Shabbat...and life on hold

Last night I shared Shabbat dinner with the family I live with, as is our usual routine when everyone is in town. The conversation was, for sometime, focused on the siren we'd heard and the threat of war. Their cousin had been drafted; the joke was that those in the reserves should turn off their phones so the army cannot find them straightaway. There is fatigue amongst the thirtysomethings. They've served their time and now are in the reserves -- this is the third call in six years. In 2006 it was Lebanon (Hezbollah), in 2008 Gaza (Hamas), and 2012 Gaza again.  There is a sense that something needs to change. They mused, "Has Israel become too arrogant?"

If you are called up you get a slip of paper...you may have to attend every other day for duty. You show the slip to your employer who continues to pay you as an employee and the government reimburses the employer at the daily reserve rate. There is an element of real fear for those called up. If you are on reserve you typically spend a month a year in service, usually spread across the seasons -- this is not the same as being fit for duty from daily training. And, it's tremendously disruptive to life.  You can say no, but it needs to be for a reason. (I don't know much more about this.)

And for what? What is the point of another war in Gaza? Operation Cast Lead in 2008 resulted in the death of some 1400 Gazan Palestinians; only 13 Israelis died. If Operation Pillar of Defence has a ground operation many expect similar ratios of casualties. And, that is appalling. But, it is difficult to suggest that Israel should tolerate daily barrages of indiscriminate rocket launches into its territory. But, then Hamas doesn't have an airforce with precision tactics and life in Gaza is pretty crap, so if you wanna make a point, well, sending rockets in does get people's attention. Okay, we're back at the complicated part.

The big question tonight is, will Israel launch a ground operation? And if so, when? The 2008 operation lasted three weeks. Tonight troops are amassing on the Gaza border, but it may just be a show of force to encourage a ceasefire. Others think it may be an election campaign tactic by Bibi. I have no idea. If it is, Bibi has certainly chosen to ignore the part of the population that just wants to get on with life...as has Hamas.

Please, a ceasefire, quickly. Until then, life has a sense of being on hold...