justabump

Not OP, but just regarding #4, its not like the rockets from Hamas have done little damage from lack of trying. Its so simplistic that people take the body counts as signs of asymmetry (the conflict is of course asymmetric, but in other ways) - its like people are troubled that not enough Israelis are dying. The truth is that the reason they arent is because of significant technological advances, infrastructure, and even culture - when warned of impending attacks, the Israelis run. In Gaza, they are either forced to stay put by Hamas rulers or openly declare that god will help and they will be OK (see the Vice dispatch #2, which is deppressing and horrendous).

"Close saturday" is actually army slang for the most common and lowest level punishment in the IDF - it means you cant go home for a weekend leave, whenever that may happen next.

"Saving" is a lit. translation of שמירה, but the actual meaning in context is simply "guard duty".

Sorry for the hebrew - i overlooked that this was a thread where many non speakers would see it, and rather was just addressing OP directly. I guess thats what PMs are for. Besides all that, OP is off of his post by now, seeing that his original was some 6 hours ago. Few assignments last loger than that.

Yes, of course. As a Jew and Israeli (expat), you should know that the deaths of Palestinian civilians sickens the vast, overwhelming majority of us to our very core. Golda Meir (a Prime Minister of Israel a few decades back) once said: "i can forgive the arabs for killing us, but i cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill them". We really just want this to stop, and to know that it will stay stopped for a long time.

If youre actually on עוטף עזה, please get back to שמירה. Its way more than just being סוגר שבת on the line here, brother.

Edit: stay safe - and believe me, I know how boring and pointless some stupid עמדה can be.

Amen and Ameen. Oh God how I want peace.