Notes from a conflict zone ...

As one of my friends emailed me "I picked a hell of a time to move to Israel." Couldn't have said it better myself. The Situation, as most Israelis like to call it, has heated up. As you probably have been following in the news, Israel is now in major combat (if not all out war) on two major fronts.

One is in the Gaza Strip, where a 19 year old Israeli soldier is being held hostage by the military wing of Hamas, and despite no Israelis or Jews living in Gaza, Israel has invaded Northern Gaza to prevent rocket attacks on Southern Israeli cities and kibbutzim. Earlier today, 7 Israeli soldiers will killed by Hezbollah in Northern Israel on Lebanon border and 2 others were kidnapped by Hezbollah militants. Israel responded by attacking targets in Southern Lebanon and for the first time in over 6 years, Israel has an active military force in Southern Lebanon.

Hamas and Hezbollah are demanding the release of hundreds of prisoners in exchange for the release of the IDF soldiers. Currently, Israel has said they will not negotiate with terrorists and will not swap prisoners. Israel has called up reservists and is preparing for what could be a full scale war.

This is my 5th time being in Israel and except for a brief stretch that concerned control of a tunnel in Jerusalem (in 1996) this is the most tense the "Situation" has been while I've ever been in Israel. In fact, I've been blessed to have been in Israel for periods of calm and safety.

Despite the tenseness of the "Situation", I feel very safe in Jerusalem. I noticed a heightened police/army presence in the City - but nothing that made me feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Jerusalem continued as normal, people were in bars and restaurants, attending the Jerusalem film festival. I went to orientation programs and walked around the City.

I am safe; Jerusalem is very far either Gaza or Lebanon border. I will be careful ... I promise.