(Day 644) Swords of Iron – “Enemies rendered powerless”

Chaim starts out by saying that sometimes, soldiers like himself feel like their back is up against the wall, and all of Israel feels that way sometimes. He mentions that Prime Minister Netanyahu believes there will soon be a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza, but he has promised that if Hamas breaks the ceasefire and/or if we come to the end of it and no progress has been made towards the release of the remaining hostages, we’ll go back in full force. Similar warnings have also been given to the Ayatollah regime in Tehran.

Speaking of hostages, Chaim mentions Rani Gonen, who was released from the hospital this week after she spent five months there recovering from her experience of being held hostage.

That, Chaim says, is an acute reminder of the general state of Israel’s national life, that no one expected us to emerge triumphant and in very good shape from a 7-front war, but here we are.

In the meantime, Chaim points out that the Morag Corridor, which splits the Gaza Strip in half across the east, west axis, is essential to Israeli plans to maintain security in the area. He also mourns the loss of so many IDF troops and he says that Gaza is a dangerous place where soldiers can be killed in all kinds of ways, and it’s important to keep praying for them.

He also says that he doesn’t think Hamas is headed for a cease-fire, but rather further confrontation.

On the other hand, he mentions Abu Muhammed Al-Jolani, the interim President of Syria, who has not only seperated himself from his former associates in Al-Qaeda, but is sending signals that he might be ready to join the Abraham Accords.

This is yet another reminder that the People of Israel are not going to die off or otherwise disappear, and on the contrary, we’re going to continue making the best of these difficult circumstances and forge ahead.

In this context, Chaim invites his viewers to join Israelis in a three week fast running up to the Ninth of Av on the Hebrew calender and he quotes Nahum 1:15; Behold, on the mountains

The feet of him who brings good tidings, Who proclaims peace! O Judah, keep your appointed feasts, perform your vows. For the wicked one shall no more pass through you; he is utterly cut off.