The Golan Heights stands as a crucial strategic asset for Israel. From its elevated terrain, Israel can see deep into Syria to the east and northeast, while to the west it overlooks the Sea of Galilee and the Hula Valley. The northern border of the Golan Heights connects to Lebanon, including Mount Hermon, providing visibility into once-hidden routes where Iranian weapons were smuggled across these nations.

This strategic position comes amidst a complex landscape of rebel groups now controlling various parts of Syria, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in the northwest, the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army in the north, and US-supported Syrian Democratic Forces in the northeast. Each faction brings its own ideology and external backing – further complicating an already volatile situation along Israel's northern border. In response to these threats, Israel has conducted hundreds of strikes on Syrian military targets to prevent weapons from falling into extremist hands. These operations have focused on neutralizing key sites that could pose a danger to Israeli security.

The situation remains volatile, with international support for Israel's right to self-defense and calls for lasting security between Israel and Syria. The fall of the Assad family's brutal 50-year regime marks a significant geopolitical shift in the region, presenting both challenges and opportunities for Israel as it navigates the uncertain future of its northern border. 

Beyond its military vantage point, the Golan holds immense significance and is deeply cherished by Israelis. With biblical and archaeological history and its captivating natural beauty, the region is popular for tourism and outdoor activities. The Golan's fertile farmlands and wineries nurtured by volcanic soil are home to diverse Israeli communities, including Druze villagers, Jewish kibbutzim, Bedouin Muslims, and Christian Arabs. These lands, in classic Israeli style host military bases, unexploded landmines, and vital agriculture essential to Israel's well-being. The farmers of the Golan have suffered greatly over the past year due to rocket fire causing widespread forest fires and displacing workers, including foreign Thai laborers who survived the horrors of Oct. 7, 2023, and its aftermath.

Israel recognizes that the Golan serves as a vital defense line against Iran's proxy network stretching across the Middle East. In this region, Israeli civilians live alarmingly close to potential threats from Syria – some just a few kilometers away from border towns like Alonei Habashan. With the unimaginable collapse of Bashar Assad, rebel groups scramble to fill the void. This proximity underscores why the IDF acted swiftly to secure key areas across the border. Strategic zones like Mount Ben Tal near Al Quneitra have seen increased IDF movements between Israeli-controlled areas, the demilitarized zone (DMZ), and Syrian territory. These decisive actions aim to prevent extremist factions from gaining ground or accessing dangerous stockpiles left behind by Assad.

During my visits outside Camp Ziouani, part of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force tasked with maintaining the ceasefire between Israel and Syria since the 1973 Yom Kippur War, I saw deminers working slowly to clear landmines left from past conflicts, a stark reminder that even as life cautiously returns, dangers still linger across these contested borders. I briefly spoke with soldiers from Nepal and India stationed there across the barrier as IDF tanks passed freely in and out of the DMZ zone.

Both we and others were allowed to freely roam, with the UNDOF apparently paused in its mission. On another day, I heard sounds of football being played inside the UNDOF base, a contrast to nearby artillery fire echoing inside Syria and jet planes roaring overhead, as the laughter of the international task force playing sports felt disconnected from the reality outside. This dissonance between UNDOF's detachment from reality on the ground and Israel's active role in securing its borders raises questions about UNDOF's effectiveness after decades of failing to prevent Hezbollah outposts or extremist factions from taking root nearby. One must truly ask what role bases like UNDOF on the Israel-Syrian border serve when Hezbollah terror tunnels have been documented just meters away from UN soldiers.

The Golan Heights today is a place of stark contrasts. For months, it was marked by eerie silence – a ghost town where artillery booms, Iron Dome sirens, rockets, and drones, dominated the landscape. Journalists roamed alongside soldiers while visitors were rare amidst abandoned roads and fields scarred by conflict.

Now life cautiously returns. At lookouts near Ein Zivan, Druze sellers offered labneh za'atar pita wraps to visitors, an everyday scene that felt almost surreal against the backdrop of tanks passing by and artillery fire echoing in the distance. Arab women next to Haredi mothers take selfies; veterans with binoculars stand alongside younger Israelis recounting stories of Syria's brutality during past wars like Yom Kippur. These moments are surreal, a blend of hope and unease, as people reflect on a regime that will no longer pose a threat.

In Majdal Shams, the Druze village bordering Syria, sights were historic, Israeli forces moved swiftly to secure buffer zones citing breakdowns in disengagement agreements dating back decades. The village borders Syria and is famous for its Shouting Hill, a place where families separated by borders once communicated using megaphones due to restricted passage and close proximity straddling a few hundred meters between the two nations. 

Majdal Shams was also recently in headlines for a tragic event when twelve children were killed by Hezbollah rockets targeting a soccer match in this village located in northern Golan Heights, a stark reminder of ongoing threats despite recent changes. 

Mount Hermon remains critical due to its elevation at the junction of Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. From its heights, Damascus, just over 25 miles away, is clearly visible along with once-obscured smuggling routes used by Hezbollah to transfer weapons from Iran through Syria into Lebanon. By securing these positions alongside other strategic zones like Mount Ben Tal near Al Quneitra, where increased IDF movements have been noted, Israel has effectively disrupted these supply lines while maintaining vigilance over its northern borders.

At every site I visited there was an undeniable sense of history unfolding: people daring to witness a Syria free of Assad for the first time in generations, rediscovering beauty amidst ongoing tensions while reflecting on decades of conflict that shaped these lands.

Many governments recognize Israel's crucial role in stabilizing a fragile region left vulnerable during ISIS's rise and now with the crumbling of one of the region's most savage regimes, a conflict that claimed over 600,000 lives just miles from Israel. For Israelis, the current moment marks not just a geopolitical shift but also renewed hope for security along their northern border.

The post The Golan Heights transformed: Israel's strategic frontier offers new hope appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

In the aftermath of Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023 massacre in southern Israel, which claimed thousands of civilian lives, hundreds of hostages, and thousands more injured, an extraordinary military unit emerged from civilian society. The Har Zion 0710 Unit represents a unique phenomenon in modern military history: hundreds of Israelis aged over 45 years old, many decades past their military service, voluntarily returning to uniform to defend their nation in its hour of need.

From emergency to operation

While the concept was initially conceived following Operation Guardian of the Walls in 2021, the unit's actual formation occurred during Israel's darkest hours following Oct. 7. "The unit was established overnight, with hundreds of people bringing their specialized all-terrain vehicles to the Gaza envelope area to assist in evacuating the wounded and fallen from the communities and the Nova festival site," Tamar Rein Fishburn, a member of the unit's command staff explained. What began as a spontaneous response quickly evolved into an organized force, with experienced operators mobilizing for critical missions both within and around the Gaza Strip.

"We've developed capabilities for rapid deployment that can save lives," Rein Fishburn explained. "Our teams can access areas conventional military vehicles can't reach, allowing us to transport combat forces, facilitate rescue operations, and move essential equipment through challenging terrain." The unit now conducts specialized training exercises, including intensive field navigation using traditional paper maps – a tactical choice that ensures operational capability even when electronic systems are compromised.

Beyond the Battlefield

The unit's impact resonates deeply through personal connections forged in critical moments. At a recent gathering, a young soldier who had been evacuated from Gaza by the unit shared a moving testimony: "When you see people who give of themselves with their civilian vehicles, and receive someone who could be my father's age, sometimes even my grandfather's age, and he is the one who gets under the stretcher with me in the most unambiguous way possible... these were experiences that were very, very significant not only at the operational level but also at the value level."

These connections continue to multiply as the conflict enters new phases. During current operations in north Israel's border with Lebanon, where the unit is conducting its second rotation, volunteers frequently reunite with reserve soldiers they transported in earlier deployments – now also serving their second or third rotation. The personal dimensions deepen when unit members find themselves transporting nephews, family friends, or their children's peers, transforming routine operations into deeply meaningful missions.

For Rein Fishburn, the journey to the unit came through personal tragedy. At 54, the former senior executive at Shaare Zedek Medical Center never imagined returning to active military service. Following the death of her brother, Major Aryeh Rein, in Gaza, she found herself drawn to a new calling. "If you had asked me a year ago what I'd be doing, returning from exemption at 54 to active reserve duty would have been the last thing on my mind," she reflected. "After my brother's death, I realized that what matters most now is taking an active part in addressing Israeli society's challenges."

A legacy of service

What sets this unit apart is its volunteer base – individuals who had been exempt from service for periods ranging from several years to decades. "We have mobility fighters who arrived as civilians to the Nova festival area on Oct. 7 and played crucial roles in rescue and evacuation operations there. Now they have the opportunity to continue contributing," Rein Fishburn noted.

The unit's influence reaches deep into family life. "We have families where both partners wanted to join the unit," she added. "We have members currently serving while their children are in regular service or reserves – entire families mobilized out of a sense of mission and importance."

Recent commander-level exercises have focused on developing comprehensive terrain knowledge and rapid response capabilities. "We're building an operational picture that assists brigade and battalion commanders in the field," Rein Fishburn explained. "Our teams build comprehensive operational knowledge of each area where we serve, providing crucial support during emergency responses."

Today, the Har Zion Unit operates across multiple fronts. Its strength lies not just in its operational abilities but also in the maturity and judgment of its members. "The unit operates under strict safety protocols and benefits from having experienced members," Rein Fishburn explained. "Our volunteers undergo specialized training to enhance their already considerable expertise."

As the conflict has evolved, so too has the unit's role. Beyond emergency response, they now support humanitarian aid convoys and provide crucial mobility support across various operating theaters. "Wherever the unit operates, it receives enormous appreciation and respect," Rein Fishburn said. "The demand for our capabilities is increasing, and the potential inherent in these capabilities continues to grow."

The Har Zion Unit represents more than just a military innovation – it exemplifies Israel's civilian response to crisis, where age becomes irrelevant in the face of national need. These volunteers, who could have remained in their civilian lives, instead chose to answer their country's call. Their story reflects a broader truth about Israeli society: when faced with existential threats, the distinction between civilian and soldier often blurs, replaced by a simple imperative to serve.

The post How Israel's veteran civilians returned to battle appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

Processing the events of the past 365 days, in which each second of every minute has felt like a lifetime, has been a deeply painful journey. This isn't merely an article; it's a letter to the world from a betrayed third-culture citizen, Israeli civilian, and international journalist.

The clock struck 6:29 a.m. on October 7, 2023, and in that moment, life as we knew it in Israel ceased to exist. The October 7th Massacre, a brutal attack orchestrated by Hamas, didn't just shatter our sense of safety; it obliterated it, igniting an ongoing year of war that has scorched the Israeli psyche. It was as if the very foundations of our society suddenly turned to quicksand beneath our feet.

Born in Tel Aviv to French Jewish parents of Polish and Tunisian descent, with Holocaust and labor camp survivor grandparents, my DNA is composed of trauma from unimaginable horrors and gaslighting. My journey from the multicultural expat bubble of Hong Kong to the halls of Leeds University and the London School of Economics shaped me into a global citizen. Yet, in the aftermath of October 7, I found myself acknowledging that my multicultural global network of acquaintances largely dismissed the pain experienced by Israel, and some even relished in our suffering.

The global response to the October 7 attacks wasn't just disappointing; it was a gut-punch of hypocrisy that left us reeling. While the world rightfully condemns terror elsewhere, the slaughter of Israeli civilians was met with a silence so deafening it screamed, or worse, with attempts to justify the unjustifiable under the banner of "resistance." This double standard has carved a wound in the Israeli psyche that may never fully heal.

We – Israelis, diaspora Jews, and our true allies – found ourselves forced into what seems to be an unwinnable information war. Armed only with truth against a Goliath of corporate media, celebrity influencers, and NGOs, we became reluctant Davids, fighting a tsunami of misinformation.

The world, it seemed, had lost its moral compass. From the boulevards of Paris to the streets of New York, we watched in horror as Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis found cheerleaders in the very cradles of democracy. Free speech mutated into hate speech before our eyes. What was disguised as supporting the Palestinians, was soon revealed to be an excuse to showcase posters of swastikas and Stars of David tossed into trash bins.

This hysteria seemed to unite disparate groups – from "Queers for Palestine" to woke activists (as a liberal member of the LGBTQ community myself, this was a slap in the face), from the uneducated to the educated, from the left to the right, and Islamists. It was as if a 1930s-style mass delusion had gripped the world, with an unlikely coalition forming to target Jews and Zionists, distorting and gaslighting every aspect of this conflict from the moment Hamas struck.

Hamas (and other Iranian proxies) didn't just violate borders and break a ceasefire; they orchestrated a campaign of terror against civilians and young conscripts. Israelis are not GI-Joes, but 18 to 21-year-olds fulfilling their mandatory service, or reservists mothers and fathers, defending their homes and families. Unlike distant military interventions, these Israelis were protecting their own soil, their own people.

And suddenly, in a perverse twist of logic, Israel found itself accused of genocide. As we painstakingly counted our 1,200 dead, unverified numbers of Gaza casualties ballooned, with no distinction made between civilians and the thousands of Hamas terrorists. The implication that Israel would willfully target women and children isn't just false; it's a blood libel for the 21st century.

The manipulation of facts turned the world into a raging bull against Israel. Logic seemed to evaporate as people ignored Israel's efforts to minimize civilian casualties – efforts unprecedented in the history of warfare. We sent hundreds of humanitarian trucks into Gaza, an act of compassion for an enclave that had just savaged us. We treat terrorists in our hospitals while Hamas uses its own people as human shields, stealing aid and leaving civilians to suffer.

As a journalist, I found myself in the surreal position of reporting on a war that had made me its victim. How does one maintain objectivity when trauma is not just witnessed but lived? The devastation I've seen – a mother's eyes haunted by the loss of her entire family, the ghostly silence of northern villages once vibrant with life, the unimaginable torture hostages and their families are still suffering – these are not just stories I've covered, but scars I now carry.

Why couldn't every so-called advocate of human rights around the world call for the immediate return of the hostages, once 250, now 101 of them still trapped in captivity. 

Perhaps the deepest cut has been the betrayal by those I once called friends. Decades-long relationships crumbled like sandcastles in a tsunami, washed away by a tide of indifference or outright hostility. Colleagues in the media, supposed champions of truth, became complicit in a narrative so divorced from reality it would be laughable if it weren't so dangerous.

This betrayal has forced a reckoning. I've learned that true allyship is about standing firm in the face of the storm, especially when it's unpopular or inconvenient.

The hypocrisy extends to the global community's silence on Egypt's role in the conflict. Why wasn't Egypt's border with Gaza opened as Poland's was with Ukraine? The sudden anti-Israel stance of leaders like Guterres, Macron and the UK government raises troubling questions about the influence of terror-funding nations on global politics and economics.

As we mark this somber anniversary, I call on the world to reflect on its response to the October 7 attacks and the subsequent war. The silence of allies, the manipulation of facts, and the willful blindness to Israeli suffering aren't just personal affronts – they're symptoms of a deeper malaise in our global discourse.

Yet, in the face of this global gaslighting, the Israeli spirit remains unbroken. We are the phoenix nation, rising time and again from ashes not of our own making. Our democracy, imperfect as it may be, stands as a beacon in a region where such lights are few and far between.

The personal toll has been immense. Watching friends mute, unfollow, and ignore pleas for help hasn't just been painful; it's been a chilling echo of past silences that allowed unspeakable horrors to unfold. The weaponization of anti-Israel sentiment on social media isn't just trending; it's the Ice Bucket Challenge of hate, allowing the privileged to feel righteous while drenching themselves in ignorance.

First-world, privileged Ivy League students don keffiyehs and align themselves with terrorist ideologies, exposing the unresolved guilt and self-loathing that permeates much of Western discourse on this issue. It's a stark reminder of how a world that colonized, committed genocide, and redrew global boundaries multiple times now seeks to delegitimize the one Jewish state.

In the end, Israel's story isn't just about a small nation fighting for its right to exist; it's a litmus test for humanity's capacity for truth, justice, and the courage to stand against the tide of popular opinion when that opinion is wrong. It's a story that belongs to all who believe in the right to live without fear, regardless of borders or beliefs.

As we navigate this dark chapter, I urge you to seek truth, challenge narratives, not because it's easy, but because it's right. Only then can we hope to break this cycle of violence and build a future worthy of all who call this troubled region home.

The October 7 attack and its aftermath have exposed deep-seated biases and misconceptions about Israel and the Jewish people. It has revealed the fragility of alliances and the ease with which historical traumas can be dismissed or weaponized. But it has also shown the resilience of the Israeli people who stand for truth and justice and mobilize in unity when it truly matters.

As we move forward, we must confront the uncomfortable realities this conflict has brought to light. We must challenge the narratives that seek to delegitimize Israel's right to exist and defend itself. We must hold accountable those who spread misinformation and hate. 

The path ahead is not easy, but it is necessary. For in our response to this crisis lies the potential for transformation for the global community as a whole. An opportunity to reaffirm our commitment to human rights, to reject violence and terror in all its forms, and to forge a future based on mutual respect and shared humanity, and to Bring Them Home, NOW.

The post 525,600 minutes and counting: A personal reckoning on war appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

October 7, 2023, is a date that will go down in history as one of the darkest days for Israel and the world. On that fateful day, Hamas terrorists infiltrated Israel by land, air, and sea with thousands of terrorists and rockets, carrying out the third-deadliest and deadliest per capita terrorist attack in the world since 1970, as data shows from the Center for Strategic and International Studies. As US President Biden invoked, it is as if 40,000 to 50,000 Americans had died on 9/11.

The multi-layered assault targeted army bases, the NOVA music festival, and over two dozen villages and cities, resulting in the murder of thousands of Israelis and non-Israeli civilians, several tens of thousands injured, and hundreds kidnapped, with many still being held hostage by Hamas in Gaza today. 

Among the hardest-hit communities was Kibbutz Kfar Aza, located just 2 kilometers from the Gaza border, resulting in the murder of over 63 innocent civilians, 19 kidnapped, of which some are still in captivity a year on. It was here that Maya and Dvir Rosenfeld, a young couple with a baby boy, narrowly escaped with their lives after hiding in their safe room for over 24 hours. Tragically, Dvir's sister, Hadar, and her husband, Itay Berdichevsky, were brutally murdered in their home, leaving behind two 10-month-old orphaned twins in the crib next to the lifeless, bloody body of their father. The Rosenfelds' harrowing story of survival and the heartbreaking loss of their loved ones is just one of countless tales of devastation that emerged from that horrific day.

Despite the shocking silence from many worldwide musicians and celebrities on this savage massacre, certain righteous artists across various disciplines have stepped forward to process the collective trauma and preserve the truth of what happened on that horrific day. These courageous individuals have embarked on a crucial ethnographic mission, creating a time capsule to ensure that the world not only never forgets the savagery committed but also bears witness to the factual truth and reality of the attack through the eyewitness accounts of those who lived through this terrible massacre. Their work serves as a vital defense against the erasure of history and the distortion of facts, ensuring that the voices of the victims and survivors are heard and that the memory of those lost is honored.

One such artist is Abby Walla, an American actress, writer, and entrepreneur who has taken on the challenging task of documenting Maya and Dvir Rosenfeld's story in the film (still in production) "For Ziv." Walla, known for her roles in TV shows like "Girls Code," "Dear White People," and "Veep," has ventured into the realm of documentary filmmaking to shed light on the human impact of the October 7 attacks and the remarkable strength and perseverance of those who survived.

The power of personal connection

Walla shares a deepening personal connection to the Rosenfeld family's experience. "When I visited Israel just a couple months after October 7, I walked through the destruction in Kfar Aza, met members of the kibbutz displaced in Shefayim, and even though I didn't meet Maya and Dvir, I heard the horrifying story of Dvir's sister and her 10-month old babies used as bait by Hamas. What I saw in the kibbutz shook me to my core in a way I'll never forget".

However, during an event in Los Angeles, a chance encounter with Maya and Dvir solidified Walla's commitment to telling their story. "There was immediately something so relatable and 'normal' about them and I could see the way that they communicated sparked such a visceral response in people," she explains. A conversation with Maya about their son Ziv's role in their survival and the importance of documenting his story for the future struck a chord with Walla, and "For Ziv" was set in motion.

"I just have had a gut feeling since I met Maya and Dvir that I needed to tell their story," Walla shares. "As much craziness has been thrown my way as I've taken this on, something within me just keeps pulling me forward, and I haven't second-guessed it." There's something about Maya and Dvir that is hard to put a finger on, but they seem relatable in a way that draws people in. Even though their story is one of unimaginable horror, they humbly say, "Our story isn't the worst story." This humility and resilience in the face of tragedy is what Walla aims to capture as she follows Maya and Dvir over the course of an entire year.

"For Ziv" is not just about documenting the events of October 7; it's about chronicling what life is like for survivors in the aftermath of a traumatic event or terror attack. It's about witnessing their healing process as the camera rolls over an extended period, watching them rebuild their lives and find the strength to move forward.

Walla approaches this project with a deep sense of responsibility – to film and honor Maya and Dvir's story, but also to produce art that matters. She is not trying to tell a political story or even speak in a political way. Instead, she aims to create a film that feels welcoming and accessible to people of different perspectives, inviting them to follow one family's journey without feeling like they must choose sides in the larger Israel-Palestine conflict.

At its core, "For Ziv" is a story of resilience, of how to move beyond tragedy. It just happens to be set in Israel, but its themes are universal. It's about people who actively make the choice, day by day, to get up and make the best out of the life they have been given despite their fate. It's a story that is both inspiring and one we can all learn from.

Navigating the challenges of documenting war

Filming in an active conflict zone presents immense challenges, from issues of access and security to the ethical imperatives of trauma-informed storytelling and protecting the privacy of vulnerable subjects. Walla acknowledges the constant evaluation required to navigate these complexities while prioritizing the safety, dignity, and well-being of survivors and her crew.

"It's been a deeply humbling experience that they've entrusted me with their story and allowed me into such intimate personal moments with a camera crew," Walla shares. "It's important to remember that they are not public personas or reality TV stars trying to be celebrities. They are very normal, private people who are incredibly brave in sharing the realities of what they and their loved ones went through and continue to go through."

Walla also discusses the emotional toll of working with a crew of Israelis who were themselves impacted by the war, noting that "everyone knows someone who was killed on October 7." Despite the challenges, Walla finds a sense of purpose in the chaos. Intergenerational trauma is a theme that runs through the project, both in front of the camera and behind it.

The role of artists in times of conflict

The controversial stances taken by some high-profile Hollywood figures on the October 7 attacks, with some appearing to support Hamas' actions as "resistance," or at least denying the correct empathy for Israel's victims and the ongoing hostage crisis, have been a source of heartbreak for many, including Walla.

As an artist herself, Walla grapples with the responsibility public figures have in shaping narratives around such events. "I am someone who values having difficult conversations approached with nuance and compassion, and am not naive enough to feel we all have to agree on all the same things," Walla explains. "With that being said, I do think anyone with a large platform has a responsibility to do their due diligence before diving into the deep end on topics that have real-life repercussions on people's lives."

Working on "For Ziv" has deepened Walla's perspective on the role and responsibility of artists in times of conflict or tragedy. She often reflects on Elie Wiesel's quote, "For the dead and the living, we must bear witness. For not only are we responsible for the memories of the dead, we are also responsible for what we are doing with those memories." This serves as her north star, guiding her to channel her pain into action through storytelling.

"I felt totally helpless after October 7," Walla shares. "I realized I needed to find a way to use my skills and channel my pain into action, which is how this project came to be since my skill happens to be in storytelling. I had other projects that were very important to me that I was working on and just shifted my career trajectory to prioritize this documentary because I felt the responsibility to do my part."

Breaking through the echo chamber

In the face of competing narratives and entrenched preconceptions, Walla approaches the task of communicating the Israeli experience to a global audience by focusing on the universal themes of grief, tragedy, and perseverance. "This is not a political film," she emphasizes. "While October 7 is the event that propels this documentary, I don't see this as a film specifically about October 7, and I'm not trying to 'convince' anyone about the legitimacies of the level of brutality and atrocities."

Walla's vision for "For Ziv" is to reach beyond the Jewish community and break through the echo chamber, exposing a wider audience to a story they may not see on social media. "Most of my friends and people in my daily community are not Jewish. While they're curious, smart, empathetic people who stay up on the news, they are not being exposed to a fraction of these stories about October 7 that the Jewish community is because the algorithm just doesn't show it to them," she explains.

By sharing Maya and Dvir's story through universal, relatable themes, Walla aims to be a bridge between communities and educate on an Israeli experience that transcends political divisions. "My goal is to reach these people in the middle because they're the ones most open to listening and seeking commonality rather than focusing on the things that divide us," she says.

The power of documentary film

In an age of misinformation and competing narratives, documentaries like "For Ziv" serve as a crucial tool for preserving history and countering the denial or erasure of truth. By presenting the human stories behind the headlines, these films can shape public understanding and memory of events in a way that news reports and political rhetoric often cannot.

As Walla continues production on "For Ziv" and seeks further investment to bring the project to a global audience, her vision for the documentary's impact is clear. "While I do hope that this is a story that Jewish people relate to and perhaps find some healing in the experience watching it, my main goal is to reach beyond the Jewish community to show a story they aren't seeing on social media," she says.

One year after the October 7 attacks, the power of art to facilitate healing and preserve memory is more evident than ever. From public art installations and social media content to exhibits like the NOVA exhibition and the famous hostage posters, artists have played a vital role in processing the collective trauma and ensuring that the truth of what happened is never forgotten.

Through her documentary "For Ziv," Abby Walla not only documents the story of Maya and Dvir Rosenfeld but also shines a light on the ongoing impact of the attacks on survivors and their families. Importantly, she reminds us that this is not just a story of the past but a reality that continues to unfold in the present.

In a world where misinformation and competing narratives threaten to obscure the truth, projects like "For Ziv" are a powerful reminder of the importance of documenting history through art and using storytelling to foster empathy so that we may find a path toward understanding and healing.

The post Archiving the horrors: The American director who preserves memory of Oct. 7 appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

From 6:29 AM on October 7, 2023, it's as if Israelis have been riding a never-ending high-speed train of trauma, each day punctuated by the sounds of sirens, buzzing drones, artillery fire, and fighter jets. The incessant booms of falling shrapnel, exploding Iron Dome interceptors, the words spoken on TV, on the phone with family, written online between friends – all about the missing, the injured, the murdered, the kidnapped. Civilians become soldiers overnight, others attending funerals and protests en masse, as streets transform into murals of socio-political slogans and portraits of unwitting victims.

Images and videos have seared into the collective memory: mutilated bodies stained with blood; raw terror etched on the faces of fleeing concertgoers across a vast field; Shani Louk's lifeless body lynched on the streets of Gaza; Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose arm was maimed by an RPG, or the white pick-up truck filled with armed Hamas terrorists driving through the streets of Sderot on what was supposed to be a quiet Saturday morning. The examples are endless, and the horror of the massacres and pogroms at the Nova Music Festival and over 20 towns and villages of Israel's South reverberates far beyond its borders. 

In its savage cruelty, in its deliberate targeting of innocent civilians, in its perverse celebration of violence broadcasted for the world to see, the October 7 attack was a declaration of war by Hamas and its sponsors, not just on Israel, but on the very values that underpin civilized society.

The audio-visual trauma is a major part of the weaponry in this war: The taunting hostage videos and discrediting social media posts – these are not mere byproducts of the attack, but central to its aim of sowing fear, helplessness, and long-lasting trauma. Hamas, a ruthless terrorist organization driven by a Nazi-like ideology passed down from Europe to the Middle East at the end of World War II, is built on hatred and savagery. It understands that in today's hyper-connected world, psychological warfare can be as potent as any bomb. Hamas sought to use their atrocities to turn vast sections of the world against Israel through a propaganda campaign. This campaign aimed to justify their actions and has been nurtured for decades.

The debilitating soundtrack and visuals have fueled an algorithm-dictated echo chamber of trauma online and in real life, hour by hour, day after day. In the last 12 months, even the most mundane sights and sounds took on a sinister new meaning, it became clear that no Israeli is immune to this new breed of terror. The color yellow immediately sparks a connection to the 'Bring Them Home' campaign, a haunting reminder of the hostages' plight, and many street noises echo an eerie resemblance to rocket sirens and gunshots, causing people to regularly freeze in panic for a split second before realizing the true origin of the sound.

The trauma inflicted on Israel's psyche is a microcosm of the wounds inflicted on the collective conscience of the Jewish people throughout history. Confronting this threat requires more than military might. It will require moral clarity, psychological resilience, and calling out the double standards that legitimize some victims while ignoring others, the hypocrisy that condemns Israel's self-defense while excusing the provocations that necessitate it.

As Prof. Ofrit Shapira Berman, a historian of Israeli trauma, explains, "October 7th is Israel's biggest trauma yet, not only because of its objective magnitude, but also because it echoes our past traumas – the Holocaust and the Yom Kippur war, in terms of the government's betrayal and failure. The fact that October 7th is experienced by many as a byproduct of the government's actions has broken the trust of many citizens in the government and the state."

A nation forged in trauma

For Israelis, national trauma is a familiar, unwelcome companion. The very inception of the modern State of Israel is inextricably bound with the devastation of the Holocaust, which saw six million Jews systematically murdered. Rising from those ashes, each subsequent war and attack has resulted in Israel's enduring accumulative post-traumatic stress – the War of Independence, Six-Day War, Yom Kippur War, the Lebanon Wars, the Intifadas, Operation Protective Edge, weekly knife attacks and car rammings – seven decades of indelible dents on the collective psyche.

"The events of October 7 result in an estimated 300,000 additional patients who require treatment by a trained professional," notes Prof. Shapira Berman.

This legacy has shaped a society where even schoolchildren practice rocket drills. In the 1990s, they were taught to don gas masks in preparation for biochemical warfare and, today, how to take cover in shelters from incoming missiles. Memorializing the fallen is woven into the very fabric of the Israeli public space. In a sense, it is this shared history of trauma, more than anything else, that binds Israelis together across religious, ethnic, and political divides.

The sheer scale and brutality of the October 7 attack and its aftermath reactions have ushered in a new level of national trauma into Israel's battered consciousness, be it the slaughter of innocent families, the shattering of the idea that the home is a safe haven, the agony over the fate of the hostages, and the global campaigns to delegitimize and gaslight the Israeli narrative by major organizations like the United Nations, and individuals alike. Beyond the initial attack itself, the hate and antisemitism running rampant anywhere from major news networks to the campuses of the biggest universities have shocked Israelis to their core, struggling to understand how their suffering is being ignored or, worse, manipulated and vilified.

Audio-visual trauma: No escape from the horrors

Experts say the constant multimedia conversation can cause a state of hypervigilance, anxiety, flashbacks, and difficulty functioning for many, causing some to slip into dissociative states.

"We are seeing a shared reality where all Israelis are victims," explains Dr. Rony Berger, a clinical psychologist specializing in community resilience. "This leads most Israelis to experience symptoms of acute stress, even if they were not directly impacted." Dr. Berger notes that "Even those not directly exposed to the attacks were deeply traumatized by the constant barrage of disturbing images and stories on TV." 

Dr. Berger highlights the unique challenges posed by the unfiltered videos of the attacks circulating online: "From an evolutionary point of view, we know that the worst flashbacks or sensations are either smell or voice because, in prehistoric eras, these were the cues for danger. Audio-visual pictures that we see on TV could be really traumatizing. I've known a lot of people who were not directly exposed but were extremely affected just by the sights they've seen on TV."

For those near the southern and northern borders, and indeed across most of Israel with the proliferation of threats on multiple fronts, the whole country is impacted by the terrorizing fear of attacks from land, sea, and air as well as online. Mental health professionals are treating a nation reeling from audio-visual trauma on an unprecedented scale. With one in three Israelis exhibiting PTSD symptoms, new treatment approaches are being pioneered, like virtual reality therapy, to help patients process traumatic memories more safely.

The psychological toll spares no one

The war's psychological impact has cut across all sectors of Israeli society. Soldiers and reservists grapple with the horrors witnessed on the battlefield. Families of the murdered and injured face a lifetime of grief and challenges. Survivors of the attacks relive the terror in flashbacks and nightmares. Even young children are not spared, with a generation growing up to explosions and horrifying footage, their innocence forever marred.

Psychotherapist Dr. Shlomit Bresler, who has treated dozens of bereaved families and injured victims, describes the long road ahead. "For many, the grief and trauma is still very raw. First, we focus on stabilization and establishing a sense of safety. The real processing often can only begin once they feel secure that the threat has subsided. With the war still raging, that is a long way off for most."

Dr. Bresler emphasizes the collective nature of the trauma: "We are living in a mass-trauma situation. The entire population is under trauma and various types, but this started before October 7th. October 7th simply reopened a wound and infected it worse. The healing process can only come from deeper sociological and political changes."

"The families of hostages are suffering the most, their lives completely upended, consumed by anguish and despair with each passing day," Dr. Berger reflects. Each day without news chips away at their resilience, the unknown becoming a unique form of torture.

Yehezkel Caine, President of the Herzog Medical Center, Israel's leading mental health institution, describes the situation as a "psychological and emotional catastrophe." He warns of a "coming tsunami of mental health problems" as people return to the remains of their communities, confront the death and destruction, and soldiers return with physical and emotional scars.

"Already our main clinics are overflowing," Caine reports. He emphasizes the shortage of trained therapists proficient in trauma as a major challenge, necessitating extensive training programs and support for the mental health professionals themselves to prevent secondary trauma and burnout.

Caine notes significant differences in the psychological impact and treatment needs between civilian victims, soldiers, and first responders. "The civilian sector is way behind, both due to a lack of trained therapists, little government support and a lack of infrastructure, due to years of neglect of the mental health sector," he explains. The military sector is comparatively better organized, while first responders typically receive services through their units.

Collaboration and long-term needs

Looking ahead, Caine emphasizes the critical need for investment in mental health infrastructure and resources to address the long-term impacts of this unprecedented national trauma. "Manpower, manpower, and manpower!" he stresses, highlighting the years of training required to produce qualified psychiatrists, psychologists, and clinical social workers. "If one can see a positive aspect to the events, it is the sudden recognition by everyone of the problem and, to a certain extent, the destigmatization of mental health," Caine notes. "This is, of course, a good thing. Unfortunately, there is no magic wand that we can wave to produce good quality therapists. It takes at least 5 years to produce a psychiatrist from a qualified doctor. A clinical psychologist can take a similar period. Clinical social workers also require extensive training."

Caine also underscores the lack of physical facilities, with Herzog Medical Center's new clinic building already overflowing just two years after opening. The hospital is embarking on an ambitious $90M project to build a new Mental Health Center, but completion is not expected until 2028.

The road ahead

For a society so deeply shaped by its history of existential threats, regaining a sense of safety and security on both the individual and collective level will be a long and difficult process.

"We need a 'mental Iron Dome' to protect Israelis from this bombardment on our psyche," asserts Prof. Mooli Lahad, Israel's leading expert on coping and resilience. "That means embedding mental health professionals in schools, workplaces, community centers, building a societal infrastructure of psychological support and resilience."

Lahad's BASIC Ph model outlines six coping and resilience styles: Belief, Affect, Social, Imagination, Cognitive, and Physical. "The more of these we are able to utilize, the more resilience we are able to harness to regain a sense of control in an otherwise terrifying situation," he explains.

Prof. Lahad provides some concrete examples of what a "mental Iron Dome" could entail: "It is possible through the resilience centers and through the government services such as community welfare and education. This model is based on the 'cascade' model: we train master trainers who commit themselves to training others. If we manage to train 40 trainers who each commit to training 25 trainees twice, we get around 1000 trained therapists."

He also suggests leveraging technology: "One other method that we developed is an app where the therapist meets the client online but uses the same method of treatment called SEE FAR CBT, making it accessible to those who can't leave home for various reasons."

"The recent pre-war civic conflict surfaced what sociologists warned us about – the growing rift in Israeli society," Prof. Lahad reflects. "This, combined with the feeling that the state is changing course, the global loss of trust in authorities, the social media 'poison' of fake news, the colossal failure of the IDF, the ongoing inability of the government to resolve the conflict and bring an end to the attacks, and the burning issue of the hostages, is causing attrition in the morale and mental health of Israelis."

As Israel marks one year since the October 7 attack, the nation remains haunted by the sounds and images of that horrific day and the war that followed. The collective and personal scars run deep, with mental health professionals warning of a looming crisis as hundreds of thousands grapple with trauma.

"The cruelty of the savage infiltrators has ignited a dormant Jewish post-Holocaust fear of annihilation and disappointment that the state did not manage to fulfill the basic belief of 'never again,'" Prof. Lahad concludes. "It is, therefore, a long road to recovery. Because of the mistrust in authorities, we believe the recovery will have to be bottom-up – back to the local communities, back to human relationships."

Prof. Ofrit Shapira Berman offers a powerful call to action: "I cannot be hopeless about our future as a nation and a society. The Holocaust gave us a nation of our own. October 7th has to have a similar impact on our lives. It is clear that no other nation or people has such a powerful ability to transform suffering and trauma into strength and success, but with that said, ultimately, healing will require placing the spiritual dimension of life at the center because emerging from this crisis will take a sustained, society-wide effort, working together, from the grassroots community level up to the highest echelons of leadership."

NATAL's frontline response

NATAL (Israel Trauma and Resiliency Center) has been at the forefront of addressing the psychological fallout of the October 7 attacks. The organization operates dedicated helplines for civilians and veterans, funded by the Ministry of Defense. Immediately following October 7, these helplines saw an unprecedented call surge, with over 23,000 in the first month alone. To date, NATAL's helplines have received over 53,000 calls, with dramatic spikes during escalations like the Iran missile threats.

To meet the increased demand and complexity of needs, NATAL has significantly expanded its workforce, developing innovative therapeutic approaches like neurofeedback therapy and tailored interventions for specific populations like reservists and soldiers' families. NATAL's Career Development Unit is providing specialized support for young adults transitioning from military reserves back to work.

NATAL's 24/7 Helpline provides psychological support to those affected by war and terror-related trauma. Call *3362 for assistance.

The post Inescapable trauma: Israel's mental health crisis after Oct. 7 appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

As the conflict along Israel's northern border enters its twelfth month, the region faces escalating threats from the Iranian Islamic Regime and its proxies, including Hezbollah. Lieutenant Colonel (Res.) Sarit Zehavi, founder and president of the Alma Research and Education Center, is at the forefront of efforts to educate and advise on these complex security challenges. With 15 years of experience in Israel's Military Intelligence and an M.A. in Middle East Studies, Zehavi offers invaluable insights into the ongoing crisis. Her role as a resident of the Western Galilee, near the Israeli-Lebanese border, further underscores her connection to the issues at hand.

Zehavi grapples with the challenges of raising a family in this environment, emphasizing how it affects daily life in ways that people outside of the North may not understand.

"I have an 11-year-old daughter, and I don't leave her home alone anymore," Zehavi admitted. "It affects our daily life in so many aspects that people outside of the North don't understand and don't know. We experience this fear every day – the fear of another massacre (like the one witnessed on Oct. 7 in Southern Israel). We fear that we have been forgotten".

Adapting to an evolving threat 

In response to the escalating threats from Hezbollah and Iran, the Alma Center has ramped up its expert advice and detailed research. "We hired another researcher with the mission to follow the daily events that are happening here up north and create a platform of databases for statistics," Zehavi explained.

The Alma Center's adaptability and commitment to providing real-time data and analysis have been crucial in navigating the rapidly evolving security landscape. By integrating information from a wide range of sources from the Western and Arab world, the center has become a go-to resource for accurate and comprehensive information about the ongoing conflict.

Zehavi emphasized the importance of this work, stating, "It's not always easy to understand what's happening. There are false alerts, and with Hezbollah attacks, they don't always claim responsibility. Sometimes they lie. When you cross all the information, you get a very good picture of what's going on."

The Alma Center's database also tracks casualties on both sides, providing a clear understanding of the conflict's impact.

To further illustrate the severity of the situation, recent data from the Alma Center reveals the extent of the ongoing conflict. In August 2024 alone, a total of 281 attacks were recorded against Israel's northern communities. These included 176 high-trajectory fire attacks (rockets, mortars), 62 UAV and drone attacks, and 43 attacks involving undisclosed weapons. Additionally, there were 8 anti-tank guided missile attacks, 2 anti-aircraft missile attacks, and 1 sniping incident. On Sept. 2, Hezbollah carried out two attacks involving at least 30 Grad rockets targeting the communities of Ein Ya'akov, Ga'aton, and Yehiam.

Hezbollah's strategies and capabilities

Zehavi's assessment of Hezbollah's current strategies and capabilities offers a nuanced understanding of the challenges Israel faces. While the terrorist organization has suffered significant losses, including the deaths of over 45 senior commanders, it remains a powerful adversary with an arsenal of over 150,000 rockets and missiles.

Zehavi cautioned that Hezbollah likely seeks to recover from these setbacks before attempting to initiate a full-scale campaign against Israel, highlighting the need for continued vigilance and preparedness.

"I think the capabilities of Hezbollah were damaged during the current war," Zehavi noted. "But if you take into account everything that was happening over the past year – definitely the killing of senior commanders – it brings us to the conclusion that Hezbollah's capabilities were damaged but not eliminated."

The human cost of conflict

For Zehavi and the residents of Israel's northern communities, the impact of the ongoing war is felt every day, as over 80,000 Israelis from over 40 communities at a distance of 0 to 5 km from the border have been displaced. From the constant sound of rocket hits and interceptions to the fear of another massacre like the one executed by Hamas in Gaza, the psychological toll of living under the shadow of war is immeasurable.

Connecting the Northern and Southern fronts

The recent tragic killing of 12 Druze Israeli children in Majdal Shams by Hezbollah rockets and the murder of 6 Israeli hostages by Hamas underscore the interconnectedness of Israel's security challenges and the similar ideologies of these terror groups. These incidents highlight not only the physical threat posed by these groups but also their shared strategic goal of undermining Israel's security and sovereignty, demonstrating the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing threats on both fronts.

The sight of protesters waving Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthi flags in Western cities serves as a stark reminder of the distorted narratives that often dominate the discourse surrounding Israel's conflicts. Zehavi emphasized the need for the international community to recognize the true nature of the terrorist organizations Israel faces and to direct pressure accordingly. The Alma Center is doing vital work in educating the world about Hezbollah's radical determination to eradicate Israel.

"The world needs to understand that groups like Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis share the same radical ideology," Zehavi stressed. "Our work at the Alma Center is crucial in educating people about these threats and countering distorted narratives."

Global protests context

The global protests featuring Hezbollah, Hamas, and Houthi flags in Western cities reflect a concerning trend of misinformation and radicalization. These demonstrations not only provide moral support to terrorist organizations but also contribute to the normalization of anti-Israel sentiment in the international community. This phenomenon poses significant challenges to Israel's public diplomacy efforts and underscores the importance of organizations like the Alma Center in providing accurate, fact-based information to counter these narratives.

Evolving perspectives and the importance of education

Drawing on her extensive military intelligence background, Zehavi stressed the importance of understanding the enemy's capabilities and ideology to anticipate their actions. She highlighted the necessity for educating the public and decision-makers before emergencies occur. This proactive approach is crucial in countering the manipulation of truth by Iran's proxies, which often derails public opinion through various channels.

"Oct. 7 taught us that we cannot predict the intentions of our enemies because we cannot understand them. They think so differently than us. They have different values, different perceptions," Zehavi reflected. "My conclusion is that Israeli intelligence should look at the capabilities, should listen to the ideologies, and combine that with goals and capabilities. That way, we can understand where the enemy is heading. We should be prepared for the worst-case scenario. I think this is something we all forgot, and it's part of the IDF's basic principles."

In a world where misinformation and distorted narratives often obscure the truth, Sarit Zehavi's voice provides essential clarity on the complex realities facing Israel's northern communities. Her insights, born of a unique blend of military expertise, academic rigor, and personal experience, offer a path forward in the quest for understanding and security. As the nation grapples with the consequences of the ongoing conflict, Zehavi's work at the Alma Research and Education Center underscores the importance of educating the international community about the true nature of the threats Israel faces.

Sarit Zehavi's work, through the Alma Research and Education Center, plays a pivotal role in shaping public understanding and influencing policy decisions related to Israel's security challenges. By providing comprehensive, data-driven analysis and firsthand insights, Zehavi and her team contribute significantly to the global discourse on Middle Eastern geopolitics and Israel's strategic position.

"Finding resilience is truly a challenge," Zehavi admitted. "Part of it is the motivation to continue what I do, knowing that it's important and that we are kind of a single voice. Whenever I see how people volunteer for the state of Israel and for Israelis, it really gives me motivation to continue."

The post Deciphering the labyrinth of Israel's security challenges appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

This should be a moment of shared grief that transcends politics, reported on with clear language. These were kids, with their whole lives ahead of them, killed on a summer afternoon. But instead of universal condemnation, we see media outlets hedging headlines and blurring the stark reality.

Some prime examples include headlines such as, "12 killed in rocket attack on disputed Golan Heights town", which denies the victims their Israeli identity and the Golan its status as sovereign Israeli territory.

The article claims "some of the dead were children" in the headline, only confirming in the final paragraph that all victims were children aged 8-15.

Certain media outlets stated that "Israel claims it was Hezbollah." This is yet another statement sowing unwarranted doubt. Since October 7th, 2023, Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups have launched a staggering 9,500 attacks against Israel's north, from a stockpile of over 150,000 rockets and missiles. Their culpability is clear.

International media reports also cite casualty figures from Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry, numbers long discredited as inflated propaganda. Inserting this in a story about Druze children murdered on Israeli soil is a transparent attempt to minimize their deaths.

This is not an isolated case. Across the media, victims are referred to as "teenagers" before children. Their citizenship is denied its rightful honor. The indisputable fact this attack occurred on Israeli land, captured in a defensive war in 1967, is obscured with references to "disputed" territory.

Need I remind the world that Alsace-Lorraine changed hands between France and Germany four times from 1870 to 1945? Territorial disputes are the rule in history, not the exception. The world map is a palimpsest of shifting borders, many drawn by colonial powers. To single out the Golan Heights is to ignore historical reality. Had any other nation been attacked as Israel was in 1967, they would have annihilated the aggressors.

There are images of dismembered children, their bodies torn apart by the blast, that prove the truth of this atrocity. Yet the world looks away. When "All Eyes on Rafah" trends, facts are left behind in a digital intifada of hate.

Contrast this with Gaza, where 17-year-olds with alleged militant ties are labeled "children." Casualty reports have no caveats. The destruction of schools is condemned as a war crime.

The double standard is glaring. A child's presumed innocence depends on which side of a border they die.

Let me be clear: killing children is wrong anywhere, period. Young lives taken by violence deserve the same tears, fury, and demands for justice - whether in Gaza, Israel or Ukraine. Placing asterisks on a child's life based on nationality is abhorrent. 

Failing to reject this isn't just unethical journalism - it's a failure of basic humanity

To understand the full tragedy, one must know the Druze. An offshoot of Shi'a Islam, the Druze are a distinct religious and ethnic group found mainly in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. Despite centuries of persecution, they have been a significant Middle Eastern minority since the 11th century.

In Syria, which has the world's largest Druze population, they face unrelenting oppression. Islamist groups have closed Druze shrines, forced conversions, and committed mass kidnappings and killings. In one horrific incident, ISIS beheaded teenage hostage Muhannad Abu Ammar and massacred 250 Druze villagers.

In stark contrast, Israel's 145,000 Druze citizens are fiercely loyal to the Jewish state. They serve in the IDF in large numbers and have fought alongside Jewish Israelis in every major conflict since 1948. The Druze hold high positions in government and are an integral part of Israel's diverse social fabric, adored and respected by both the Left and the Right.

Israel has given the Druze a safe haven from the jihadist brutality they face elsewhere. Their story puts the lie to smears of Israel as an "apartheid" state. A thriving Druze community, proudly Israeli while maintaining its unique identity, is living proof of Israel's pluralism. Those who peddle such slanders erase Druze agency.

In Majdal Shams, a poignant tradition endures at the "Shouting Hill", where Druze families separated by the Israel-Syria border gather to communicate with relatives across the divide. They shout messages of love and news, a deeply human ritual that has persisted since the 1967 war. The Shouting Hill and the Druze people are a symbol of resilience and connection in the face of geopolitical barriers.

As Majdal Shams and Israel buries its sons and daughters, where are the condemnations from the UN, Red Cross, Amnesty? The silence is deafening. 

When Israel defends itself, they are quick to judge. But when jihadists murder Israeli children, they are slow and equivocal. And where is the statement from Secretary General Guterres? His lack of comment is abhorrent.

The children of Majdal Shams must be mourned as children, full stop. Not as "Druze-Israelis," not as "teenagers," not as footnotes - but as innocent kids robbed of life by terrorists.

The victims, stolen from us too soon, were:

Fajr Laith Abu Saleh, 16

Ameer Rabeea Abu Saleh, 16

Hazem Akram Abu Saleh, 15

John Wadeea Ibrahim, 13

Iseel Nasha'at Ayoub, 12

Finis Adham Safadi, 11

Yazan Nayeif Abu Saleh, 12

Alma Ayman Fakhr al-Din, 11

Naji Taher al-Halabi, 11

Milad Muadad al-Sha'ar, 10

Nathem Fakher Saeb, 11

May their memories be a blessing.

The post The children of Majdal Shams deserve our tears, not qualifiers appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

The onslaught is relentless. In the last 72 hours, Hezbollah launched a major barrage of over 200 rockets and drones at Israel, wounding soldiers and civilians and multiple forest fires. The skies above the north are haunted by the specter of suicide drones, their ominous hum a constant reminder of the danger that lurks just beyond the horizon. This weekend, Israel's center was awoken to the stark reality of this threat when a Houthi drone from Yemen struck a building in Tel Aviv, killing one person and injuring several others—a chilling reminder of the daily dangers faced by northern Israel's residents.

Since the start of this brutal conflict on October 7th, 2023, Hezbollah and other Iran-backed armed groups, including militias in Syria and Iraq, have launched a staggering  9,500 attacks against Israel's north, unleashing a devastating arsenal of over 150,000 rockets and missiles. Yet, the greatest fear for northern Israel's residents is the possibility of a mass ground infiltration attack, like the one seen on October 7th in the south. They fear rockets and drones, but nothing more than the prospect of thousands of terrorists, armed with guns and RPGs, crossing the borders into Israel.

Amidst the chaos and destruction, the spirit of the north remains unbroken. In She'ar Yashuv, Gidi, a senior member of the moshav and part of the Kitat Konenut, the civilian first responders, stands resolute. Gidi knows all too well that this silence is but a precursor to the storm - a momentary respite before the next rocket or drone strike shatters the illusion. As a member of the Alma Centre, Gidi gains valuable intel and insights on the developing situation up north, acutely aware of the proximity between residents and Hezbollah terrorists mere meters away. 

Nitzan and her wife in Kfar Szold, named after Zionist pioneer Henrietta Szold, have chosen to return with their children, driven by a desire to provide a sense of normalcy amidst the chaos. Yet, the scars of war run deep, as evidenced by their son's innocent attempt to dig a bunker in their backyard—a stark reminder of the psychological toll inflicted upon the innocent. Nitzan shares, "I'm having conversations with my kids which I never thought I would have, like where should he hide in the case of a ground infiltration attack by terrorists." The mental challenges Israelis face, especially with their children, are immense and often hidden beneath a strong exterior, much like the symbolic sabra fruit.

As we made our way through these villages and towns, the landscape bore witness to the devastation wrought by the conflict. Charred forests and scorched earth, the result of rocket-fueled fires, painted a harrowing picture of the region's suffering. It is the civilian defense forces who have been tasked with battling these blazes, risking their lives to protect their homes and communities.

In Rosh Pina, displaced families from Kiryat Shmona seek respite. We met an aging mother and daughter, shuffled between hotels for nine months, cling to hope. The streets are lined with young soldiers who have become defenders of this embattled land.

In Misgav Am, a kibbutz mere meters from the Lebanese border, Roni grapples with the profound grief of losing his brother, who was murdered by Hamas terrorists in Kibbutz Be'eri while attempting to save lives on October 7th. Through his pain, Roni has found a new sense of purpose, channeling his loss into an unwavering commitment to protect his community in the north.

For Lior, born and raised in Kibbutz Snir, just 500 meters from Hezbollah fighters, leaving is not an option. A member of both the civilian defense force and an elite reservist unit, Lior remains on constant guard, unable to see his evacuated family. The toll on his mental health is palpable, as he shares stories of his traumatized pet dog and the challenges of defending not just people, but also the agricultural lands vital to the region's economy. Lior's parents were among those who built Snir, and he refuses to let their legacy fade. When asked about the likelihood of the situation improving, a heavy pause fills the air, a testament to the uncertainty that plagues the region.

In the Golan Heights, Ido, owner of Duvdevan Bagolan, faces threats from both the Lebanese and Syrian borders. On his farm, a tapestry of cultures flourishes as Druze children from the town of Buqata and Jewish children from Ein Zivan volunteer to plant seeds together—a poignant reminder of the coexistence that endures even in the face of enmity. In their act of unity and defiance, they embody the very spirit of resilience that defines this region. Ido has been providing volunteer opportunities for local children, fostering a sense of unity and purpose amidst the chaos. As we left his farm, we met Thai workers who, despite the challenges, remain an integral part of Israel's social fabric.

Michael, another Golan farmer, treads carefully among the ruins of past wars, the bullet holes in the walls a stark reminder of the region's tumultuous history. The echoes of distant booms mingle with the tranquil sight of cattle grazing in the fields, a surreal juxtaposition of war and peace.

These lands were built on the ideals of peaceful cohabitation and agricultural prosperity, yet today, they find themselves engulfed in a war that threatens their very existence. The region, once a shining example of harmonious diversity, now finds itself under siege.

As the conflict rages on, it is crucial that the world takes notice of their plight. These are not mere statistics or headlines; they are real people, with real stories and real pain. They are the faces of resilience, the embodiment of a spirit that refuses to be broken.

The people of the north are pressuring the government to take significant action to restore calm and normalcy to the region. It is a fragile and delicate situation. Residents don't feel a ceasefire in Gaza is enough; what they believe needs to be done is to push the Hezbollah fighters further south behind the Litani River.

The post The unbreakable bonds: stories of resilience from Israel's embattled north appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

As of July 3, 2024, the northern front of Israel remains a volatile warzone, largely overlooked by international media. In the past week alone, Hezbollah has launched over 300 rockets into Israeli territory, resulting in 5 civilian deaths and dozens of injuries. The number of displaced Israelis from the north has now surpassed 70,000, with no clear timeline for their return. Despite diplomatic efforts, tensions continue to escalate, with the IDF reporting multiple thwarted infiltration attempts along the Lebanon border.

This latest escalation follows two devastating wars between Israel and Lebanon in 2006 and 2014, with Hezbollah, backed by Iran, growing increasingly powerful. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has failed to prevent Hezbollah's entrenchment along the border, while the Israeli government's efforts to protect northern citizens both before and after October 7th have fallen short.

Kiryat Shmona, a city nestled in the awe-inspiring mountainous region of the western Hula Valley, now echoes with an eerie silence. For nine months, this once-thriving community has stood as a ghost town, its residents among those displaced by relentless attacks from Hezbollah. Amidst this chaos and uncertainty, one woman's story of resilience and unwavering commitment to her community stands out: Dr. Aviva Zrihan Weitzman.

Aviva is no stranger to the challenges faced by the residents of Kiryat Shmona. With a Ph.D. in Social Work from the University of Haifa, she has dedicated her career to serving the community as a social welfare worker, educator, and researcher. Since 2009, Aviva has been a lecturer in the Department of Social Work at Tel-Hai College, where she has played a vital role in educating the next generation of social workers and fostering cooperation with the region's population through student field training, supervision, and joint community projects.

"I decided to pursue studies in social work for a reason," Aviva explains. "I believe that in urgent crisis situations, one must continue to act and not panic. I do everything I can for the community, from food logistics to bringing people into housing. My whole time before October 7th was dedicated to bettering the community and the people around me, so I was prepared to do this the second everything happened."

As Head of the Field Studies Unit at Tel-Hai College, Aviva coordinates volunteering efforts that have become a lifeline for the beleaguered northern region. Her research into domestic violence, stress, trauma, and resiliency has taken on new urgency in the face of the ongoing conflict.

"My education and love for the northern hillside have kept me in the periphery, even though my brothers left," she continues. "My professional and personal DNA is to always fight, no matter if it's war or career. It's been a crazy intense year, but I feel fulfilled that I am doing things that matter, touching people's lives and making them better through efficient projects."

A family with no home

For Aviva, a mother of four, the past nine months have been a relentless struggle to maintain a semblance of normalcy for her family. The Weitzman family, like countless others from Kiryat Shmona, now calls a Tel Aviv hotel room home - a far cry from the comfort of their northern abode.

In their cramped quarters, the absence of a kitchen means family meals are often hurried affairs in the hotel's crowded dining room. The toll of this prolonged upheaval is etched on the faces of Aviva's children, their education disrupted, their routines shattered.

"Nevo, my eldest son, just finished his service and saw some horrific things in Gaza," Aviva shares, her voice catching slightly. "He's flying to a far away destination to take his mind off it all, like many in Israel do after they finish the army to heal their wounds from defending our country. He'll probably return to fight as a reservist, but the thought of him potentially fighting this time in his own backyard, in the north against Hezbollah... it's almost too much for a mother to bear."

The forgotten war zone: A cry for recognition and support

As tensions escalate along the Israel-Lebanon border, with over 7,400 rockets, kamikaze drones, missiles, artillery, and ground infiltrations fired by Hezbollah at Israel since October 7th, Aviva fears that Kiryat Shmona teeters on the brink of an even greater catastrophe. The world's attention, she worries, has turned away from the suffering of northern Israel's citizens.

"The attention was almost never there throughout this war. That's the thing that is so shocking," Aviva laments. "Even within Israel, the media doesn't show what's happening in the north. The north doesn't have a unified voice in the government or geographically. We're a patchwork of communities - Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, Bedouins - spread across villages, kibbutzim, towns, and cities. This diversity, which should be our strength, makes it hard to advocate for our collective needs."

Aviva and her neighbors feel their panic and stress are not fully comprehended by other Israelis who don't live on the border. With a diplomatic resolution, which seems unlikely at present, trust in the government to ensure their safety remains tenuous at best.

Moreover, the government has no plan for how to bring back life and commerce to the north. The short-term need is to return safety so people can return to fix the issues that existed before the war.

A nation's anguish

Amidst the chaos, the plight of over 120 Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza has become a symbol of the nation's collective pain. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum works tirelessly to secure the hostages' release and support their families. Weekly rallies in Tel Aviv serve as a powerful reminder that the hostages are not forgotten.

However, Aviva believes that while fighting for the hostages' return is crucial, in parallel, we should also fight for the displaced and their return to the south and the north. "What nation do we have if we cut off its northern and southern points?" she asks. "The north doesn't have a voice in the government, but also in the way geographically the communities are a lot of small and disparate ones. At least with the hostage campaign, they are relentless. Maybe we need to be more like this."

The political divide

Over the past nine months, Aviva's perspective has shifted dramatically. "I have been confused since October 7th," she admits. "I can't believe Israel has arrived to this state. While I don't want to blame one singular leader, I believe there are many mistakes over many years that have led to this point."

Her words reflect the sentiments of many Israelis caught in an increasingly polarized political landscape. "I see commonality between the sides, but the aggressiveness with which the left is blaming the right and not understanding that by doing so, it is pushing the people of the periphery, who usually vote more on the right, even further away," Aviva explains. "By doing exactly what the international world is doing to Israel by collectively blaming us all for our government's actions, here too in Israel, the left is blaming rather than aiming to speak the language of the right and the periphery."

She continues, "I also believe this government is wrong and has wronged us, but in order for us all to unite, we must realize that we all want the same basic things of security and the ability to live in the entire country no matter where. We must find a calm, community-based, social-work way to speak to one another - those protesting in Kaplan and those protesting for their return to the North. We are all wanting a safer Israel, the hostages home at once, and new leadership to bring hope. But we cannot just blame one man. Many are wrong."

This sentiment is encapsulated in the slogan seen on billboards across Israel: "ביבי אתה הראש אתה אשם" ("Bibi, you are the head, you are guilty"). Aviva sees this as an example of the left collectively blaming Netanyahu and his entire camp, much like how the international community often blames all Israelis for their government's actions. She emphasizes that the responsibility lies not with one man or one side, but with everyone - the left, the right, the army, the generals, the politicians, and the citizens.

A call for action

As an experienced community leader, Aviva recognizes the importance of international support to end the conflict and allow northern residents to return home safely.

"Israeli leadership must bring security back and implement projects to bring young families to the north," Aviva states emphatically. "We need to push Hezbollah away from the border. A breach in the north could be even more devastating than what happened in the south."

Video: Fire in the Amiad region west of the Galilee / Credit: Israel Fire and Rescue Service

Regarding the American government's role, Aviva is pragmatic. "I don't expect others, not even the Americans, to defend Israel. We must defend ourselves. But we do expect full backing from America for the process Israel is going through to ensure its security."

A personal encounter

I first met Aviva and her family in October 2023, when I arrived in northern Israel as a field producer for international news agencies. In the early days of the war, with no place to stay, my crew and I found shelter with the Weitzmans. Despite their home, town, and region being under constant rocket fire, Aviva, her husband Nissim, and their children welcomed us like family.

It was during those weeks spent in their Kiryat Shmona home that I witnessed firsthand the gravity of the situation in the north. Beyond the endless rocket attacks hitting residential neighborhoods, I saw how the narrative focused on the south, leaving the displaced residents of the north largely forgotten by the news, the government, and the world.

Immediately after the October 7th attacks, rather than fleeing to safety, the Weitzmans chose to stay and help their community. Together with their neighbors, many of whom were elderly, disabled, or unable to leave, they opened a civilian "war room." Aviva and her family cooked thousands of meals for soldiers abandoned by the government, provided essential supplies, and worked tirelessly to support the residents of Kiryat Shmona and the surrounding communities.

As a field producer, I witnessed firsthand the lack of international media coverage on the plight of northern Israel. While Gaza dominated headlines, the suffering of Israeli civilians in the north was largely ignored. Despite compelling stories of displacement, forest fires, and constant rocket attacks, major news networks remained largely silent on the anguish of Israel's northern residents. This silence stands in stark contrast to the coverage typically given to other conflict zones, raising questions about media bias and the complexities of reporting on Israel's vulnerabilities.

Dr. Aviva Zrihan Weitzman's story is a testament to the unbreakable bonds of family, community, and shared humanity in the face of unimaginable challenges. Her dedication to serving others, even as her own life has been upended by conflict, serves as an inspiration to us all.

Aviva's experiences reflect the complex realities faced by so many caught in the crosshairs of war - realities that transcend political divides and demand our collective attention and action. Her tireless efforts to support those in need, to keep hope alive in the darkest of times, remind us of our own capacity for resilience and the power of compassion to light the way forward.

The post The forgotten war zone appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.

As the conflict in Israel escalates, international celebrities are voicing stances, especially after the recent Rafah operation, with many siding against Israel by amplifying the Hamas-orchestrated narrative – a disservice to Palestinians and Israelis alike. 

'Where were your eyes on October 7?' AI-image to counter 'All Eyes On Rafah' pro-Palestine propaganda campaign removed from Instagram: Report https://t.co/Psw9Km3qDC via @OpIndia_com

— Avinash K S (@AvinashKS14) May 29, 2024

An AI-generated image captioned "All Eyes on Rafah" has gone viral, amassing over 40 million shares on Instagram alone in just 24 hours, with millions more across Twitter and other platforms. Familiar names like Gigi Hadid, Mark Ruffalo, and Dua Lipa have spread the image far and wide, condemning Israel's actions.

In response, thousands of Israelis launched a counter-campaign sharing images of hostages held by Hamas, captioned "Where were your eyes on October 7?" and "Bring Them Home." The haunting photos depict faces like one-year-old Kfir Bibas, captive with his family since that dark October day. Though influential celebrities lead this effort, their images garnered a mere 600,000 shares before being inexplicably removed from Instagram and the original account blocked, a drop in the ocean compared to the viral "All Eyes on Rafah" juggernaut.

The absurd spectacle of "side-ism" gamified by today's influencers has tragically replaced the once unifying celebrity voice advocating for all victims of warfare and terror. The hypocrisy is glaring – a mass hysteria obsessing over the Palestinian cause, with throngs blindly chanting "Free Palestine" without condemning Hamas, the October 7 massacre, the relentless rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, or demanding the return of the hundreds held hostage in Gaza.

Where are these loud voices when it comes to the conflicts in Congo, Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Russia, and the persecution of Armenians, Azerbaijanis, North Koreans, Syrians, Lebanese, Afghans, Iraqis, and Libyans? The fervor is not truly FOR Palestinians but fundamentally AGAINST Israel, Israelis, Jews, and Zionism. This mass hysteria reveals the masses as mere puppets in an algorithm fueled by AI-bots driving traffic through violent narratives to catalyze emotional engagement. 

As an Israeli journalist raised across cultures, I have a duality in this conflict. I grew up abroad with people of all races and faiths, whilst my young cousins and friends are forced to become soldiers, leaving careers, education, and families to defend Israel's frontlines. I ache for the displaced families, homeless eight months on, and for the murdered and their grieving loved ones, their pain has become that of the entire nation: "We all know someone killed that day, or someone who does." The same goes for the hostages and their families, Israelis wear yellow tags in solidarity as we are all the hostage's plight.

I am struck by the glaring double standards, the selective outrage. The same influencers rushing to condemn Israel went utterly silent when video emerged of Hamas terrorists brutally beating and raping four young Israeli women hostages on October 7. Where was the outcry for these innocents, for the horrific footage of children and elders mutilated, burned alive, RPG'd, raped, kidnapped, and murdered in gleeful, torturous insanity by these terrorists? The brutal, barbaric content they gleefully filmed and spread across Telegram, social media, and the open web – yet people seem unwilling to believe or unable to cry for the murdered Israelis and Jews. Why is a kibbutz seen as different from an English village? Why are the hostages' dire conditions, now 230 days without medicine or care, disregarded, unlike the international outcry for hostage crises of years past?

The role of social media in amplifying misinformation and allowing bad-faith actors like Iran and its Hamas/Gigi Hadid proxies to manipulate the narrative is on full display. An AI-generated fantasy spreads like wildfire while the human faces and stories of Israeli victims are ignored. It's as if the world is a high school and Israel is the bullied child, pinned by students and teachers alike, unable to call for help from parents also being bullied in workplace battles against resurgent antisemitism.

The rush to judgment over Rafah before the facts are known is troubling. The IDF used limited munitions targeting Hamas terrorists away from civilians. Hamas' recklessly stored weapons likely caused the tragic fire. But crucial details are lost in outrage cycles. Israel faces an impossible situation targeting terrorists among civilians – a reality apart from Hamas' human shields strategy.

This doesn't minimize the tragedy of civilian deaths on either side – a horrific outcome Israelis grieve. But the knee-jerk demonization and dehumanization underlying much one-sided criticism is deeply troubling.

AI's sinister role is beyond comprehension – bots amplifying narratives, AI-generated content shaping perceptions misleadingly, exacerbating tensions, clouding truth. A disturbing prospect as malicious actors could leverage AI to manipulate and deceive on an unprecedented scale.

We must acknowledge social media catalyzing hatred and tribalism but not excuse the appalling lack of empathy for Israeli victims enduring relentless attacks and threats to life and safety. The disregard for Israeli lives and suffering is deeply troubling, whatever one's views.

The 15 million Jews are outnumbered on social media, but that does not make our suffering any less real or our lives any less valuable. What happened to the responsibility of social media giants like Meta, Instagram, and Twitter? How are they allowing digital wildfires of hate and bullying to spread rampantly, not seeing how the attacks on Israel's embassy in Mexico City and the outbursts of hysteric violence in Paris streets hours later are all connected? They are inciting antisemitic crimes in a war Israelis fight with moral justification. To those amplifying "All Eyes on Rafah," I ask why are Israeli victims considered by you less than their neighboring Palestinians, or the victims of Charlie Hebdo, the Boston bombing, the Nigerian "Bring Back Our Girls'' movement, the London Bridge attack, or the Ariana Grande Manchester concert bombing?

I urge questioning assumptions and striving for intellectual honesty and moral consistency in viewing this conflict. We share hopes for peace and security. Open your eyes to humanity on both sides.

The post How countering the pro-Hamas narrative triggered anti-Jewish online hysteria appeared first on www.israelhayom.com.