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It's been a while since my last blog post. But with current events in the Middle East, it is relevant to revive this forum, hopefully only briefly.
With unending media coverage of Gaza, a news-watcher would think that Israeli society is coldly back to normal since being attacked on Oct 7.
For those of you outside Israel, here is a small summary of Life in Israel today
Evacuations
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed or remain under attack from Hamas in Gaza and Hizbollah in Lebanon.
Thousands of Israeli families have been evacuated.
Some have moved in with family and friends, been put up in special hotels around the country, or moved to a special tent city.
https://www.thejc.com/news/israel/tent-city-being-built-in-israel-to-house-displaced-victims-of-terror-7y6kR4BomntvO9rezkQcJA
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-769664
Displaced Life
Many evacuated people took no belongings with them and cannot work.
In hotels and tents they lack facilities to make meals or do laundry.
Organised volunteers around the country make them food and do their laundry.
Being displaced and with nothing to do, tensions rise.
Pets Left behind
Dogs and other pets are sometimes left behind when families leave their homes in a hurry.
The pets wander the streets looking for food. Volunteers try to care for them.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/abandoned-dogs-rescued-in-israel-after-hamas-massacre/ar-AA1i7uaC
Abandoned Farms
On evacuated farms, cows left unmilked for more than 3 days risk mastitis and a painful death.
Unpicked fruit and vegetables will go to waste and their owners suffer immense financial damage.
Volunteers are needed to deal with these things.
Being areas of conflict, military permission and escorts are required for the volunteers.
https://www.ynetnews.com/business/article/bjbmtx8ba
Closed Schools
Schools were closed and kids at home. Some needed parental supervision, interrupting the parents’ employment.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/education-ministry-says-schools-kindergartens-to-be-closed-nationwide-on-sunday/
Economic Impact
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-10-10/israel-h-m-inditex-stores-close-following-hamas-attacks?leadSource=uverify%20wall
With over 300,000 personnel called to military duty, jobs, families, and the economy as a whole are negatively impacted.
Many stores are closed or open for short periods.
https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/11/hamas-war-could-affect-israel-economy.html
Closed Universities
With 30% of college students being in military uniform, the commencement of University studies has been postponed to December.
https://www.tellerreport.com/news/2023-10-25-the-start-of-the-academic-year-at-israeli-universities-has-been-postponed-until-december-3.BynCsXUGp.html
With so many loved ones risking all for their country, everyone is on edge.
Siren Trauma
Missile attacks and terrorist incursions continue, as do air-raid sirens.
Noises make people jumpy.
Car horns, ambulance sirens, and squeaky doors cause people to shiver, thinking it is another air-raid siren.
Psychological stress
Some people cannot sleep because of the news, some because of the sirens, and some because they constantly fear that a blood-stained intruder with a knife has entered their bedroom.
Psychologists and social workers are working overtime.
https://edition.cnn.com/videos/tv/2023/10/13/amanpour-ayelet-gundar-goshen-israel-psychologist-trauma.cnn
Suffering of Israeli Arabs
Honest Arab citizens are sometimes looked at nervously - are they intruders from across the border?
This is especially difficult, as Arab Israelis themselves were massacred by Hamas.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/13/world/middleeast/arab-israeli-hamas-attacks.html
Sharing the Sky
Being the annual bird migration season, birders have been requested to provide updates on migration sightings, so that the airforce can be updated to avoid damage to planes, pilots, and birds.
(This link is to an old article, but notice has been sent this week to birdwatchers so that the Air Force can be updated).
There is more of course.
The media does a disservice ignoring Israeli suffering and trauma from the indescribable torture of its people.
Nothing in Israeli society today is back to "normal".
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