By Esther Korson
Here are some bits and bobs that I’d like to share with you today!
There have been five incidents of gas-related leaks that were the result of terrorist sabotage in the last few days. The perpetrators were clearly interested in the maximum injury with fuel-based explosions. Just last week two gas pipes were cut in the residential area next to where I live in Jerusalem. (My neighborhood and the adjoining one are close to a large Arab population further down the hill). The residents of the buildings, smelling gas, immediately summoned the authorities and therefore averted a mass tragedy. Each pipeline to the apartment buildings had been cut in two places and in one of the buildings a lighted candle was found under the cut. Some 50 people were evacuated from their homes. One of the perpetrators was later arrested. He said that his only regret was that the explosions did not occur. It’s hard to imagine that kind of thinking, and I can’t come up with a single thing to say about it!
In the same week, there was another ‘fuel related’ incident that I would also like to share with you! If you remember, two weeks ago 70 rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip toward the Israeli civilian population in Southern Israel. They were meant to be deadly weapons, and once again it was through the grace and the protection of the Lord—and His wonderful promise that ‘no weapon formed against you will prosper’—that no one was injured or killed.
The day after the rocket attacks ceased, the only power plant in the Gaza Strip stopped working because the diesel fuel ran out. The fact that the fuel ran out had nothing to do with Israel, of course—it was because of tensions between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority.
The Kerem Shalom Crossing between the Gaza Strip and Israel had been closed due to the barrage of rocket attacks on the Western Negev. Now, Israel was under no obligation whatsoever to do anything to help with the dire shortage of fuel in the Gaza Strip! And especially not following attacks against our resident population! But as I have said so many times before in the blogs that I’ve presented, this is a nation that cares. Israel has a heart. The same day that the fuel ran out, a statement from the coordinating liaison unit of the Defense Ministry said that Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon had instructed that the border crossing be opened for the delivery of fuel. And by the next day, rumbling across the Israeli border to the residents of Gaza, came transports containing some 500,000 liters of diesel and gasoline for the private sector; 160,000 tons of cooking gas; and 200,000 liters of diesel for the operation of the Gaza power plant. Doesn’t that make you want to smile?!
One more bit of news! Before beginning twelve days of festive family meals and picnics with lots of grilled meats in celebration of their national holiday, Nowruz, the Iranians received a special message. Since Iran is the one nation in the world that consistently threatens to totally destroy the nation and the people of Israel—it was truly a special and very surprising message, as you might agree! It came from Shimon Peres, the President of Israel! Speaking in Farsi, Iran’s’ national language, through interviews with Persian language stations, through Israel’s Radio Persia, and via his You Tube channel. Peres began by saying, “Iraniane Gerami, Novruzetan Piruz Bad” which means, “Iranian citizens, wherever you are, Happy Nowruz!” The secular holiday has been commemorated for thousands of years, marking the first day of spring.
“The Jewish people and the Iranian people have a very long history,” Peres said, “and we’re going to have a longer future.” He told of past events in Jewish and Persian history saying, “Actually, your great King Cyrus was the leader that called the Jewish people to return to their land, the land of Israel. This was the first return of the Jewish people to their old home. We shall never forget it.” He went on to say, “Our history is a happy history, the historic relationships between your people and our people are more than good. We are old cultures…We have a heritage of values…We are two nations that respect culture, that respect human dignity, that respect the values that call us to live in peace and understanding…”
“I don’t have a special message to the people of Iran because it’s the same message as the people of Israel. Let’s forget wars, let our young people build a new future. Let’s talk to each other directly without prejudice. We still have a great deal to do to make the world better. Let’s march together to this goal…”
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