Waiting for the attack which may not come  

Israel’s security establishment has ramped up the concern about a direct attack by Iran to the possibility that it may occur over the next days, although there has been no change in the Homefront Command’s directions to the population here. The message remains “be alert, but no need to do anything special.”

Of course, the speculation about timing is one thing but is overshadowed by the ruminations about the size of the attack. Will it be an attack as it was in April to show that Iran can do it, but not cause damage? Or will it be an attack that is directed at strategic targets but not people, in order to show strength but not cause civilian casualties? Or will it be an all-out volley of armaments designed to cause whatever damage it can without differentiating between infrastructure and civilians. No one really knows, it is a guesstimate at best and not much more at the moment.

The one thing that Israel has done in preparation for an eventual attack is to close off a large area of the south of the country near the site of last October’s massacre.  The government had heard that during the 9^th of Av observance tonight and tomorrow, there were large prayer meetings planned for the area.  So, the security establishment thought it better to close off the area altogether.

I am still of the opinion that neither Iran nor Hezbollah in the north are interested in starting a regional war at this time, nor can they really support it. In addition, the factors that I shared last week about the virtually off-limits air space east of Israel, the even more massive buildup of American military strength in the region and the push for a ceasefire with Hamas later this week, all argue that while the attack will come it will be more for show than for damage.

I could be wrong and certainly hope I am right, but that’s my sense and it reflects how people here are dealing with the threat as well. Life goes on, the synagogues will be packed tonight and tomorrow for the recital of lamentations over the destruction of both Temples 2,000 years ago, and the Western Wall Plaza in Jerusalem, the closest point to both of where the Temples stood, will be packed as well.

Having said that, it does not mean things are quiet here. A terrorist attack yesterday on the Jordan Valley Road killed a 19-year-old Israeli civilian who was engaged to be married shortly, and who had recently fought valiantly in Gaza as well. Hezbollah in Lebanon sent a volley of over 30 missiles into Israel overnight Sunday, with all of them either having been neutralized by the Iron Dome defense system or fell in uninhabited areas.  Israel continues its anti-terrorist activities in Gaza with renewed fighting in Khan Yunis. And the world continues to zero in on the sad conditions and killing in Gaza, while in other locations around the globe there are much more serious issues faced by minority populations, about which no one seems to care hardly if at all.

Thankfully we are a resilient people who have survived while so many other civilizations throughout antiquity have not been so fortunate. So, we will get past this latest challenge as well, perhaps with our pride a bit damaged, our faith a bit more challenged and our self-image a bit tarnished. But our unity will be strengthened and we will move forward, as before, to continue to bring light and creativity to the world, a world that sadly continues to speak about us with a lesser truth.