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From a Safe Room in Israel

[Philadelphia Inquirer] Diana Bletter - As I type these words in the protected room of our house - one we thought we'd never have to use - in Shavei Zion, the small farming village where I live, about two miles south of Nahariya, more than 3,000 missiles have fallen around us in the last three weeks, killing at least 49 civilians. Our pastoral way of life in the western Galilee, where Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Druze have lived in harmony for the last 50 years, is on the brink of destruction. During a lull in the missile attacks, I drove through Nahariya, now a ghost town. Most of the city's residents have been holed up in underground bomb shelters for almost a month, held hostage by Hizballah. Three of our sons currently serve in the Israel Defense Forces. Shlomie, a medic in the paratroopers, was recently wounded by shrapnel in heavy fighting in Aita-al-Shaab, a village in southern Lebanon. Shlomie will survive his wounds, but dozens of his comrades were wounded and some soldiers lost their lives. Shlomie was fighting next to Michael Levin, the soldier who moved from Bucks County, PA, to serve in the Israeli army. Shlomie said that after Michael was wounded, he picked him up and carried him to a safer area. Right before Michael died in his arms, Shlomie told him, "I love you, Michael. I'm sorry."
2006-08-10 01:00:00
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