I have been reading many news forums about Israel and Ariel Sharon. Many people write in, especially from America, telling us how Israel and its leadership are comatose and defeatist, and how Israel's neighbours are taking advantage of its weakness and attacking us. Its a shame that those who write such nonsense are living so far away and probably doing so little for Israel. I have served six years full time in the Israeli armed forces, and many years of reserve duty, and also I lecture on a voluntary basis to certain units. I have served and met many of Israel's brave youth, watch as they fiercely defend our homeland, so that armchair writers can visit and criticise our beautiful and free democratic country. In the last blog I wrote about the many that give their lives each year in protecting and securing our people. From the moment that the Israeli state was born, it has been under attack by its neighbours. We have known very rarely, days of calm, whilst our brave and heroic security forces have ceaselessly been on guard to protect and defend Israel. Our leaders are sadly, probably the world's most experienced experts in all facets of defence and security. It is this never ending war against terrorism and hateful neighbours, that has brought our great warrior leaders to the understanding that parley is as important as the mighty sword. How dare anyone claim Israel is a country of cowards, we are a people that has always offered Shalom, even under the fire of the enemies gun, not from weakness or cowardice, but from the strength of a mighty warrior.
We in Israel live a hard and dangerous life defending our people, instead of ignorant letters from abroad, egging our young to die for our country, we in Israel pray that our young will never know war, but if needed they shall be able to defend Israel as so many others have done before them.
There is no man in Israel that has offered so much to our country as Our prime minister Arel Sharon. He is a brave soldier, and a mighty gladiator of peace, I pray this brave and tired man will have a safe operation, and will have the strength to carry on his noble work.
Michael Bloom