Plowshares into Swords: Former Jewish Towns are Terrorist Camps
Pastor Dale Morgan
Plowshares into Swords: Former Jewish Towns are Terrorist Camps*
by Hana Levi Julian
(IsraelNN.com) The prediction by the Biblical prophet Isaiah that
enemies will beat their swords into plowshares may have been carried out
by the Jews of Gush Katif – but Palestinian Authority Arabs in Gaza got
it backwards and are now using the former Jewish agricultural
communities as terrorist training camps.
The towns of Elei Sinai and Dagit, former Jewish communities in the Gaza
region, are now being used to teach new terrorists and upgrade the
skills of those who are already experienced in attacking Israeli
civilians and soldiers.
Earlier this week, Israelis living in the western Negev reported hearing
explosions that upon investigation turned out to be part of explosives
training exercises carried out by the ruling faction in the new PA unity
government.
The Gaza trainees are using the formerly Jewish towns to practice
producing and using explosives, ambushing soldiers, shooting rockets and
more, according to a senior member of Hamas. He added that the
terrorists are preparing for an Israeli operation in the area, which
they believe will take place in the near future.
IDF Upgrading Reservist, Commander and Combat Training Programs
Israel Defense Forces commanders are also focusing their efforts on
upgrading battle skills, focusing on measures to meet the increasingly
sophisticated weaponry and terrorist skills.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said, in his first appearance
before the army leadership, that he plans to emphasize intensified
training for the reserves as well as the commanders and combat troops.
Ashkenazi reviewed the lessons learned from last summer’s Second Lebanon
War and told Security Cabinet ministers a day later that his first
priority would be specialized training for troops assigned to especially
dangerous missions. He did not elaborate on what those missions might be.
The IDF Chief also warned the Cabinet that the army would not be able to
handle a war and said the process of bringing the troops up to
battle-ready status would take several years.
The Prime Minister’s Office hastened to issue a statement less than two
hours later, however, that “such remarks were never made and, in any
case, cannot be interpreted as if the IDF is in a situation that
requires rehabilitation.”
Former Front-Line Community Residents Ready to Return
And as the IDF prepares to reinforce its ability to protect Israeli
citizens on the home front, civilians who once lived in
Disengagement-destroyed Homesh in the Shomron are planning to return to
the site and rebuild.
At the same time, a group of Jewish women is planning to use "spiritual
weapons" - by fulfilling the commandment of “taking challah” in support
of the return to Homesh next Monday. They will fulfill the Biblical
command to separate a small potion of dough from the bread they are
baking for Shabbat, and pray for the endeavor’s success. The challah
initiative is the brainchild of a former resident of Homesh, who was
expelled from her home along with all of the town’s Jewish residents in
2005. The woman, who now lives in Ramle, explained that her idea would
provide an alternative way to help the returnees, for those who are
unable to be physically present. She said that the act of taking challah
from bread has great spiritual significance, and demonstrates the power
of prayer.