I live in an amazing country that can take on four homicidal jihadist regimes with one hand tied behind her back, and also the entire world’s condemnation, without missing a step. What I fail to understand, is why my fellow Israelis are not out dancing in the streets at the amazing take-down of the Houthi criminals who have caused so much misery to Israelis, banning our shipping lines, and sending our people into bomb shelters, and especially the Yemenite people themselves.

According to the European Parliament: “Since 2004, crimes and human rights violations committed by the Houthi militia against civilians have been a daily occurrence in Yemen. Kidnappings, torture of prisoners, bombings of houses and the displacement of thousands of families are only some of the severe war crimes and human rights violations of which the Houthi militia is responsible. The Houthis have planted mines randomly, without differentiating between military or civilian sites. Mine explosions have occurred near homes, schools, mosques, markets, water sources and other places. Crimes committed against women are particularly grave, amounting to murder, maiming, detention, kidnapping and sexual violence. Supervisors in militia prisons repeatedly rape women detainees. Minors have also been victims of crimes. In fact, since 2014, the Houthi in Yemen have forcibly recruited 10,300 children, opening 52 training camps for thousands of adolescents, and have incited violence and promoted the group’s ideology through special lectures to fill students with extremist ideals and involve them in the group’s military actions.”

The UN has estimated that the war in Yemen had killed 377,000 people by the end of 2021, through direct and indirect causes (like starvation.)

Israel’s brilliant manuever in which top Houthi officials were contacted and invited to a “conference” which Israel, from 2,000 miles away bombed to hell, managed to eliminate the:

• Houthi Prime Minister,
• Minister of Agriculture,
• Minister of Welfare,
• Minister of Economy,
• Minister of Justice,
• Minister of Information,
• Minister of Education,
• Minister of Foreign Affairs, and
• Deputy Minister of the Interior (responsible for military activity).

Israel, and only Israel, had the guts to do this. So why aren’t we dancing in the streets, waving flags, celebrating our victory?!

I’ll tell you why. Because Jews don’t love war. Instead, we are focussed on mourning our latest military casualty: Sargeant First Class Ariel Lubliner, 34, a reserve soldier from Kiryat Bialik, tragically, from friendly fire. There is an ongoing investigation.

Oh, and while Israel was destroying the Houthis, she took time out to eliminate that sleazy Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida in Gaza, and rescue the remains of hostages Ilan Weiss, a member of his kibbutz emergency squad, and Idan Shtivi, who was helping to rescue and evacuate people from the Nova music festival when he was abducted and killed by Hamas. Shtivi was 28 at the time of his death. May their memories be a blessing.

The attacks on Gaza City continue as Israel is determined to destroy Hamas once and for all. I understand the anguish of the hostage families, who were hoping for a quick-fix Israeli surrender, but this is a better course for Israel’s nine million people. I agree with MK Smotrich who said today: “Hamas must surrender in full, release all hostages at once, disarm completely, dismantle its terrorist infrastructure, and exile its leadership from Gaza. Civilians wishing to leave will be permitted safe passage.”

If Hamas refuses, Smotrich calls for an intensified IDF ground offensive, a siege of Gaza City and Gaza’s heavily-populated central coastal region, cutting Hamas off from civilians, tightly managing humanitarian aid, and relocating civilians from war zones. In parallel, Israel would expand sovereignty step by step, including permanent control of the border buffer zone.  

The only thing that could interfere with Israel’s sensible and vital plan for total victory, is internal agitators and anti-Israel and anti-Semitic foreign pressure. I pray we can weather both.

“This victory is owed to the fallen, to the hostages, to the residents of the south, to the Jewish people worldwide, and to the security of the Western world,” Smotrich said today. 

Yes, it is.

And while our brave soldiers are busy dismantling decades of Iranian terror machinations all around us, I am headed to Tel Aviv for the circumscision ceremony of a new great-grandson (okay, I’m not that old, just married young and had kids that married young) who will be welcomed with ancient blessings into the tribe of Israel. There is a baby boom in Israel, my grand-daughter in law told me. The delivery rooms are full.

I am filled with personal joy, and pride in the achievements of my country Israel. May G-d bless her and protect her brave, resilient and remarkable people and continue to increase their numbers.

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