I lived in Israel for 3 months in 1982, from February 1st to April 30th, spending two months as a volunteer in Kibbutz Lohamei Hagetaot on the coast highway north of Acre and south of Nahariya. I recall sometime in March most all the men in the kibbutz were gone, having been called up to the Reserves in anticipation of the conflict in Lebanon which began full scale on June 6th. I was one of two Jewish volunteers living on the kibbutz, the other was from England. Most of the volunteers were gentiles from Australia, Japan, Canada, and various European countries. One of the kibbutz leaders, Peninah, spoke with me and the English Jew and requested we "stand watch" since so many of the men left the kibbutz. She gave us security assignments in addition to our jobs on the kibbutz. Since my job was working in the chicken house from 4 am to 8 am, and much work had stopped with the men gone, I had time on my hands. The chicken house work was dirty, hard, and no woman worked it. A large French woman volunteer insisted on working the chicken house detail, she lasted 2 days as her fingers and hands became sore and bloody. We had to pick up 4 chickens in each hand and put them in large cages that had spring latches and if you didn't get it right the latches caught your hand, or the chickens pecked your hands, and if the latch snapped on a chicken it had to be discarded as it couldn't be used.
After about one week the men returned, so whatever caused the call up was delayed by a couple of months. In April I left the kibbutz to travel around Israel, returning to the States at the end of the month. During the call up I witnessed first hand how the call up of so many men to the Reserves affected Israeli society, from buses that seldom ran, to shops closing, greatly affecting work on the kibbutz. Six weeks after I left Israel, on June 6th, Israel launched its military operation into Lebanon. My memories from 44 years ago remain vivid in my mind, as does the affinity and love I have for the staunch and brave Israelis and how resilient and strong they have become out of nature and necessity.
Joshua, I couldn't agree with you more. I think your analysis is right on the money.
That said, I'm actually more optimistic about this agreement than many people seem to be. One reason is that Secretary Rubio was deeply involved. I trust that he understands the threat Hezbollah poses and has been a genuine friend of Israel.
From my reading, this agreement allows Israel to remain until Hezbollah is disarmed, and if Hezbollah refuses to disarm, Israel retains the right to act. If that's how it unfolds, I think it's probably the best arrangement Israel could have hoped for under the circumstances.
President Aoun's public statements have also been encouraging. Now the real question is whether Lebanon's government, together with Israel, can finally weaken Hezbollah enough for the Lebanese state to regain control of its own country. I certainly hope so.
And remember Beirut in 1984...the so-called "Peace Mission" where 241 Marines died. Jack Carr's book, BEIRUT, is well worth the read. Reagan and McFarlane had a lot to do with keeping the Marines unarmed in a dangerous Islamic area. No bullets in the rifles. A huge truck loaded with bombs drove into the building of sleeping marines and no one could stop it.
Kelleigh, I remember it well. The Beirut barracks bombing was a terrible tragedy and a painful reminder of the kind of enemy democracies are dealing with. Too often, we impose rules on ourselves that our enemies have no intention of following.
I'll have to pick up Jack Carr's book. Thanks for the recommendation.
It's excellent. You can even listen to the audio version through your library. It made me weep, but it also was so frustrating in what the stupid feds did to those magnificent soldiers. Like Nam, you cannot run a war from Congress or the White House, which we are seeing again. Our country is dying and she's on her last breaths...I'm so horrified.
Whilst you are right about Rubio .. I can only see that Hezbollah are NOT going to walk away .. sadly, civil war in Lebanon is the most likely outcome.
Nathan, I agree that Hezbollah is unlikely to surrender its weapons voluntarily. Where we may differ is that I don't think this necessarily leads to a civil war. I believe the majority of the Lebanese people want their country back. They don't want an Iranian-backed militia deciding when Lebanon goes to war or sacrificing their future for Tehran's ambitions. If Hezbollah refuses to disarm, it may find itself opposed not only by Israel, but by a Lebanese government that has finally declared that only the state has the right to decide questions of war and peace. I still think this agreement gives Lebanon its best opportunity in decades to restore its sovereignty. Let's see how it unfolds.
@FT, on the basis that you are correct, has the Lebanese government and army got sufficient backing to get Hezbollah to leave and or disarm ? .. if it does not, who is going to act on behalf of the Lebanese Armed Forces LAF ? .. I can’t see USA getting involved .. the only force that can openly deal with Hezbollah will be Israel, and no doubt they will be accused of ‘wanting to acquire territory’ which is NOT the case.
Israel would like nothing more than self sufficient and strong Lebanon, independent of state sponsored terrorism from Iran.
Nathan, I really understand your point. Maybe I'm putting too much faith in the fact that Marco Rubio helped put this agreement together. But let me throw out a possibility. Maybe right now President Aoun and Prime Minister Netanyahu are discussing, behind the scenes, how to get rid of Hezbollah. We simply don't know what conversations are taking place.
The Lebanese Army by itself may not be strong enough, but working in coordination with Israel, it may be a very different story. And if that were to happen, I don't think anyone could credibly claim Israel was trying to acquire Lebanese territory. The agreement itself makes it clear that Israel has no territorial ambitions and that its presence is tied to Hezbollah's disarmament. If Hezbollah refuses to disarm, then any continued Israeli action would simply be enforcing the conditions that both Israel and Lebanon agreed to.
Maybe I'm being optimistic. I guess time will tell.
Remember what Rubio really is...he's an anchor baby and like Obama, not eligible for the presidency, although the Constitution and our founders statements seem to no longer matter with the executive, legislative or judiciary branches of the fed. gov. We've seen that with the two decisions out of the supremes today for birthright citizenship and month long vote counting. Only three dissented, Alito, Thomas and Gorsuch. The rest are bought and paid for and the women are all DEI commie lovers, including Barrett.
Oh, and Rubio is in love with the CIA
Remember too that Rubio along with McCain and Lindsey Graham armed the Libyan rebels who a year later murdered our men in Benghazi.
I don’t know what you mean by ‘anchor baby’ .. Rubio was born in Miami.
When it comes to your comment about the US ‘arming’ organisations for those weapons then used against US personnel, didn’t the similar things happen with weapons getting to Iran, Nicaragua and Afghanistan, at some point in the years gone by ?
I sat in the salon with my husband watching the black september terrorists murder /hostage taking our Israeli Olympic team at the summer Munich Olympics in September 1972, in 1973 in between terrorist attacks we had a war-The Yom Kippur War - I stood trembling scared out of my mind, and 7.5 months pregnant with my oldest son, while my husband was called up to miliuim at his base.
The entire decade from 1970 onwards until today are the same cast of characters... PLO- Fatah - Black September - Hamas - Hezbolleh despite the names they use they are all jihadists and yet the western world seems to give them credit as if they are just “militants” ...or better yet politicians..
Beirut was once a thriving beautiful coastal city until the Fedayeen marched with their kafiyahs and guns- all the Jews and Christian Arabs left in fear for their lives.
The Avivim School Bus Bombing (May 22, 1970): Terrorists from the PFLP-GC fired two rocket-propelled grenades at an Israeli school bus near the Lebanese border, killing 12 civilians (nine of whom were children) and wounding 25.
Sabena Flight 571 Hijacking (May 8, 1972): Black September terrorists hijacked a Belgian airliner flying to Tel Aviv and demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli commandos (including future Prime Minister Ehud Barak) successfully stormed the plane, rescuing the hostages.
Lod Airport Massacre (May 30, 1972): PFLP and Japanese Red Army terrorists opened fire with automatic weapons and threw grenades in the passenger terminal at Lod Airport (now Ben Gurion International Airport), killing 26 people and injuring 78
Kiryat Shmona Massacre (April 11, 1974): PFLP militants infiltrated an apartment building in Kiryat Shmona, killing 18 residents, including eight children.
Ma'alot School Massacre (May 15, 1974): PFLP terrorists took over 100 students and teachers hostage at the Netiv Meir Elementary School in Ma'alot. A failed rescue attempt resulted in the deaths of 27 hostages (21 of whom were children) with 78 others wounded.
The 1974 Nahariya Attack :( June 24, 1974 ) Three militants from the Fatah faction Details: The attackers infiltrated the city by sea in the first operation of its kind. They killed three civilians and one Israeli soldier before being neutralized.
Coastal Road Massacre (March 11, 1978): Fatah militants landed on a beach north of Tel Aviv, hijacked a bus on the Coastal Highway, and drove toward Tel Aviv while shooting at passing vehicles. In the ensuing shootout and explosion, 38 Israeli civilians, including 13 children, were murdered and 71 were wounded.
The 1979 Nahariya Attack Date: (April 22, 1979 ) Four militants from the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) Details: Arriving by rubber dinghy, the cell shot and killed a police officer. They then broke into the Haran family home, abducting father Danny and 4-year-old Einat. During a subsequent gun battle on the beach, the terrorists murdered the hostages. Two of the militants were killed in the firefight, while the surviving attackers, including Samir Kuntar, were captured and imprisoned
Now for those unaware the convicted terrorists who murdered were captured alive and imprisoned - each time hostages were taken we would have to negotiate their release by releasing murderers to bring our people home.
CNN says the White House is furiously reining in Israel. Fox News says Washington is asserting dominance. Both networks are selling you a reality show.
Turn off the TV and look inside the underground Joint Command Centers in Tel Aviv. US and Israeli forces are currently staring at the exact same screens, flying side-by-side, and fusing raw AI sensor data in real-time. The diplomatic rift is a masterclass in plausible deniability. Here is the hard data on how the two militaries are actually merging. https://triggledger.substack.com/p/the-illusion-of-distance-why-the?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8gc1qf
Thank you for the clear timeline and explanation. Most of us merely pay lip service to an ethnically shared government but most of us don’t understand its pitfalls and total failures. Lebanon is an example of a failed state.
One has to ask the question .. what would the ME look like ? if the Arabs had accepted the partition of the remaining 22% of British Mandated Palestine when the UN VOTED in 1947.
This amazing video outlines ‘what happened’ from the eyes of a palestinian Christian ..
The Lebanese people are sick of having their lives destroyed to further Iranian policy… Look at the opinion polls …. 70% of Lebanese want Hezbollah gone
Lebanon was a great place until Jordan kicked the PLO out and they went to Lebanon
Father, we don’t know what to do. But our eyes are on You. We need Your Help to vanquish the Evil from the Earth 🌍 In the Mighty, Righteous Name Christ Jesus we pray 🙏 AMEN and Hallelujah❣️💕❤️🇮🇱🇺🇸😻
I lived in Israel for 3 months in 1982, from February 1st to April 30th, spending two months as a volunteer in Kibbutz Lohamei Hagetaot on the coast highway north of Acre and south of Nahariya. I recall sometime in March most all the men in the kibbutz were gone, having been called up to the Reserves in anticipation of the conflict in Lebanon which began full scale on June 6th. I was one of two Jewish volunteers living on the kibbutz, the other was from England. Most of the volunteers were gentiles from Australia, Japan, Canada, and various European countries. One of the kibbutz leaders, Peninah, spoke with me and the English Jew and requested we "stand watch" since so many of the men left the kibbutz. She gave us security assignments in addition to our jobs on the kibbutz. Since my job was working in the chicken house from 4 am to 8 am, and much work had stopped with the men gone, I had time on my hands. The chicken house work was dirty, hard, and no woman worked it. A large French woman volunteer insisted on working the chicken house detail, she lasted 2 days as her fingers and hands became sore and bloody. We had to pick up 4 chickens in each hand and put them in large cages that had spring latches and if you didn't get it right the latches caught your hand, or the chickens pecked your hands, and if the latch snapped on a chicken it had to be discarded as it couldn't be used.
After about one week the men returned, so whatever caused the call up was delayed by a couple of months. In April I left the kibbutz to travel around Israel, returning to the States at the end of the month. During the call up I witnessed first hand how the call up of so many men to the Reserves affected Israeli society, from buses that seldom ran, to shops closing, greatly affecting work on the kibbutz. Six weeks after I left Israel, on June 6th, Israel launched its military operation into Lebanon. My memories from 44 years ago remain vivid in my mind, as does the affinity and love I have for the staunch and brave Israelis and how resilient and strong they have become out of nature and necessity.
Joshua, I couldn't agree with you more. I think your analysis is right on the money.
That said, I'm actually more optimistic about this agreement than many people seem to be. One reason is that Secretary Rubio was deeply involved. I trust that he understands the threat Hezbollah poses and has been a genuine friend of Israel.
From my reading, this agreement allows Israel to remain until Hezbollah is disarmed, and if Hezbollah refuses to disarm, Israel retains the right to act. If that's how it unfolds, I think it's probably the best arrangement Israel could have hoped for under the circumstances.
President Aoun's public statements have also been encouraging. Now the real question is whether Lebanon's government, together with Israel, can finally weaken Hezbollah enough for the Lebanese state to regain control of its own country. I certainly hope so.
And remember Beirut in 1984...the so-called "Peace Mission" where 241 Marines died. Jack Carr's book, BEIRUT, is well worth the read. Reagan and McFarlane had a lot to do with keeping the Marines unarmed in a dangerous Islamic area. No bullets in the rifles. A huge truck loaded with bombs drove into the building of sleeping marines and no one could stop it.
Kelleigh, I remember it well. The Beirut barracks bombing was a terrible tragedy and a painful reminder of the kind of enemy democracies are dealing with. Too often, we impose rules on ourselves that our enemies have no intention of following.
I'll have to pick up Jack Carr's book. Thanks for the recommendation.
It's excellent. You can even listen to the audio version through your library. It made me weep, but it also was so frustrating in what the stupid feds did to those magnificent soldiers. Like Nam, you cannot run a war from Congress or the White House, which we are seeing again. Our country is dying and she's on her last breaths...I'm so horrified.
Whilst you are right about Rubio .. I can only see that Hezbollah are NOT going to walk away .. sadly, civil war in Lebanon is the most likely outcome.
Nathan, I agree that Hezbollah is unlikely to surrender its weapons voluntarily. Where we may differ is that I don't think this necessarily leads to a civil war. I believe the majority of the Lebanese people want their country back. They don't want an Iranian-backed militia deciding when Lebanon goes to war or sacrificing their future for Tehran's ambitions. If Hezbollah refuses to disarm, it may find itself opposed not only by Israel, but by a Lebanese government that has finally declared that only the state has the right to decide questions of war and peace. I still think this agreement gives Lebanon its best opportunity in decades to restore its sovereignty. Let's see how it unfolds.
@FT, on the basis that you are correct, has the Lebanese government and army got sufficient backing to get Hezbollah to leave and or disarm ? .. if it does not, who is going to act on behalf of the Lebanese Armed Forces LAF ? .. I can’t see USA getting involved .. the only force that can openly deal with Hezbollah will be Israel, and no doubt they will be accused of ‘wanting to acquire territory’ which is NOT the case.
Israel would like nothing more than self sufficient and strong Lebanon, independent of state sponsored terrorism from Iran.
Nathan, I really understand your point. Maybe I'm putting too much faith in the fact that Marco Rubio helped put this agreement together. But let me throw out a possibility. Maybe right now President Aoun and Prime Minister Netanyahu are discussing, behind the scenes, how to get rid of Hezbollah. We simply don't know what conversations are taking place.
The Lebanese Army by itself may not be strong enough, but working in coordination with Israel, it may be a very different story. And if that were to happen, I don't think anyone could credibly claim Israel was trying to acquire Lebanese territory. The agreement itself makes it clear that Israel has no territorial ambitions and that its presence is tied to Hezbollah's disarmament. If Hezbollah refuses to disarm, then any continued Israeli action would simply be enforcing the conditions that both Israel and Lebanon agreed to.
Maybe I'm being optimistic. I guess time will tell.
I would be very happy if I am wrong !
Remember what Rubio really is...he's an anchor baby and like Obama, not eligible for the presidency, although the Constitution and our founders statements seem to no longer matter with the executive, legislative or judiciary branches of the fed. gov. We've seen that with the two decisions out of the supremes today for birthright citizenship and month long vote counting. Only three dissented, Alito, Thomas and Gorsuch. The rest are bought and paid for and the women are all DEI commie lovers, including Barrett.
Oh, and Rubio is in love with the CIA
Remember too that Rubio along with McCain and Lindsey Graham armed the Libyan rebels who a year later murdered our men in Benghazi.
https://truthnewsnet.org/rubio-for-president-better-think-twice/
https://newswithviews.com/Nelson/kelleigh276.htm
Kelleigh, you touch on a number of points.
I don’t know what you mean by ‘anchor baby’ .. Rubio was born in Miami.
When it comes to your comment about the US ‘arming’ organisations for those weapons then used against US personnel, didn’t the similar things happen with weapons getting to Iran, Nicaragua and Afghanistan, at some point in the years gone by ?
So true.
Joshua thank you for the timeline - I lived it -
I sat in the salon with my husband watching the black september terrorists murder /hostage taking our Israeli Olympic team at the summer Munich Olympics in September 1972, in 1973 in between terrorist attacks we had a war-The Yom Kippur War - I stood trembling scared out of my mind, and 7.5 months pregnant with my oldest son, while my husband was called up to miliuim at his base.
The entire decade from 1970 onwards until today are the same cast of characters... PLO- Fatah - Black September - Hamas - Hezbolleh despite the names they use they are all jihadists and yet the western world seems to give them credit as if they are just “militants” ...or better yet politicians..
Beirut was once a thriving beautiful coastal city until the Fedayeen marched with their kafiyahs and guns- all the Jews and Christian Arabs left in fear for their lives.
The Avivim School Bus Bombing (May 22, 1970): Terrorists from the PFLP-GC fired two rocket-propelled grenades at an Israeli school bus near the Lebanese border, killing 12 civilians (nine of whom were children) and wounding 25.
Sabena Flight 571 Hijacking (May 8, 1972): Black September terrorists hijacked a Belgian airliner flying to Tel Aviv and demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners. Israeli commandos (including future Prime Minister Ehud Barak) successfully stormed the plane, rescuing the hostages.
Lod Airport Massacre (May 30, 1972): PFLP and Japanese Red Army terrorists opened fire with automatic weapons and threw grenades in the passenger terminal at Lod Airport (now Ben Gurion International Airport), killing 26 people and injuring 78
Kiryat Shmona Massacre (April 11, 1974): PFLP militants infiltrated an apartment building in Kiryat Shmona, killing 18 residents, including eight children.
Ma'alot School Massacre (May 15, 1974): PFLP terrorists took over 100 students and teachers hostage at the Netiv Meir Elementary School in Ma'alot. A failed rescue attempt resulted in the deaths of 27 hostages (21 of whom were children) with 78 others wounded.
The 1974 Nahariya Attack :( June 24, 1974 ) Three militants from the Fatah faction Details: The attackers infiltrated the city by sea in the first operation of its kind. They killed three civilians and one Israeli soldier before being neutralized.
Coastal Road Massacre (March 11, 1978): Fatah militants landed on a beach north of Tel Aviv, hijacked a bus on the Coastal Highway, and drove toward Tel Aviv while shooting at passing vehicles. In the ensuing shootout and explosion, 38 Israeli civilians, including 13 children, were murdered and 71 were wounded.
The 1979 Nahariya Attack Date: (April 22, 1979 ) Four militants from the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF) Details: Arriving by rubber dinghy, the cell shot and killed a police officer. They then broke into the Haran family home, abducting father Danny and 4-year-old Einat. During a subsequent gun battle on the beach, the terrorists murdered the hostages. Two of the militants were killed in the firefight, while the surviving attackers, including Samir Kuntar, were captured and imprisoned
Now for those unaware the convicted terrorists who murdered were captured alive and imprisoned - each time hostages were taken we would have to negotiate their release by releasing murderers to bring our people home.
A broken record.
CNN says the White House is furiously reining in Israel. Fox News says Washington is asserting dominance. Both networks are selling you a reality show.
Turn off the TV and look inside the underground Joint Command Centers in Tel Aviv. US and Israeli forces are currently staring at the exact same screens, flying side-by-side, and fusing raw AI sensor data in real-time. The diplomatic rift is a masterclass in plausible deniability. Here is the hard data on how the two militaries are actually merging. https://triggledger.substack.com/p/the-illusion-of-distance-why-the?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=8gc1qf
Thank you for the clear timeline and explanation. Most of us merely pay lip service to an ethnically shared government but most of us don’t understand its pitfalls and total failures. Lebanon is an example of a failed state.
One has to ask the question .. what would the ME look like ? if the Arabs had accepted the partition of the remaining 22% of British Mandated Palestine when the UN VOTED in 1947.
This amazing video outlines ‘what happened’ from the eyes of a palestinian Christian ..
https://youtu.be/8m6ux-IeNo4?is=pUZbz1Lhr76VHztf
The Lebanese people are sick of having their lives destroyed to further Iranian policy… Look at the opinion polls …. 70% of Lebanese want Hezbollah gone
Lebanon was a great place until Jordan kicked the PLO out and they went to Lebanon
Father, we don’t know what to do. But our eyes are on You. We need Your Help to vanquish the Evil from the Earth 🌍 In the Mighty, Righteous Name Christ Jesus we pray 🙏 AMEN and Hallelujah❣️💕❤️🇮🇱🇺🇸😻
Israhell just took lebanons rights fully. They occupied the whole land with that deal !