Grandma's army

Israel has been continually provoked and battered by its enemies since  long   before becoming a State in 1948.   In just one of many examples: In the 1920’s, the grand mufti of Jerusalem, Haj Amin al-Husseini, incited pogroms against the returning Jews by claiming falsely that the Jews intended to destroy al-Aksa. Virtually the same words are being used today by the mufti’s contemporary leader, Mahmoud Abbas, leader of the PLO. In the 60’s and 70’s, the Palestine Liberation Organisation (before the Six-day War in 1967), specialised in attacking airports, airplanes, schools, and public events. By the 1990’s, Hamas focused on suicide bombs in buses and cafes.                   We are battling on all fronts.  While both my grandson (a commander in an   elite air-force unit)      and granddaughter (an arms instructor), are serving in the IDF , their father and family are living on a farm (moshav) only seven kilometres from Gaza. Together with thousands of other families, they

I was informed of the engagement of my second grandson I wrote about   just a few hours after sending off my last blog. After completing his officer’s course and before beginning his task   as commander of his special brigade my grandson Meir, nicknamed “Memi” was given a few days’ vacation. He proposed to his girlfriend of 5 years while they were scuba diving in Eilat. “Meir” in Hebrew means “lighting up”. His future wife’s name is “Or”,   which is the word for “light” in Hebrew. Hopefully it will prove to be a “match” made in heaven. I am living in a senior residence complex and one of the most outstanding people living here is a man - of many parts - called David Darom. Apart from his worldwide   expertise on knives, hand guns and the flora of Israel, he   has perhaps more   first-hand knowledge about Eilat than anyone else. David Darom was the first student in Israel to study marine biology   at the Hebrew University. Consequently,   he was sent to study th