by Nerijus Povilaitis
July 15, 2014
The fighting in Israel doesn’t end. Fighters of the terrorist organization Hamas based in the Gaza Strip are attacking the Jewish state with rockets more fervently than ever. Israeli aviation is responding with attacks on terrorist targets, with civilian casualties unavoidable.
Hamas attacks on Israel haven’t caused any great damage yet, with Israel’s Iron Dome defense system knocking most of them out of the sky before they reach the ground, but Israelis are living under continuous stress.Tuesday a rocket fired from the Gaza Strip fatally wounded an Israeli civilian.The 38-year-old man was providing food for soldiers serving in that zone. He is the first Jew to die in eight years of daily violence from both sides of the border. The rocket killed the man near the border crossing point at Erez into Gaza.
The continual whine of the air-raid sirens in the country’s larger cities and running for the bomb shelters have become a dismal part of daily life for Israelis and visitors to Israel.
Lithuanian Jewish Community chair Faina Kuklianksy, who has visited the war zone that Israel has become and will soon be going back at the invitation of the president of the World Jewish Congress, told Lietuvos Rytas [newspaper] that Israelis are standing firm like never before in the face of the danger posed by rockets flying out of the Gaza.
What impressions have you brought back from Israel at war?
At Ben-Gurion airport in Tel Aviv, when the sirens began to wail I along with everyone else had to run to a shelter. In the sky I saw military aircraft on patrol constantly circling and I heard the roar of their engines.Believe me, for a person who lives in peace these weren’t the most pleasant feelings. I think it’s rather difficult, if not impossible, to get used to it. A strange feelings comes over you when you land at the airport and suddenly are no longer sure you’ll be flying out of it again. It’s a state of being that ruins any and all plans.
My daughter is also in Israel, she and her children have run for the shelter many times. My cousin whose three children serve in the military admitted that it was easier when he was actually serving and taking part in military hostilities than now, when he just watches reports of military operations in which his children are taking part.
In my family very many of the children serve in military battalions. It so happened that the parents were officers and the children followed in their footsteps. They are very happy that, when Israel is being attacked, they can take part in military action and defend the country.
Jews come from around the world to serve in the military. The children of the other side of my family who live in America travel there as well to serve in the military.
We hear reports constantly of tourists who panic and want to go home right away. But what emotions dominate among Israelis who are used to constant conflicts with the Arabs?
Despite a complex situation, no one is fleeing Israel. Average Israelis, as with people everywhere, want to live in peace, want to plan their lives, want to live in their own country. They are the same sort of people who live here in Lithuania.
But making this aspiration come true, when you are surrounded by enemies, is very difficult. Despite all the hardships, Israel remains an economically strong and growing country. The title of the national anthem, Hatikva, means hope, and people must have something in which to believe. This is the only Jewish state, there are no others. If military activities began in Lithuania, people would also stand up and defend their country, for there is no other Lithuania either.
Israeli society isn’t politically monolithic. As with Lithuanians, Jews also have different opinions about the government of their country and its actions, and take very different views of the political situation.Disputes and internal confrontation are forgotten when danger arises.
Is it true that in the face of a specific external threat Israelis rally around the defense of their country and the struggle for its survival?
Israel is a very individual country. I am no political expert, but I can say confidently that Israel is in no danger of social divisions turning into a military conflict, as we see in Ukraine.
Even with completely different political views, people are doing everything they can for the good of the homeland. At such moments confrontation vanishes, the entire nation, the entire people come together. Who is right and who is wrong in this conflict, I don’t know. No matter what the turn of events, however, I support and always will support Israel.
The military conflict in Israel and the Gaza Strip aren’t being covered much in Lithuanian media. Why do you think that is?
Our people aren’t very interested in foreign policy. It’s not just Israel, Palestinians and the military operations. It’s Africa, Syria, refugees around the world. Sometimes one gets the impression the people of Lithuania are only interested in what’s going on on the next street or in the neighboring village. Our news media, especially television, devotes too little time to world events. Perhaps people really are more interested in breast enlargements or dancers kissing, but when such grave things are taking place in the world, how can one not react to them?
I will fly to Israel again soon on a peace mission. Everyone in this world must do what he or she is able for the cause of good.