Torch, Fall 2006

24 TORCH / Summer 2006 1 Fall 2006 T o say that I represent the whole Israeli population, which is a melting pot of Jews from different ethnicities and backgrounds, Arabs (Muslims and Christians), Druze, and Bedouin, is presumptuous at the very least and quite dangerous at best. It took Hezbollah to do what no other leader has been able to do — unite the people of Israel, even if for a short time and on a single issue — defending the Northern border. All these Israeli people groups live in the North and were personally involved by either having a member of their family or community in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the war or by experiencing the threat of personal death and destruction from Katyusha rockets and other weapons. As a result of the threat, people were forced to stay in bomb shelters all day, every day, or risk their lives going to work, buying groceries, or just getting a breath of fresh air. Sirens went off constantly, indicating the next rocket attack and giving only a few minutes to find cover. Consequently, many transferred their families south, out of the reach of the rockets, into the homes of family members and friends. Others chose to stay, refusing to be pushed out of their homes by the “neighborhood bully.” My family, which lives near Tiberias, found themselves driving down “Katyusha alley” time and again while going to and from work. It wasn’t hard making the decision to stay at home some days rather than risking life, even though every shekel was needed for living. One day during the war, my brother received word that his good friend was injured in battle and was taken to a hospital in Tsfat (an hour north of Tiberias). He begged my parents to allow him to take the car to visit his friend. My parents refused, for they knew that Tsfat was one of the main Hezbollah targets and was being hit constantly. But my brother was determined and decided to risk his life to journey there on a public bus. Do Israelis hate Lebanon? On the contrary. They have no issue with Lebanon or the Lebanese people. We even had an ally for years in one of the Christian sects in South Lebanon. The question arises, then, why hasn’t Lebanon dismantled Hezbollah? Perhaps they fear another civil war when they have yet to recover from the last one. Who could blame them? But, if Lebanon won’t fight Hezbollah, Israel will. In doing so, we will use tactics that demonstrate a high respect for life, even our enemy’s. David Shkedi grew up in Israel and served 10 years of active duty in the Israeli Defense Forces with the rank of captain. He and his wife, Cedarville alumna Emily (Wheeler), reside in Ohio. To read more of Shkedi’s perspectives, visit www.cedarville.edu/torch. T Israel, My Homeland By David Shkedi TOP: GALI TIBBON /AFP/ GETTY IMAGES; BELOW: ANWAR AMRO /AFP/ GETTY IMAGES