BONITA LYNETTE
Dearest Mom and Dad,
A wave of desperation enveloped me today. 21st day of Operation Protective Edge. They have called this war an “Operation”/”Battle”!! What a nerve. 53 top-class soldiers and quality people from our Elite units, gone!!! Many more injured. Financial costs astronomical – not only costing the Country as a whole but every person walking in the street, feeling the financial strain from all sides. Businesses in the south are collapsing and people are being left with no food on their tables.
SEE LINKS TO ALL BONI’S LETTERS BELOW
Even though the talk of a peace agreement, I personally don’t feel it getting closer. Maybe “seeing is believing” and we are not able to visualise as can see only the dishonesty, untruths, lying, use of innocent children as weapons for war. Have lost our sense of what is fair play, where to draw the line, how far are we prepared to take this tragic situation that is causing so much suffering. This feeling is becoming overwhelming and affecting every person and every family in our tiny country.
My brother in law went out to a birthday party on Friday night and sat next to a really interesting lady who spoke of pride of her son in Gaza ALL NIGHT. He came home with such a good feeling – parents feeling so blessed. Lo and behold, was shocked and devastated to hear the news on Saturday morning that her beloved son that she had spoken about so proudly the evening before, was one of the unlucky ones. Killed in Action. Shock and Horror!
My close friend, Nurit dropped by for coffee last evening. Walked into my house, hugged her and we cried together. Her eldest son has been in Gaza for 20 days. No sign of life – not a word. I certainly have no way of describing the suffering that she is enduring during this terrible time. My neighbour sent her son off to the army 6 months ago without even imagining the price. She is now functioning on automatic, pale, skin and bones. Also 20 days of no contact with his family etc etc etc etc.
My son calls dutifully every night from his army base while doing a training course. Last night sent a message “Baruch Dayan Emet – 10 soldiers killed tonight. He said ” My best friend in the army, serving in the unit together with me and sleeping in the bed next to me, has just got news of the death of his first cousin – killed in Action – 18 years old!!!!!” S won’t be calling home tonight and their son won’t be calling home ever!!!
Well that was certainly the end of my night’s sleep. Lay awake thinking of the soldiers in Gaza, the residents of the South and especially about the miracle of our discovery of the tunnels. Our 3 boys, Gilad, Naftali and Eyal, who were captured and killed, were the start of this whole process. They are Angels and we could say that they brought our country together in prayer, in tragedy and in such sadness. We all felt their family’s pain and Am Israel was One as we prayed for these 3 boys, only 16 years old and simply on their way home from school! We could even say that we have them to thank. As a result of their cruel deaths, Israel entered into this Operation and this being the catalyst that helped us to make the enormous discovery of huge tunnels being built by the Hamas, underground. We discovered that for years, the Hamas have been taking/stealing funds that were donated and meant for the people of Palestine – for the building of schools, hospitals and communal facilities – and misused them for warfare. They used our cement and our materials, they used our tools and they built cities underground. They prepared motorbikes for escape and organised facilities underground, all to enable massive attack on Israel , Citizens of the South and the kibbutzim on the Gazan borders.
End this letter off feeling despondent and out of control. We are dealing with totally irrational people and suddenly my big theory of communication being the answer to every problem, just doesn’t hold water in this case. Mainly, have a deep sense of sadness that again, so many parents, brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, sons and daughters are paying the highest price that anyone can be asked to pay. How are we able to WIN this war when the LOSS is just so great.
Am Israel Chai, Love always, Forever,
More letters from Boni to her folks…
