(Day 519) Swords of Iron – “Julani in a suit is still ISIS”

Chaim starts by giving a shout out to the IDF forces who are patrolling in Judea and Samaria, even on Shabbat, to push back against terrorist threats there.

He then speaks about the situation in Syria, where the regime led by Abu Muhammed al-Jolani has embarked on a savage crackdown on Alawite and Christian communities that has included massacres of entire villages and a death toll that is already estimated to top 4,000.

This has dashed the hopes of many who thought al-Jolani was ready to be a moderate and to lead a transition in Syria that would bring inclusive governance. Instead, his forces are slaughtering minorities who don’t fit the mold of the jihadist groups.

Chaim also mentions that Hamas has tried to clamp down on the civilian population of Gaza and is openly saying they will launch new attacks against Israel whenever they are ready to do so. But US President Donald Trump has said that they better not and he has even hinted that he will deploy American forces to the Gaza Strip to help the IDF destroy Hamas.

Meanwhile, there are various plans being put forward to try and assist those Gazans who want to leave the Strip. The Trump Administration wants to get these people out of Gaza so it can be rebuilt and there are people marching in the streets of cities all over the world saying they want to help the Palestinians. Chaim says this is their chance to do that by hosting these people who need somewhere to stay while the Strip is being rebuilt. But Arab countries are rejecting this plan, saying the Gazan’s can stay put while the Strip is rebuilt and Chaim says he thinks this is because secretly they know that many Gazans will never want to go back if they have a chance to leave.

Chaim says this is a time to stand strong in the face of Israel’s enemies and in this context he quotes Isaiah 66:24; “And they shall go forth and look upon the corpses of the men who have transgressed against Me. For their worm does not die, and their fire is not quenched. They shall be an abhorrence to all flesh.”