The Arab Street

On the night of May 6, Israel carried a quick strike in east Rafah, to take control of the Rafah Crossing. Everyone was caught off-guard by this, assuming that an assault by the IDF would come elsewhere. By controlling the Crossing, Israel ensured Hamas was trapped.

Of course, overshadowing this was the Biden Regime’s reprehensible declaration that they would hold-up arms shipments to Israel. Along with the Rafah Crossing operation, it is also instructive to realize what is happening in Judea-Samaria.

Heightened terror activity by Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and other groups has compelled Israel to deploy forces in the West Bank. A very sophisticated IED was found at Joseph’s Tomb, as Jewish worshippers approached it this week. A bomb squad defused it, but such incidents show that the Palestinians—the Arab Street—are everywhere a beehive of activity. They feel a real kinship with Hamas, and represent yet another front against Israel.

Back in Rafah:

The Palestinian media reported that before the start of the IDF ground operation in Rafah, intensive air force strikes were carried out in east Rafah. After the operation began, Hisham Zaqout, a correspondent for al-Jazeera TV in Rafah, reported on non-stop IDF artillery fire and air force strikes in east Rafah. The focal points of the attack were the al-Janina and al-Salam neighborhoods and the village of al-Shuka (al-Quds, May 7, 2024). Later, it was reported that the IDF continued attacking east Rafah, especially the area of Dahaniya Airport (Wafa YouTube channel, May 9, 2024). According to reports, the IDF’s operation is limited to an area of only three square kilometers, and the targets attacked were tall buildings used by the Palestinian terrorist organizations for surveillance and gathering information about the IDF.

UNRWA, the menacing, pro-Palestinian bureau of the UN, continues to agitate and spread propaganda that Israel is causing a humanitarian disaster.

Other bad actors like PA/PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas joined in with pressure.

Before the start of the IDF operation in Rafah, Abbas tried to prevent it by meeting with Arab and international officials on April 28, 2024. He gave a speech at the recent World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh in which he expressed concern, and noted that only the United States could stop Israel from carrying out the operation. This last bit is a subtle hint that the Biden Regime is on the side of the terrorists, coordinating responses like that of Abbas.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas, claimed the occupation of the Rafah Crossing, the threat to evict the Palestinians from the shelters and places of residence, and the prevention of the entry of UN workers into the Strip were “war crimes” for which Israel had to be brought to justice. He called on the American administration to prevent Israel, without hesitation, from invading Rafah and expelling the Palestinians.

Another PA official actually blamed Hamas, but I suspect this is jockeying for position, post-war. Remember, Hamas and the PLO are rivals. The PA/PLO wants to rule Gaza going forward, something Benjamin Netanyahu adamantly opposes.

Mahmoud al-Habash, advisor to Mahmoud Abbas, had an unusual reaction, holding Hamas responsible for everything that had happened and would happen in Rafah because, he said, Hamas wanted to continue controlling the Gaza Strip. He added that Hamas provided Israel with all the excuses for continuing the war, and the Gazans were the ones who would pay the price for Hamas’ adventures.

I remain convinced that the overwhelming majority of Palestinians are so indoctrinated with anti-Jewish hate that there is no possibility of a true peace deal. With about 8 million Israeli Jews in the area, along with more than two million Palestinians, no one I’m aware of has a truly workable plan for achieving peace in this volatile area.

Come quickly, Lord Jesus.

 

 

Bibi’s Moment

I listened to an interesting podcast this week from host Hugh Hewitt. I often wonder if Hewitt is “one of us” or if he is a shadow Deep Stater. He seems to crave approval from people I think are problematic, ranging from Chuck Todd to calling Mitch McConnell a living legend.

He does though generally say positive things about Israel, including advocating an invasion of Rafah to bring down Hamas.

Hewitt began by interviewing Israeli writer and speaker Michael Oren. On the subject of whether Ariel Sharon was right 20 years ago to pull out of Gaza, Oren said that Sharon publicly said that Israel would separate from the Palestinians, leave the entire Gaza Strip to them and if even one rocket was fired at Israel “we’ll go back in and take care of it.”

Except then 6,000 rockets were fired. Israel did very little in response, really.

Of course, Sharon then succumbed to a terrible stroke and passed from the scene. A relatively weak Ehud Olmert took over and continued the appeasement policies of Ehud Barak.

Benjamin Netanyahu waited in the political wilderness.

Bibi has always had a reputation as a hawk. Much of it deserved. Like Sharon, I think most of us don’t have a right to criticize men that have served their country in combat. Both these men did.

Bibi will be 75 this year. His brilliant family has made many sacrifices for the Jewish state. They are the kind of people that Herzl and Jabotinsky had in mind for the creation and maintenance of the Israel “experiment.”

It appears though that he is approaching the end of his career and wondering what his legacy will be.

Everything depends on how he finishes with Hamas.

The reports are that as the weekend approaches, the U.S. is forcing a demonic deal on Israel, effectively giving the win to Hamas. I cannot believe Netanyahu will agree to anything that doesn’t destroy Hamas; this was his pledge and has been his consistent message.

The fly in the ointment is whether Netanyahu the politican will make the decision, or Bibi the Zionist raised by Benzion and Cela Netanyahu will make the decision.

I am praying fervently that the latter will prevail.

Under a “deal,” Hamas survives, gets hundreds of terrorist prisoners released, and gets to bask in an historic psychological torture of Israel. It was bad enough when they nabbed Gilad Shalit years ago and held him for five years. It is bad enough we still don’t know the real fate of IAF pilot Ron Arad, shot down 40 years ago. Hezbollah cruelly never told his family what happened to him.

This is what demons do. Guess what else they do?

Placate and even help the terrorists. This is the model of the evil Regime in Washington. Flat out, the Biden Team has worked hand in hand with Hamas, grotesquely ignoring the rapes, kidnappings, torture of Jews. They will be judged harshly for this in the next life.

The latest word is that Hamas will “approve” the deal and some sort of short-term/permanent ceasefire will take hold and Washington will prevent Israel from going into Rafah and finishing the job.

This is unconscionable and a permanent stain on America, if it plays out that way.

My heart of course is counting on yet another classic Israel feint, such as the early morning hours of June 5, 1967. I hope Israel is playing rope-a-dope and will instead land a haymaker at the Hamas jaw.

Let Washington sit in shame.

The Lord God Almighty has said in His Word that He will not only defend Zion, but will smash her enemies utterly, and for all time.

Please, Lord.

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