I had a Zoom last night with a synagogue in New York. It was 7 PM their time, but 2 AM Israel time. I got to sleep around 3 AM. And when I opened my eyes, my husband was standing there with his iPad opened to Ynet, and the headline: “Haniyeh Killed in Teheran”!

A flood of joy washed through me that I have not felt since October 6.

One of the indelible memories that I have of this disgusting, evil man is a video of him in his luxurious hotel room in Qatar with his Nazi co-workers, the television open to videos of Hamas invading Israel. There he was, overjoyed, leading everyone in prayer to their evil god, asses in the air.

I wonder if he realized that he had just signed the death warrants for almost his entire family, as well as for himself? I wonder if in his much touted desire to be a martyr, he actually ever realized that he had sealed his and his children’s and grandchildren’s fate, arranging an early death for them all?

I decided to take sweets with me to give out at my morning aerobics class, a Middle Eastern tradition for celebrating a happy event. Some of my friends smiled, but others hesitated, worried about the reprisals that were sure to come. I told them we needed to celebrate our victories over evil. It doesn’t matter what happens next.

I remember the Intifada in 2001-2, the nightmare years after Oslo when exploding buses and bar mitzvas and discotheques bloodied Israel’s streets. Every time the IDF would capture and kill a terrorist, the attitude of many Israelis was a fearful: now you’ve made them angry! I remember thinking: Yeah, now they’re really, really mad, whereas when they murdered thirty people at the Park Hotel during the Passover Seder, they were just mildly disgruntled. According to that idea, it we ever try to defend ourselves, they’ll be really, really, really, really mad. As if the horrors they inflicted on us which came from the causeless hatred of our simply existing had not been a cause enough for the worst atrocities.

So now, I’m reading all the threats coming from all over the Arab world: Iran, the Houthis, Iraq, Turkey, Hezbollah, Hamas. Now they are really, really, really mad! All of them promise acts of revenge. And I say: They will do to us the worst they can no matter what we do to them. If they could have done it already, they would have. I don’t think any of them are holding back. Make my day, you evil bastards!

It’s almost comical really, watching them scramble. Especially the mullahs in Iran. They must be sweating, looking over their shoulders. After all, Haniyeh, their honored guest, in for the new president’s inauguration (remember, Iran’s former president is six feet under also due to mysterious circumstances) housed in the special quarters for such high level dreks, and a missile (!) came flying through his window just as I was starting my Zoom).

At first, the Iranians claimed it was launched from a different country, making it an act of war. And then, later, they changed their minds, saying it came from the apartment building next door, in the heart of Teheran’s section for the most important murderers they have! I’m thinking they downgraded because they don’t want to respond in a way which will have Israel dropping an atom bomb on them. Now I hear officials in Teheran saying they want revenge, but not a war… They sound scared. And well they should be.

I’m trying to get my head around it. How did they get a missle into an apartment building? What, nobody noticed? Did they think it was a refrigerator, or an iPad?

Enemies of the Jihadi regime in Teheran have posted a map pointing out the headquarters in Teheran of the Supreme Leader asking Israelis to make use of it!

What fun!

It couldn’t have come at a better time, increasing the mythical stature of Israeli readiness and capabilities, and thus its deterrence, so badly damaged on October 7. I’m sure now none of the people in Hamas, or in Iran, or who support Hezbollah have any illusions that Israel won’t get them. It’s the message that we know exactly where you are. You can run but you just can’t hide. I’m wondering if Sinwar, in his rat hole, surrounded by his wife and children has heard about Haniyeh. I’m wondering how he is planning to escape. Or if he will at long last surrender.

As for reprisals, what could be worse than what they’ve already done to us. They took their best shot on October 7, when we did nothing to them but help them. We’ve had the punishment already. Now it is their turn to suffer and cry and go to funerals and shake in their boots in fear of a rocket coming through their windows.

Thank you God. Thank you Prime Minister Netanyahu. Thank you IDF and everyone in its ranks. We love you. We admire you. You make us proud.

Speaking of thanks, members of the US Congress thanked Israel for eliminating Hezbollah leader Fuad Shukr, who was involved in the 1983 Beirut barracks bombing that killed 241 US Marines. With the death of Haniyeh, we’ve almost forgotten the spectacular elimination in the heart of Beirut of Hezbollah’s second in command!

There is now an opportunity for an agreement in which Hezbollah withdraws from the border region. Now, however, quiet-for-quiet is no longer on the table. In other words, for Hezbollah to simply not respond is not enough. Israel is no longer satisfied with the status quo. The current assessment is that the Iranian and Hezbollah response to the assassinations will come in the next few days, and it will probably oblige Israel to respond again with greater force, even to the point of war. Netanyahu speaking on national television, has said that difficult days are ahead, but we will not bow to pressure to prematurely end this war.

In the meantime, let’s rejoice and thank God for this significant victory over evil.

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