No matter waht your political persuasions may be, the war currently being waged by Israel has brought headlines to all our newspapers which bring little comfort with regard to the numbers of civilians who have died so far....

But, as always, a lucid and telling description of these times has been filed by family member Ronny Netzer who lives in Gilo...an area of Jerusalem which itself has seen much action....

Ronny writes:

Shalom

For sure this is a difficult day to give the Israeli side of the story.

The Israeli figures becomes to small compared with the numbers from one house in Kfar Kana.

Today Sunday 7.30.06. 2 pm Israeli time and already more than 100 rockets have been shot over Israel.

Altogether, during 19 days we have counted around 1800 rockets shot over Israel. the real number is probably more than 3000.

Some rockets fell in the Mediterranean and other over open areas and have not been found and counted.

Kana

1978: Israeli Soldiers enter South Lebanon in what became known as the Litani Operation.

In those days I was still in the army. When we entered Kana we were ambushed by a group off Palestinians terrorist.

3 friends from my unit were killed, before we managed to kill them.

1996: Hezbollah shelled Israel, breaking the cease fire since 1993. Israel respond with what became known as operation Grapes of Wrath.

Shelling went on from both sides (just as today). Some 800 civilian Lebanese people found shelter in a UN camp in Kana.

According to a U.N. report, on April 18, Hezbollah, fired two Katyusha rockets and eight mortars at Israeli soldiers from areas about 200 meters (218 yards) southwest and 350 meters (380 yards) southeast of the United Nations compound. 15 minutes later an Israeli unit responded by shelling the area.

Some of the shells fell within the Un camp. 106 Lebanese civilian were killed.

2006. July 30. history repeats itself, 51 Lebanese of these 23 children killed in Kana, when a house collapsed after an Israeli air-strike.

For me Kana was/is a stronghold for terror activities. And nothing has changed during the last 30 years. On one hand the terrorist have/are hiding behind civilians,

using propaganda fraises like" we are all part of the Jihad" (holy war). And on the other hand accusing Israel of barbaric behavior everytime a civilians are hit.

Not only has hundreds of rockets been fired from Kana during the last days, Kana has a history of being "a perfect base for attacks on Israel".

Kana - Maalot = 20 km, 12 miles.

Kana - Nahariah = 30 km, 18 miles.

Kana - Carmiel = 34 km, 21 miles

Kana - Acco = 40 km, 24 miles.

I know that nothing I can write, off 18 Israeli civilians killed, or something so unimportant that more than 600.000 trees have burnt down can change the picture of one house with more than 23 children being killed. Any Israeli - or human being must be sad seeing the pictures from Kana.

In 1996 the international outcry over the Kana village shelling effectively ended that operation.

2006: what will happened? Will international pressure bring on a cease fire? How much will this influence Israeli freedom to use the Air- force. For example: most rockets shelled over Haifa came from the town of Tyre. Not always did the airforce find the launchers before they were fired, but many times were they found and destroyed after they fired.

There has been 2 results out of this.

Less and less rockets have hit Haifa in the last days - Very good.

Hitting targets in a city of Tyre, means also hitting civilians being close by to the Hezbollah outposts. - Very sad.

If I may analyze the situation, looking at all the 19 days of fighting ( and not only at the sad situation of today).

Altogether I think Israel is fighting in the right way, not sending in massive ground forces occupying south of Lebanon, putting up bases (and in this way being

targets for Hezbollah attacks) but using 4-5 elite brigades, moving in and out looking for and attacking Hezbollah position in different villages.

About 250 Hezbollah terrorist have been killed.Altogether Israel have lost 33 soldiers.

How do you find the balance between doing everything you can to save the lives of Israeli soldiers, and in the same time save the lives of Lebanese civilians.

Last week in one fight Israel lost 8 soldiers. It was a mistake, some of them could have been saved if Israel would have bombed Bint Jbell before sending in the ground forces. And on the other hand in Kana Israel did not risk the life of Israeli soldiers (so far) and the attack against the terrorist were from the air.

We can only hope and pray that the "mistakes" will be as few as possible.

Personal news:

Rachel's sister lives in Carmiel, so they have been staying with us or other relatives living in the centre off Israel.

( In Jerusalem only, are there some 30.000 "refugees" from the north)

All my work in August have been cancelled, gives me time to ride my mountain bicycle, so far only graze-wounds on arms and knees.

Yair my oldest son has got notice that he will be called up for a month in the middle of August, but to the west bank to replace a unit going north.

Everything is fine, really don't feel I have the right to complain about anything, when I compare my situation with people living in the north.

All the Best

Ronny

You are invited to a simcha!

Later this month, Philip Lebenswerd will travel from Stockholm with his Mum and Dad to celebrate his Barmitzvah in Jerusalem.

Leif has asked me to publish details of the simcha and anyone who is in Jerusalem at that time is cordially invited...and what a chance for members of Pichus and Devorah's families to meet members of Ludvik's.

Should you want to contact Leif beforehand, his email address is
leif@lebenswerd.se

Wish I could be there.................................................

Tibi Glass due for an operation

Tibi is married to Ilu [Mikulincer]. At the moment he has difficulty walking and doctors beliebve they can get him back on his feet again by operating on his spine. This will happen in Sydney on Monday. We wish him all the luck in the world for a successful operation.

Marathon Mikulincers

Vicki List contributes to the Blog:

Hi, Henry--
What a shock--I mean, a pleasant surprise! A letter and a picture of our Rachel on your blog!
(She probably didn't tell you, but she just ran a 26-mile marathon in mid-April.) The last week in April, she joined Jerry and me, her parents (Pamela and Charlie Bielitz) and our cousin, Dorothy Unger, at our timeshare in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. We had a absolutely fantastic time!


Thanks again for all your hard work at keeping everyone in touch!
Fond regards,
Vicki List

News from America

Rachel Bielitz writes:

Hello! I thought since you helped to remind me my cousin's birthday was coming up, I'd give you some updates here- Lauren Reidenberg currently lives in San Francisco, California. Also I am graduating this month so I'll be leaving St. Louis and will at least temporarily be in Kampsville, Illinois. Maybe someone will look at it and randomly want to come visit me in the absolute middle of nowhere! Thanks again for doing this.Rachel Bielitz


Rachel is the great granddaughter of Devorah [Mikulincer] Wacks

Mazeltov! Martin Ross gets engaged.

News in from Manchester that Martin Ross, a great grandson of Devorah [Mikulincer] Wacks, has become engaged to Katy Glass. The wedding is due to take place in August.

Martin writes:

Firstly, I wanted to notify you of my engagement to Katy Glass on 2nd day Pesach. Please G-d the wedding should be 9th August (Tu B'Av). There is a bit more info at http://www.katyandmartin.com/ if you want to look.

A: G-d is the Ultimate Shadchan!!! His agents here were.....(long story) Two years ago, a relative (on both sides!!!) - Maureen Freeman suggested the shidduch to both sets of parents. Martin said he wasn't looking then..Fast forward to August 2005, Michael Olsberg suggests Katy, but we were both "busy" at the time. December 2005, Martin asks Michael if he can think of someone, Michael says he'll ask Joanne (his sister), and then...December 28th 2005, Michael tells Martin that Joanne suggested KatyDecember 29th 2005, Martin phones KatyJan 1st Katy and Martin go out first timethe rest is history

Let me also take this opportunity of wishing a hearty Mazeltov to Martin's parents Edwina nd Diane Ross.

Nice to hear from Leif.

I had a wee cry a while back about the effort that goes into the email postings and Leif stretched his hand across the world to help get me back on track.

He wrote:

I think people care. At least I think you do a fantastic job. We are just

polite and don't want to push you, or are you expecting a

nuuuu.................where is it. Don't you know you have a job to do?

Enclosed is a picture of me during the Purimspiel in our shul.

Elazer Lerner is the father-in-law of Elisa Ross.

As well as being an intrepid traveller, Elazer and his wife were part of the settler community who made world new when moved by the Israeli government from Gaza back to Israel.

He writes:

Henry Shalom,

I was not active on this media for a few weeks.

Two reasons-first I had a very good trip to South of America-Argentina Peru and Brazil for a month. I recomend to do it, one of my greatest trip that I ever had. Including 3 day jungle trip, sea life and the gretest amaizing water falls Iguasu.

Some pictures attached here.

You certainly heard that Neve Deqalim with other settelments in Gush Qatif was left, and the people force to withdraw. meanwhile we stayed in hotel in Jerusalem, and two month ago we mooved to our new home in Nitzan - north to Ashqelon. very nice here, also near to the sea. It took weeks to arrange the new house.

Hope that all is well by you, by Ketty and by the children.

I will be now active again in the media.

All the best - Elazar

Nice to hear from Tommy Mikulincer who lives in Stockholm.

Looks like he has re-invented himself

Tommy writes:

Hi, here you have the new me, with a new look and also a new profession.

Four months ago I started a new task, as manager of Stockholm Chevra Kadisha and the chief administrator of Stockholm four jewish cemetaries. It is a completely new experience, that I can tell you, never the less it is the best work and position I ever had.

Keep well and regards!

Tommy