Hello from Israel:

[Sir Joseph]

<DIV>Here's another "insight" from my sister. Much less formal and analysis here but it's more of a "here's what's new" type of post. As always, translation requests are available.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>HI,</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>Today the kids are home from school because it's SHushan Purim.&nbsp; They spent the morning at a Purim carnival playing games and winning prizes.&nbsp; Nobody is walking around with their gas masks---yet.&nbsp; The mood isn't much different today than it was 2 weeks ago as far as worrying about the possibility of&nbsp;war.&nbsp; </DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>One of the things that seems different is the fact that neighbors and friends got called up for reserve duty.&nbsp; Or, today I found out from one of the border cops that I patrol with that they were all called in and told to be on alert mode.&nbsp; Most of them had vacation and some even went up north or down south to visit family and are now heading home.&nbsp;&nbsp; All units are going to be out starting tonight</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>But the general mood is fine.&nbsp; Children are still running around in costume, the shuk is still full of people and the roads are not anywhere near empty.&nbsp; People are traveling around with their families and visiting friends in various parts of the country.</DIV>
<DIV>It's not that people are ignoring the fact that war may break out and that we may very well get caught in the middle.&nbsp; I think there is a feeling amongst people that we've all had to prepare our sealed rooms weeks ago.&nbsp; We've heard over and over again that war will happen and we need to be prepared.&nbsp; Well, I think people have prepared best they can and want to continue with their lives and make them as "normal" as they possibly can.&nbsp; Nobody is sitting and waiting for bombs to drop...</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>A concern that parents have is whether or not to send to school in case of war.&nbsp; Schools have been set up in case of war,&nbsp; some of the older schools will have classes in shifts because there is not enough room in the sealed rooms to teach the whole class at once.&nbsp; Parents have volunteered to go to the schools to help out in case the siren sounds during school hours.&nbsp; Still, even with that concern, it doesn't seem that the majority of people are freaking out here.</DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV>We'll keep you posted.</DIV>

[Domh]

Sir Joe - can you ask her what the feeling on the street is regarding potential retaliation if Israel is attacked?

[cdw]

Make sure you tell her that we are thinking of her.
Boy, people are pretty resilient, aren't they?

[Misu]

Isn't it amazing, that people living in the situation that Israelis are, strive to keep life as normal as possible?

We've a lot to learn from them.

[Sir Joseph]

The feeling on the street in Israel regarding whether or not Israel will
retaliate is that Israel will not sit back like it did in the first gulf
war. The government statements have been that they IDF would strike Iraq
ONLY if Israel is attacked with nonconventional weapons. However people
seem to feel that should Israel come under ANY type of attack the government
would do something.

Last night Israelis were told to open up their gas masks and prepare them.
From today, every person must carry their masks with them wherever they go.
The kids all went to school holding their kits with them. All school
students were given instructions on what to do in case of war so the kids
all knew how to put the mask together better then we did. Some kids were
excited about the idea of having to wear the masks. Others were pretty
apprehensive about the possibility of war. In my kids' school the school
psychologist will be talking to the classes about their fears and helping to
answer any questions they may have.

[ethics]

Originally posted by Sir Joseph

The kids all went to school holding their kits with them. All school
students were given instructions on what to do in case of war so the kids
all knew how to put the mask together better then we did.

That's just :friggin: sad.