ots@ohrtorahstone.org.il

Now that the sounds of battle have ceased, the real battle is underway in a different arena - the media. I decided to write my impressions of the difficult battle in Jenin, during which we lost 23 soldiers, and which the Palestinians are attempting to portray as a massacre.

…Since I was mobilized, about three weeks ago, I am impressed each day anew, by the willingness of people to leave their homes and endanger their lives in order to defend Israeli citizens… I, along with many of my friends, view it not only as a civilian, Zionist obligation, but as a supreme moral privilege to defend the nation and the Land of Israel.

…The sights which we encountered during the battles were harsh. I am not referring only to the sights of IDF soldiers who were wounded and killed, but also to the terrorists who were wounded and killed and the hundreds of captives. However, anyone who entered the camp and witnessed the culture of "shahidim" in each and every house, realized that this is a war which was waged with no alternative - a war which was imposed upon us by an enemy lacking a conscience, an enemy who does not hesitate to use women and children as live shields and does not hesitate to send young people to commit suicide, an enemy who indiscriminately murders women, children and the elderly, and subsequently transforms the murderers into martyrs and role models.
Despite the substantial "price" which we paid in achieving victory in this battle, we emerged victorious militarily and even more so morally, and we have nothing of which to be ashamed. On the contrary, we should be very proud.

Shlomo Brown
54th Independence Day
A tank in Jenin

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