4th update.....

Not really sure what to say.  Honestly, don't even want to write another blog about this - at least 7 more serious attacks since the last update.  If we knew that what is going on in Israel was being reported in America and other parts of the world, we probably wouldn't even send out another update.  But it's not - at least not with the truth of the situation.  Watched a Fox News video about the attacks here, and for at least half of the report, on the bottom of the screen it said, "Israeli stabs 4 Palestinians."  While that horrible attack did take place last week, somehow it was a more important point to convey than the other dozen or more attacks by Palestinians against Jews.  This phrase in the picture below can be seen in a few places around Jerusalem.  Quite profound!

The chart below lists many of the attacks that happened over just 4 days.  This does not include the attacks from our first blog, when which we told about four people who were killed.

Put out by the IDF.

Teen terrorist right before he stabbed a Jewish man
walking home from praying at the Western Wall on Friday.
You can see the knife in his hand.

One of the survivors of a stabbing attack.

The above chart doesn't include the many, many rock attacks.  And people need to realize, we are not talking about stones.  These are big rocks (and sometimes cinder blocks) that can kill.  A soldier was injured recently when a rioter used a sling shot and a marble and hit him in the throat.  There was also a stabbing attack with a vegetable peeler recently.  It's anything they can get their hands on.

Nor does the chart tell of the riots all over the country - or the rocket attacks from last night coming into Israel from Hamas in Gaza.

It also doesn't mention the hundreds of Hamas members from Gaza that rushed the border fence (between Gaza and Israel) even though the IDF warned them to go back.  Due to the measures the army had to take against this attack, 6 people died, and many were injured.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/two-palestinians-killed-in-clash-with-idf-along-gaza-border/

Also since the chart was created, a suicide bomb attempt was thwarted by a traffic policeman.  He pulled over a car on Highway #1 driving from Jericho towards Jerusalem.  The car was heading up the mountain to the checkpoint, but was driving in the wrong lane - the one for buses and public transportation - so he pulled her over for suspicions.  Yes. Her.  When the officer approached the car, a woman got out, shouted Allahu Akbar, and detonated the bomb in the car.  The officer was "mildly" injured, and the terrorist was seriously injured.  Both were taken to a hospital in Jerusalem.  We give praise to God that this attack was thwarted before it reached its intended destination in the city where more people would have been injured.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/bombing-attempt-outside-jerusalem-wounds-police-officer/

Traffic policeman - HERO - stopped terrorist out of suspicions.

Here's a link to watch an interview with the policeman.  It's translated into English.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/201711

Even now, as we are ready to send out this update (it's all written and ready to go), another stabbing just occurred near Hadera (north of Tel Aviv, south of Haifa).  Four Israelis injured, one terrorist was apprehended, one escaped.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/201726

Prime Minister Netanyahu has called up extra reserves of Border Police to patrol in Jerusalem and Judea & Samaria.  Many believe he is not doing enough.  More security is great, but something needs to be done to deter the attacks.  What the answer is, we don't know.

Border Police meeting on the steps at the Western Wall plaza.

Just as the mayor of Jerusalem did, Friday Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon also called on the public who have gun permits to carry their weapons.  What's necessary to realize is that most people in Israel with gun permits are former IDF soldiers, and most likely also in the reserves.  They are well trained in how and when to handle a weapon.  It's kind of like an unofficial call-up of reserves.

http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Yaalon-urges-licensed-civilians-to-carry-firearms-Riots-reported-in-Arab-towns-421456

The public is really taking a lot of responsibility to be alert and ready.  Many are arming themselves with whatever self defense weapons they can.  Self defense courses are really popular right now as well.  You may remember that a few years ago we took an Israeli self defense class called Krav Maga.  Wish we could say we remembered more of it, but we have been talking about what to do in a situation if we find ourselves in one.

We have also discussed how we find each other, and how we communicate in an emergency.  Being mentally prepared (as much as one can...) is a good start.  We certainly don't intend to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, but this has spread all over the country, not just "certain neighborhoods."  This article below also gave a lot of good tips, many which we are already doing:  Being alert at bus & train stops, don't be so engrossed in your phone, check out everyone around you, if possible have a wall behind you at a bus or train platform, etc.

http://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-buy-pepper-spray-sign-up-to-self-defense-courses-as-stabbing-attacks-surge/

So how are we?  Fearful? No.  Mourning for those wounded & those who lost loved ones.  Angry.... Frustrated.... Every time we hear the sirens and helicopters now, we have to wonder if there's been another attack, or if our soldiers and police are in harms way yet again.  We mentioned in the last update that we were going to meet with a commander this week.  He has now contacted us to say it's not possible, as his unit has been deployed to areas in need of patrol (areas we cannot visit at this time).

This isn't the same as the rocket attacks in last year's war.  It's more personal.  Now we don't run for shelter in a safe room.  Now each and every person needs to be alert and ready to thwart a possible attack.  And they are.  The public will fight this, as they already have been - until soldiers or police arrive to the scene (which they are always nearby).  The people of Israel, the Jewish people, are very resilient.  They will NOT allow terror to win.  They will go on with their lives as best as they can.  They won't let fear win.

Why do they continue to walk the same way to the Old City in Jerusalem as they always have, even if it now may be dangerous?  Because if they change, if they give in and go a different way, they are letting the terrorists win and get what they are wanting.  No, evil will not defeat this people, this Land.

Psalm 121

1             I will lift up my eyes to the hills—

From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.