Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Life In 15 Second Timeslots Is Terrifying

This week more than 100 rocket missiles were fired at Southern Israel. Whole towns - Sderot, Netivot and Ashkelon; and scores of villages are under constant attack. When the alert goes (a siren and a loud "TSEVA ADOM!" - Code Red!) you have 15 seconds to get to a shelter before the bomb hits.

Imagine trying to teach a class of children when they (and you) are on the edge of their seats waiting to run at any moment. Every sound makes you jump. Forget concentrating on your work and school is often cancelled anyway because it's too dangerous to leave your house.

Even at home you think, can I risk having a shower? What if I have to run out in the middle? Can I grab a towel and make it to the shelter in 15 seconds? No popping out to the shops unless it's absolutely necessary. Children can only play 15 seconds from their front door.

This is what it looks like. The 2 minute video starts with a children's party in the park and a child being interviewed... suddenly everything changes. This is what is it like every day for thousands of men, women and children.

You don't see it a lot on the news because it's only Israel. Try to imagine Britain's response if, say, France were dropping bombs on Dover and Kent like this. Or what would America do if Mexico were firing rockets across the border? I could have looked up the numbers and given you a whole load of statistics but instead I'm just writing from my heart and for my many friends who live in this war zone. May God keep you all safe.


31 comments:

  1. I cannot imagine how this must be. I can only repeat your words "May God keep you all safe" x

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  2. There's a fair bit about it in the more serious newspapers over here and I always tremble for the families on both sides caught up in this never-ending blood letting.

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    1. I also tremble for all families everywhere who are caught up in never-ending bloodletting but the footage from Gaza this week shows largely business as usual. However, the residents of the south cannot take much more and I positively shake to think what the tragic outcome will be for both sides if this doesn't stop soon.

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  3. I can't imagine what it must be like to live in a war zone. Part of me always thought that you'd almost become hardened to it, but your post makes me realise that just isn't the case.

    I can only hope that peace comes soon to you and the whole of the Middle East. x

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    1. Thank you for commenting and yes I think you don't become hardened to it - it eats away at your strength until you collapse under all the stress. And your hope is all our hopes. x

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  4. This made me so sad, all I could think of to do was share your post on my social networks to try to raise awareness. Heartbreaking.

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    1. Peggy, I cry every time I watch this clip. Thank you for passing it on.

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  5. Well I had tears reading and watching that ... that's all I can say apart from repeating all before me. A very powerful post. X.

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  6. Thanks OM, just this month there seems to be a general consensus that it's gone too far and everyone is busy posting and reposting on fb. The trouble is that we all know each other and so are, to a great extent, keeping it in the family. So I'm trying to help this information leave the ghetto as it were.

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  7. just got in and put the news on. thought immediately of you and went to your twitter stream and found this. Powerful and poignant post.
    May God protect the innocents on both sides.

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  8. That video clip really does bring it home. Cried watching it. Thinking of everyone involved and wishing strength and courage.

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  9. You're absolutely right: I knew nothing of this, I saw nothing about it on the news, twitter, no-where. Thinking of you all xx

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    1. Thanks Blue Sky, and this is one out of 12,000 in 12 years! 12,000 rockets on civilians and hardly anyone knows about it.

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  10. Thought I commented on this first thing this morning - was really shocked and thanked you for telling us. Thinking of you X

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    1. Thanks OSM, it is shocking in itself but even more so that people didn't know about it already.

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  11. It's all over our papers now. I am so sorry. I hope the part that you are in continues to be unaffected. Worried about you. I hope the climate settles and that peace returns once more. It would need to be stable though.
    I am so sorry. Praying for you.
    Much love,
    Liska
    x
    P.S. The above video made me cry when I watched it yesterday xx

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    1. Thanks Liska. Of course no one is even going to the park atm. In fact orders are to stay indoors for over 1 million people.

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  12. Thanks Rachel! Susan

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  13. I have been following the news and am so concerned for a close friend, who lives 25km away from Tel Aviv. Stay safe.

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    1. So far life around Tel Aviv continues almost as usual. Cables and Communications are still working so you should be able to contact her. I wish her well for the duration.

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  14. Heartbreaking. So hard to imagine living, and bringing children up, in that constant state of terror. xxx

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    1. I know, and yet that's how they have lived for 12 years.

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  15. Truly terrifying Rachel but I made myself watch as we must not turn away.

    My heart and prayers are with you and your country Rachel.

    Mich x

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  16. Clever editing of the video, makes you assume the bombs dropped on the play park which they obviously did not. Bombing is wrong but never forget, a lot more bombs drop on Gaza, there kids get blown up and scared, going to show that vid soon?

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    1. No the bomb did not drop on the park but that doesn't make it any less scary. Over 12000 rockets from Gaza have been fired into Israel over the past 12 years which is way more than the number of retaliations and targeted hits on Gaza. And of course in Gaza you have to note that many of the explosions are 'home goals' that were aimed at Israel but literally backfired.

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