Schlaglicht Israel Nr. 21/12 Aktuelles aus israelischen Tageszeitungen 14. – 26. November 2012 1. Militärische Eskalation zwischen Israel und Hamas Acht Tage lang dauerte die neuste Eskalation zwi­schen Israel und der im Gazastreifen regierenden Hamas. Während die israelische Luftwaffe Regie­rungsgebäude, Waffenarsenale und Medienanstal­ten angriff, schossen die Hamas und andere radika­le palästinensische Gruppen Raketen auf Israel. Eskaliert waren die Kämpfe am 10.11. durch den Beschuss einer Militärpatrouille auf israelischem Gebiet durch Hamas-Aktivisten sowie die am 14.11. gezielte Tötung von Ahmed Jabari, Chef des militä­rischen Flügels der Hamas, durch Israel. Zuvor hatten die Raketenangriffe auf Südisrael, die nach dem Waffenstillstand von 2009 eingedämmt worden waren, zugenommen. Neu an der Eskalation war, dass die palästinensischen Raketen erstmals auch den Großraum Tel Aviv und Jerusalem erreichten. Allerdings konnte das Abwehrsystem Iron Dome einen Großteil der Raketen abfangen. Während der von Israel Operation"Pillar of Defense" genannten Militäraktion wurden ca. 170 Palästinenser und sechs Israelis getötet. Preserving our unity "I am[…] newly privy to the pronounced feeling of national solidarity which binds Israelis together in times of war.[…] We are aware that despite our manifold internal divisions, enemy fire seeks us Israelis indiscrimi­nately.[…] If we can sublimate our fears and anxie­ties around an external enemy into determined ac­tion against our long-term domestic enemies – soci­etal division, intolerance for the other, and pettiness – then we will have done good." Hannah Blustin, JPO 21.11.12 Netanyahu kept his word "[Netanyahu] has restored for us, residents of the south and the area around Gaza, a sense of securi ty, protection and quiet from terrorist attacks. I have no doubt that we are all filled with satisfaction and pride that the IDF and the government have taken back the reins and that they will go to war to eliminate the Gaza terror. We deserve to live in peace and tranquility. Our children have the right to grow and develop as other children in the world do, without fear and anxiety." David Buskila, IHY 15.11.12 Swallow your pride, leave south temporarily "Our leaders[…] are doing us an injustice by not telling us flat out: Get out of the line of fire and tem­porarily relocate to a community that is out the rock­ets' range.[…] Even if the south's residents leave in droves, out national morale will be rehabilitated quicker than a family that has lost a loved one.[…] Residents of the south are more than welcome to stay in a small apartment in Nahariya where a journalist(smoker) lives with her two children and two dogs. Many other families are willing to host residents of the south. This is also a kind of national morale." Ariana Melamed, JED 17.11.12 Staying here to tell the world "I[…] have decided to stay, like others, in ord er to show to ourselves, to the rest of the citizens of Isra­el, to our allies and enemies all around the world – that the home front is stable and strong. Even in those moments when the sirens sound in the south of Israel, my home is here, in Beersheba, and I’m not going anywhere. […] National morale is actually important to me and it calls the shots in my game.[…] The citizens of Israel, who are being targeted by rockets from Gaza, are strong and stable. We’ve been through worse, we’ll survive this, and we’re not going anywhere." Assaf Farhadian, JED 18.11.12 1