Saturday, April 9, 2011

It Is Raining Rockets in Southern Israel



I am tired and pissed of. At 3.44 this mornig the alarm sent its high-pitched low-piched howls and we jumped out from our bed like puppets on springs. I was shacking with panic and fear, Maya's teeth were chattering and we stood, barefood, outside our flat. After we heard the rocket falling (we actually heard its "boom") we returned to the house but after a couple of minutes another alarm sent us running back outside.

We couldn't fall asleep afterwards. Maya was repeating "I am afraid, ima" "I am cold, aba!" and I swallowed my own fears and tears to comfort her.

This event is one in a chain of bombings that shook the south of Israel all Friday (all day long and well into the night) at it comes after on Thursday Hamas hit a school bus with an anti-tank missile. It could've been a bloodbath, fortunately the children had desembarked the bus a few minutes before. One kid that wasn't quick enough is now fighting for his life...They said the Hamas hit the bus at close range and they knew the bus was carrying children. So, they knew what they were doing and also were clear about the implications of a strike on children under the already very tense situation.

I am so tired my brain is fuzzy and I cannot think straight. All I can think about is the security of my children, about my life here...I will write more on the subject after I'll calm down a bit...

And you know what? Our next apartment will have a secured room, I don't inted to spend my nights shivering in the cold halls of buildings.



Note: the two pictures that you see here are the ones from the bombed bus. You can see all the windows are broken and yes, there is blood on the stairs of the bus. The pictures are copyrighted, they belong to ynet, the best source of israeli news (in my opinion, anyway).


3 comments:

Katherine Jenkins said...

This sounds scary! Is moving an option?? I hope you are feeling better and the rockets have quieted down!

Simcha said...

I can't imagine what it must be like for you guys, how frightening to go through the bombings and air raids. I hope it will be over soon and that you guys will stay safe. If you ever want to get a way for a bit you are welcome to come for a visit in Mitzpe Yericho. It's really quiet here (except for in my house ;) )

Alone in Holy Land said...

Katherine - it is quiet now here, but everything is relative...we'll try to move towards the center of the country in a couple of years. The prices are very high as you approach the center, so...we'll see.
Simcha, thanks for you kind offer. Who knows, maybe we'll come to visit...