(Day 487) Swords of Iron – “USA Sanctions”

Chaim starts by saying how much he loves seeing the green fields near the Gaza border area. He says the rains have come and this area is beginning to recover from the wounds of war, as the area is nervously watching the cease-fire hold and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting the US, meeting with President Trump and others.

But, Chaim says, the cease-fire in Gaza did not prevent a terrorist attack on an IDF checkpoint in Samaria, north of Jerusalem. Two soldiers were killed and several others wounded in this attack.

Chaim says this is a reminder that Israel and the IDF can’t let their guard down and must maintain constant vigilance, in Judea and Samaria as well as in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, and everywhere else.

He also mentions the Palestinian Authorities contribution to the problem as they have a fund to pay pensions to the families of terrorists who are killed while carrying out attacks or if they survive and get arrested by the Israeli security forces.

Chaim also mentions the unanswered questions about phase 2 of the ceasefire deal, including the release of terrorists from Israeli prisoners into Judea and Samaria, the reconstruction of Gaza (which the UN estimates will cost around $50 billion) and many other considerations.

But, Chaim concludes, he’s optimistic because he knows that God is in control and in this context, he quotes Isaiah 41:15-16; “Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth; You shall thresh the mountains and beat them small, and make the hills like chaff. You shall winnow them, the wind shall carry them away, and the whirlwind shall scatter them; you shall rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the Holy One of Israel.