I am posting today a video and photo of the Priestly Blessing that was recorded this morning in Jerusalem’s Old City at the Western Wall Plaza. This year they did a special dedicated prayer in unison, praying for the return of the hostages.
In the times of the first and second temple periods, it was required for Jews to make an annual pilgrimage to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. There they would receive blessings from the Kohen HaGadol (the high priest) who would make sacrifices on behalf of the population. And there they would hear the priestly blessing. Underneath his Talit, prayer shawl, the high priest would cover himself and hold his two hands high, outstretched making a sign where his index/middle finger were together and the fourth/little finger were held together. Most of you know it as Spock’s Vulcan salute “Live Long and Prosper”. Leonard Nimoy, who is Jewish, adapted (stole it?) from Jewish Liturgy. Well we do not have a Third Holy Temple, but twice a year, on one day during Sukkot (the week long holiday taking place in the fall) and one day during Pesach (the week long holiday taking place in the spring) many people congregate in the Western Wall Plaza in the Old City to participate in morning prayers and receive the Priestly blessing from a large contingent of Kohanim - those descended from Aharon (brother of Moshe), the original High Priest. I am a Kohen, at least that is what my father, and his father, and his father, and his father told him/them. Every Sabbath, on those that I attend synagogue, I participate in the Priestly Blessing with other Kohanim from the congregation. The first two years I arrived in Israel, back in 2010 and 2011, I participated in the Priestly blessing at the Western Wall Plaza, but I do not anymore. The crowds are too intense with more than 100,000 people in some years.
I took the boat out sailing with friends this afternoon in Tel Aviv. A great break!!
No rockets fired from Gaza in the last 24 hours reached Israel. NO IDF casualties reported on either the Gaza nor Lebanon conflict zones in the past 48 hours.
During operations today in Gaza, infantry spotted a terrorist cell about to launch a rocket barrage. But their quick response in calling in an air strike resulted in both the terrorists and launchers destroyed. The two reserve infantry brigades that were called up to serve in Gaza have now replaced the previous Nahal brigade, giving the regular duty soldiers time off to be with family and to reset before the next phase, Rafah Operation.
Israeli fighter jets struck north eastern Lebanon again today, the second stronghold of Hezbollah. This follows earlier strikes against Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon.
Early this morning US Centcom forces in the Gulf report that they intercepted an anti-ship missile launched by the Houthis targeting a commercial US flagged ship, MV Yorktown. And a Greek military vessel serving in the Red Sea as part of the EU contingent intercepted two drones fired on a commercial vessel.
Lots of talk today about hostage/ceasefire negotiations… all talk no action. When asked about the status of the negotiations, a senior Biden official ceded that the demands from Hamas would require that the US, Egypt and Qatar guarantee that Israel withdraw from Gaza, leave Hamas intact and send lots of money. In the meantime, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri reiterated the Hamas demand and saying that US pressure on Hamas has no effect. According to US officials, Israel had agreed to unrestricted return of Gazans to northern Gaza. My guess is that despite US and Egyptian thinking otherwise, Israel knew that Hamas would stick to its demands as it sees all the pressure mounting on Israel and they have no incentive to give on any issue. But all the back and forth was to shoe the Biden Administration that Israel could be flexible. That is MY opinion and not anything I read or heard reported.
Yesterday, some Hamas official, during an interview with the Dubai base Asharq News, stated that Hamas would lay down its weapons should a fully sovereign Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip emerge, and all the refugees from the 1948 war and all their descendants be permitted to return to either Israel or this newly created state, their choice. This is no news. This same guy said just earlier in the week that such a move would be just a first step in “liberating” all of Palestine, from the River to the Sea. You can say a lot about the PA and Hamas, but one thing they are, for sure, is consistent.
Today Fatah, the military wing of the PLO (Palestinian Authority), announced the formation of a new youth militant wing of suicide bombers to be trained and dispatched by their Al-Aqsa Martyr’s Brigade. And this is the organization we are being asked to turn over the governance of the Gaza Strip. They posted a video here.
Protests in Israel continue most every night. Generally they are drawing a couple hundred in support of the hostages and their families. On Saturday nights they can get to a few thousand and take on an anti-government tenor. Sometimes the protestors block a major highway and sometimes they light fires in the middle of the road. Some have been arrested. And the police have started making more regular use of water cannons and “skunk” spray.
There are also protests in a movement called Tzav 9 organizing to block the roads over which the aid trucks must traverse from loading on the Ashdod Port to the Gaza border. They include hostage families and are insisting that no aid enter Gaza until the hostages are returned. Seems like a reasonable demand to me, but would not be appreciated in the world arena. Police break these demonstrations up. Almost all, so far, have been peaceful.