Blogging the war from Israel

Name:
Location: Israel

I am a father, a husband and a doctor of individuals and communities. I live and work in Israel.

Sunday, July 30, 2006

Introductions

Hello,
I am a family doctor from Israel, I usually write in Hebrew in a blog in Hebrew.
For a few days now I have been feeling I must do something. I must transfer my feelings about this war to people wanting to understand more about this hell breaking loose in this corner of the world. I created this blog for this purpose hoping this blog will lose its purpose soon.
We all want peace. I marched for it, voted for it, and need it so since I am raising my small children - the fourth generation born to this conflict. I don't want my children to go to the army, to fight wars for politicians and hatred. I want them to grow to a better world. I want them to learn and create, love and smile. I am sure my parents wanted the same for me, when I was small I talked about war with my parents. War seems glorious when you are a child feeding on TV dramas and computer games. I always heard them say that they hope I would not have to go to the army and to war. Years passed. I was drafted in another foolish age when boys want to be men. I became a paratrooper and fought. I understood war from the eyes of a simple infantry soldier. I know now that war is suffering. Suffering of the poor, of the powerless, of the ones dying for the benefit of the strong and the rich.
I decided to become a doctor. To bring healing to the world. To do good. I am writing here for people who think war is glorious. I am writing for my children and for our future in this world.
I am hugging them quietly every night hoping to keep them innocent, small, happy. My son begins to see war as a glorious thing. I will probably be called upon to this war if it will continue.
I am afraid.

Thoughts after 18 days of middle east war

I am finding a few minutes to sit down and relax in front of the computer, the past few weeks were so horrible.
two nations, two families of people so close to each other mentally, physically, and in so many other ways are fighting here as pawns in a greater chess game.
Lebanon is the only democracy in the middle east besides Israel, it is a small country with many minorities in it, Muslims Christians, Drusie, and once also a big Jewish community. These wounded and proud people only a year ago ended 30 years of Syrian occupation, and only 6 years ago an occupation of the south by Israel. They made the Syrian army go with civil protest and nationwide community action. We are so similar also in the fact that our peoples are pawns in the hands of stronger forces.
We are in a located in a bad neighborhood of the world. A place where if you are thought of as weak or sensitive you are crushed by one of the bullies around. Being strong is almost our only option. We tried negotiating for peace, withdrawal to international lines with no discussions, and perceived as weak. It seems we have to become a bigger bully to survive.
It is amazing that countries, members of the UN, like Syria and Iran can finance, train, and arm an army like this Hezbollah that is used for fighting and killing us, without accountability of this terrorist organization's actions. It is an international loop-hole that has to be closed now. We are nearing days not unlike the days when every colonizing power held many pirate ships to steal each other's treasures from the new world. No one was held accountable but the Portuguese stole from the Spanish that killed the English and so on. Pirates were awarded knighthood by kings, but then pirates became independent, endangering the world of commerce and economy. After a long time, only by mutual and intense action from every country piracy ended. We are facing the same phenomenon now, and we are the current victims.
Terrorist organizations sent by governments can do whatever they want. With no limits, no international or moral laws. While fighting them we as a nation have to work with one hand tied behind our back under the open eye of free press and international criticism that is stained with antisemitism. We are rightly held accountable for our actions. They can do whatever they want. They are terrorist organizations.
We are fighting the Americo-Iranian war, both our people are dying, our houses are destroyed for foreign interests. In the past two weeks we have 15 guests in my humble home. Family members refugees from the north. In my region of the desert the patient list was tripled. The amount of work is staggering. I cannot even begin to tell you how sad we all are (especially while waiting in line to the one bathroom in the house). The only comfort is that we are in a community where people help people, where people share the little they have with others. I am using clowning more and more in my practice nowadays. People need a helping hand, a hug, a smile.