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GAZA WAR DIARY: 10 NOVEMBER 2024

If an innocent person cannot walk down your streets without being harassed and abused, they are no longer your streets.

If your police do not feel themselves obligated to enforce the rule of law, but entitled to interpret it selectively, you no longer live under the rule of law, and no longer have a police force that protects you.

What happened in Amsterdam was apalling for me as an Israeli and a Jew. But since I do not live in the Netherlands, and can choose freely never to set foot there again, I am not the one this should terrify. It is the Dutch who should be terrified.

For twenty years, ever since the barbaric murder by an Islamic terrorist of Theo Van Gogh who dared to create the prescient film, “Submission,” about the Islamic takeover of that once bastion of European liberalism, the Netherlands has bowed its head to their Islamic conquerers, without so much as a whisper of protest. Indeed, when Aayan Hirsi Ali, the heroic women’s rights activist and Dutch parlimentarian received constant death threats for her activism, instead of deporting the Muslim murderers, the Dutch threatened her with the revocation of her Dutch citizenship, and her Dutch neighbors refused to give her a place to live, forcing her to flee once again. Unlike the Dutch, Ali did not submit: “The future of Islam in our country; the subjugation of women in Islamic culture; the integration of the many Muslims in the West: It is self-deceit to imagine that these issues will disappear…I will continue to ask uncomfortable questions, despite the obvious resistance that they elicit. I feel that I should help other people to live in freedom, as many people have helped me.”

As the philosopher Karl Popper wrote in Open Society and its Enemies in 1945 concerning what he called “the Paradox of Intolerance”:

A truly tolerant society must not tolerate those who promote intolerance. Allowed unchecked expression, intolerant societies could exploit open society values to erode or destroy tolerance itself through authoritarian or oppressive practices.”

There is now a huge sign on Israel’s Ayalon Highway that reads: “Free Europe.”

Exactly.

Israel today, despite a war on six fronts, despite the calling up of its sons and daughters, the displacement of thousands of its people, the continuing heartbreaking saga of its kidnapped, is still in an enviable position in the world. Compared to cowed Europe, compared to ideologically barbaric Islamic and Communist regimes, Israelis live in a free and open society. It is the only country in the world in which Jews, Muslims, and Christains live with freedom of religion and religious practice. Where anyone can walk down the street with a kippah, or kefeyah, or cross without fear of molestation without immediate consequence for the abuser. Even in America, this is no longer true.

The current attempts to destroy our little bastion of freedom, by murder, rape, and kidnap, has not and will not succeed. Muslims looking for submission will find only death. Thousands of them are already dead and buried in graves or piles of rubble in Gaza and Lebanon. Iran, that fanatic medieval source of intolerance and evil, cannot with all its proxies and billions, subjugate the Jews of Israel. In Iraq, Muslims now legally allow the forcible rape of girls as young as nine, calling it marriage. This too will come to Europe, which is being overcome. Make no mistake: Islam is winning, overcoming European liberals the way a python overcomes its prey – stunning it first then swallowing it whole. Perhaps Europeans – who avoid procreation – have ceased to care that they will soon cease to exist.

Not so in Israel. As long as the Jews of Israel exist, they will cherish and protect their freedoms. They will bring healthy young children into the world to carry on the legacy of their ancestors. Europe should view Israel not as a pariah, but as a shining example to emulate.

What the result of the American election means to me as a Jew and Israeli is this: That we, who cherish freedom, are no longer alone in the world. That America, which under Obama and Biden-Harris, was going the way of the Europeans, allowing their streets to be taken over, their institutions to be corrupted by an insane woke philosophy that threatened all that America stands for, has been saved. Millions of Americans have now indicated that they will be a powerful partner to us; that they see what is happening in the world clearly, as we do. That they will no longer be stunned and swallowed whole. Perhaps not all Americans, but the vast majority. And that is a source of hope.

I have been privileged share my hopes and fears with you daily for over a year. I thank you so much for your readership, your supportive comments, your faith, and your love. Thank you so very much for caring. I have felt all this so strongly, and it has been a constant source of strength and light for me throughut the darkness of this terrible year.

With God’s help, I believe that victory, while not yet secure, is clearly coming to us soon. Therefore, I will be substituting a weekly summary instead of daily entries.

Please check in for updates every Sunday.

And may God bless you and yours.


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27 comments on “GAZA WAR DIARY: 10 NOVEMBER 2024”

  1. Gig Berkowitz

    Dear Naomi, please enjoy the well deserved respite from the daily grind. You’ve been an inspiration to all your readers, even those who occasionally disagreed with you. As I’ve noted before, both of our grandsons are serving and theirs, and the safety of all Israelis, is paramount.
    Let’s hope peace will be here soon, all hostages are released and maybe even your Sunday missives will eventually become monthly. Be well and G-d bless you, Israel and the IDF
    Gig

  2. Robin

    Dear Naomi,
    Thank you for providing a clear and true understanding of so many issues. I am one of many who read your daily blog and felt such a connection with your words. I will continue to read your Sunday updates. Please know that your words provided some hope during many dark days as we all continue to pray for the return of the never forgotten hostages.

  3. Carol Levine

    Dear Naomi, thank you so much for the daily blogs. I live in the Western Galilee and resonate with everything you have said. We are about the same age and we both came to Israel around the same time. I am waiting for the day when we can live here in love and peace and that this will be a loving place for future generations.

  4. Ron Ander

    Thank you Naomi for keeping us informed and proud. Ron Ander – Toronto

    • Bea Rosenbaum

      Thank you Naomi for your spot on analysis of every day’s events affecting Israel and the rest of the world. I couldn’t agree more with your insightful comments and will miss the daily reports, but look forward to your Sunday posts. Thank you so much for all your hard work.

  5. Sara

    Dear Naomi
    Like everyone else, I am so deeply grateful for your daily posts through this most difficult and devastating time. You have helped me feel less alone.
    I see it as a good sign, moving to weekly posts, hopefully Israel is moving closer each day to total victory although we all know the ideology of Islam will take years and years to eradicate.
    Amsterdam. My heart is so heavy and yes, this is the idiotic ideology of the left and the woke- What you write is perfect, “A truly tolerant society must not tolerate those who promote intolerance”. For myself? Woke is beginning to read like, ignorant and antisemitic.
    Wishing you all the very best and will be looking forward to your weekly posts.
    I will never stay silent, as difficult as it is to speak up at times. Again, as I celebrated with you on Trump’s victory, I continued to be bullied by woke, easily tainted and overly dramatic few left friends I’ve tried to stay in touch with. And right there is the difference- I may not agree with them, but I agree to disagree without violent rhetoric.
    My you and your family be blessed.
    With love and gratitude

  6. Helen Levin

    I hope this is a good sign for you as an Israeli who has had to live under such threat on so many fronts. I thank you for your frankness and insights that can not be found in any media outlet in Australia. I wish you and our world a more peaceful future and will look forward to your weekly gems.

  7. Daniel Cohen

    Hi Naomi,
    Do you know why Bibi was in NYC on Friday. Several streets in the Upper East Side were closed to pedestrian as well as vehicle traffic, and the street was loaded with Secret Service agents. When we asked the Police officers what was going on, they told us that they were protecting the Israeli Prime Minister.
    Curious what they may be saying about this in Israel
    Thank you!
    Dan Cohen

  8. Sarah

    Naomi, you need a good rest from not only living the daily horrors Israel is experiencing but also faithfully chronicling them for us. Your reports have been a lifeline to many of us. Selfishly I wish you would continue but my heart is grateful you will take a break. Harvest your energy and write us on Sundays. Something to look forward to. With gratitude and blessings, Sarah (Canada)

  9. GD

    Dear Naomi, I start my day reading your daily thoughts, I will miss them but will be greatful we’ll still have you weekly. From way over in Australia I concur with much of that said by the other readers above, stay safe and wishing you all in Israel a speedy recovery to peace, hopefully with Trump running the show this will be very soon.

  10. Jackie

    Oh, Naomi,

    I will so miss your daily emails. They were a source of sanity for me during this difficult time. I couldn’t wait for your post and I would read it first every day!! I really don’t know what I would have done without it. It was always so informative, insightful, real and full of depth and feeling. I learned so much from you and want to thank you for the time, effort and feeling that you put into your blog.

  11. Helen Glassman

    Dearest Naomi,
    Your blogs have been a beacon of light and faith in a dark world. I pray for our people in Israel every day and I will pray for you and your family. Stay well, stay safe. May G-D bless you and your message. I will look forward to reading your words on Sunday.

  12. Guy

    I don’t know if you heard about an Italia writer/Journalist Oriana Fallaci.
    Oriana was as extreme liberal and pro-Palestinian as they come.
    At one time she realized what Arafat and the rest of the terrorists
    are all about. So, she changed her mind about the Israeli Palestinian conflict.
    She was sick of the Muslims invasion of Italy and Europe eventually left Italy.
    She moved to New York unfortunately died shortly after.
    Oriana wrote a number of books about the Muslims invasion of Italy.
    I highly recommend you read her books, in particular:
    “The Rage and the Pride” and “The Force of Reason”.
    You may want to read her biography.
    You can get it all on Amazon.
    The Duch by the way were not much better than the Nazis.

  13. Penina

    Thank you Naomi
    I too will miss your itchy daily comments! I found your entries so refreshingly politically incorrect—a real joy in this crazy world we inhabit.

  14. Ellen Calderon

    So sad in the Netherlands I’m in south Florida and pray we live freely as Jews, God bless you

  15. Martha Wood

    Thank you, Naomi, for your accurate, informative, compassionate, sharings during this last year. My heart has been with you and all Israel, especially the IDF. I have been so blessed to receive your “family newsletters.” I join all your readers in praying for you all. Emmanuel WITH you.

  16. Ed kohl

    Dear Naomi,
    Thank you for your daily insights. May the United States once be a partner with Israel in liberty with our next president.
    Shalom,

    • Ellen

      Thank you Naomi for your wonderful insightly reporting.

      In 2014, Brandeis University was going to present Aayan Hirsi Ali with an honorary degree and I believe she was to be the commencement speaker. They cancelled her. Imagine, a university founded by Jews, overtaken by people who did not want a Muslim woman who would speak about women’s rights and Islam. I was very disappointed with them. My son was graduating and we attended, but I could not begin to tell you anything about the commencement speaker, other than he was a minority candidate. It was bizarre.

  17. Eva

    Sunday it is. Looking forward. Toda Raba from a life member of Hadassah.

    Eva

  18. Liz Rome

    Dear Naomi — like all the others who commented, I shall miss your daily reflections but look forward to your weekly words. Perhaps this means the end is in sight. I pray so.

    • Gail Saks

      I will miss your daily articles but will look forward to sundays and then the end of the hostilities

  19. Leonard Tenner

    I will miss your daily writings.They are inspirational to many of us in the US.
    May you and your entire family be safe; may Israel be victorious in all wars; may the hostages be freed now.

  20. Audrey

    Dear Naomi- your almost daily missives have been a great source of inspiration and encouragement for me to feel included in what’s really happening in Isr, and I truly thank you for always giving us your true perspective. I am an Israeli living in Canada and I agree with everything you’ve written. I will miss your commentary and perspective every day except Shabbat. You’ve earned your rest. Sending you a big virtual hug!🥰

  21. Mary Lou

    Naomi – love your blogs. Will miss the daily ones but I look forward to the weekly one. You are so respected. I love your books and I share all your sentiments. God’s blessings on Israel and Jews worldwide. Thank the good Lord that trump won. There is an optimism in America that I haven’t seen since the appalling and dumb Biden-Harris administration. Prayers and blessings.
    Mary Lou

  22. דוב קרבי dov kravi

    נעמי יקרה,
    תודה רבה על היומן הזה שעקבתי אחריו והעברתי מדי יום לחברי הרבים המודאגים מישראל.
    תנוח כעת.

    • Anita F

      I agree with everything you have said, with every blog. Since I live in a liberal area, like-minded persons have been hard to find. Thank you for your honesty and fearlessness in voicing your opinions. I will continue to look forward to your blogs weekly. Hopefully we will celebrate the hostages release together very soon.

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