Monday, September 22, 2008

Our latest reality

Just when you thought terrorism hit its scariest point, the strangers among us come out to play. We have been struck with a new reality, in my opinion even scarier than our previous one.

Since 1995, we have been plagued with regular bombings and more so with suicide bombings, AKA terrorism. Although we have had periods of more terrorism and periods of less terrorism, terrorism itself is always a reality in this country.

But now, terror had changed its form. Anything can be turned into a weapon, anyone can be a terrorist. This new trend is scary. In the past three months, we have been attacked by lone terrorists…to our knowledge not belonging to any specific terror organization, and taking orders from no one but themselves.

Two of the attacks were by ordinary workers, driving tractors. I don’t remember the number of deaths in the attacks, but how can I forget the huge tractor using its lift to turn a bus on its side, run over anything or anybody in its path, or the single baby, who was thrown from the car, just as the tractor crushed the entire vehicle and orphaned the baby?

And now, a man, driving a Mercedes Benz, saw a group of soldiers, smiled at them, and stepped on the gas. At least this time the only death was the terrorist himself. Fourteen soldiers were hospitalized.

This is a scary reality. At least with suicide terrorism, we knew to expect bombings on public transportation and in crowded areas (more or less), so we could rationalize ways to avoid these areas if we wanted. But this, this is different. This is scary. We can never know when the next person will just snap and go on a murderous rampage. Luckily for the rest of the country, so far all of the attacks have been in Jerusalem, by Palestinian Israelis from East Jerusalem.

There is no doubt in my mind that this trend is not going to stick to Jerusalem alone. We have Palestinian Israelis living all over the country. Just because it hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean Tel Aviv and Haifa are safe. Now ordinary people are picking up on the fact that they too can do extraordinary things…anybody can kill the Zionists these days, all they need is a weapon that will do the proper damage before they themselves get killed in defense.

Did I mention that we are celebrating today 30 years of a cold peace with Egypt? The festivities just keep on rockin’.

1 comment:

Amy B said...

Do you know that I worry about you alot- I cant even imagine what your parents think- goodness!!!