For the past three hours Israel has been in a shooting war -- again. Hamas says it has fired 5000 rockets from Gaza, most aimed at the Israeli south and a smaller number at the country's center. There have also been reports of terrorist infiltrators from the West Bank. Where I live, in the far north of the country, it has been quiet so far but as Hezbollah (in Lebanon) is the best-armed of the terrorist groups, and has long said it will attack when it feels the time is ripe, the IDF is on high alert in the area.

I have no relatives living in areas which are most at risk and none in the north. Moreover at age 77, with nobody who depends on me, I consider myself to be among the most expendable and notified the community's head of security that if anyone needs to be taken for medical aid, or if the kibbutz needs a driver for any reason. that I am available and willing to drive anywhere.

While the IDF has (reportedly) already begun air operations against Gaza, and the entire nation is on "war alert" status, the government has not yet decided what action to take, it will be meeting this afternoon to decide what to do.

I am posting this on Community Buzz, and not on Omni, because I want this thread (as was the one in 2006) to be focused on how it impacks residents (on both sides of the border) and foreign tourists now in Israel or planning to come here. If you want to argue about who are the good guys and who are the bad guys, please open an Omni/PR thread for that.