselves to rely on. Sadly, the world has failed us.

My condolences to those mourning their nearest and dearest. My wishes to the injured for a complete and speedy recovery. May God protect our brave soldiers.

Wishing you all Shabbat Shalom and better times ahead.

Am Yisrael Chai.

Harris Zvi Green.