Posted February 10 2008 by Arye Sokol
Suicide Attack in Dimona
Please be advised that the video below is graphic and violent in nature.
Last week, the papers reported the first suicide bombing in Israel since January 2007. The notion portrayed by the papers is that for the most part things are calm in Israel. Granted, we thank God that there haven’t been more of these incidents occurring in Israel, but it is still quite misleading. There have been many if not numerous occurrences of violent incidents taking place. Just two weeks ago, two terrorists entered a small Kibbutz and attempted to take a group of high school students hostage. That same night, a bunch of terrorists shot and murdered a security guard north of Jerusalem before fleeing back to their village. Little over a month ago, two innocent teenagers were on a hike in the Hills of Hevron before being ambushed and killed. These are but a few major incidents that have happened in the last little while.
These are just some of the things we hear about.
What about the many foiled attempts that the army has prevented? Just last week, 4 pipe bombs were discovered on a major Israel roadway. A youth was detained with Molotov cocktails; one Israeli had one thrown into his car, causing burns to various parts of his body. This doesn’t even cover the onslaught of Kassam rockets falling on Sderot on a daily basis. Over 30 have been launched in the past 2 days; this is something that I am sure many of us have not given much thought to. We fail to think of the hundreds of people that live their lives in fear, or even worse, who have been affected by these attacks. When we hear of one killed and over 40 injured in a suicide bombing, do we realize to what extent all the injured people are suffering? Have we taken time out of our day to say a perek of tehillim (a few lines of psalms) for them, or any actions that may help our brethren here in Israel? While I write this piece as a citizen of Israel, and feel just as guilty as the next due to my indifference, I cannot help but wonder why I am not doing more.
While I do not expect the world to change overnight, I do think that it is time we really understand what is happening in our own little country. I think it is upon us to know, try to comprehend and even help those in Israel who need us. We need to understand that there hasn’t just been one suicide bombing since January 2007.
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2 Comments currently posted. 
ebutler says:
Jewneric » Leader of Entebbe Airport Rescue Dead at 70 says:
[...] 2nd “Disengagement” beginning with the small town of Kochav HaShachar; a suicide bomber killed one woman and wounded 38 others in Dimona, while a second suicide bomber was killed before being able to [...]
Perhaps in your estimation, I too am guilty of indifference. I also live in and am a citizen of Israel, and I do not feel threatened in the slightest way. I live my (para)normal life, travel around the country, and speak to basically everyone.
I guess that I just don’t want to be a victim. I want to live normally. Israel is no longer on the most dangerous places to visit. What do you gain from talking about these acts of violence or terrorism?
Does it help you sleeping at night knowing that more people feel bad and cry out for harsher and more vehement sanctions against the Palestinians? God forbid, do I condone what is happening in Sderot, which NO ONE is forgetting, but we also have to remember that Israel *is* responding with force to that threat. We can question if its enough or not enough force, but there is some semblance of a response.
You give the terrorists the win by raising the “fear” bar and reminding everyone how scary a country this is that we live in.
In the shul where my family prays in the NY, they still say tehillim after every prayer, just like they did during the Intifada. Like nothing has changed.
Everything has changed, hundred of thousands, if not millions of Israelis are living in relative calm and peace. People are partying, going to school (when not on strike), working, living, eating out, and in tremendous debt to the banking system (just like America!).
Continue helping Sderot, and the victims of terror in Dimona, and wherever else that violence may strike. Also, help all agunot, and all victims of domestic violence. Also, help out farmers who are being hurt by shmitta this year. Do not vote for/support politicians who will lie, cheat, philander, and steal.
But do not paint my country as a place that is categorized as a bereft of hope and full of issues. My country is alive. It has some problems, and we must deal with them.
There are many amazing organizations that help out families of people hurt by terror — try the OneFamilyFund. I am not being apathetic, I just am sick and tired of fear-mongers attempting to create a nation of victims.
Kol HaKavod LaTzahal.