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Strength Is Sought at Rites in Israel Strength Is Sought at Rites in Israel
(17 days later)
HOLON, Israel — It was a scene that played out on Monday at military cemeteries across Israel: Family, friends and comrades in arms, some in uniform fresh from battle, others wounded, gathering in the hundreds.HOLON, Israel — It was a scene that played out on Monday at military cemeteries across Israel: Family, friends and comrades in arms, some in uniform fresh from battle, others wounded, gathering in the hundreds.
In this country of eight million people, where most 18-year-olds are conscripted for up to three years of obligatory service and about 55,000 reservists have been called up over the past two weeks, almost everybody knows somebody involved in this latest war in Gaza.In this country of eight million people, where most 18-year-olds are conscripted for up to three years of obligatory service and about 55,000 reservists have been called up over the past two weeks, almost everybody knows somebody involved in this latest war in Gaza.
This popular connection with the military as well as the goals set by the government — to quell the rocket fire from Gaza and to destroy Hamas’s underground tunnels leading into Israel — have generated broad support for the 14-day-old war, despite the mounting losses.This popular connection with the military as well as the goals set by the government — to quell the rocket fire from Gaza and to destroy Hamas’s underground tunnels leading into Israel — have generated broad support for the 14-day-old war, despite the mounting losses.
The steeply rising death toll on both sides has set this military operation apart from previous campaigns in Gaza. A total of 25 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the start of the ground invasion on Thursday, more than twice the number killed during the entire three-week war in the winter of 2008-9, the last time Israeli ground forces invaded the Palestinian coastal enclave. Palestinian deaths have also risen quickly, surpassing 500, including scores of children.The steeply rising death toll on both sides has set this military operation apart from previous campaigns in Gaza. A total of 25 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the start of the ground invasion on Thursday, more than twice the number killed during the entire three-week war in the winter of 2008-9, the last time Israeli ground forces invaded the Palestinian coastal enclave. Palestinian deaths have also risen quickly, surpassing 500, including scores of children.
Yet unlike some previous wars that have divided the Israeli public or, like the second Lebanon war in 2006, have opened up the government to harsh criticism, this one has strong backing among Israelis.Yet unlike some previous wars that have divided the Israeli public or, like the second Lebanon war in 2006, have opened up the government to harsh criticism, this one has strong backing among Israelis.
Here in Holon, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Maj. Tzafrir Baror, 32, an infantry commander killed in Sunday’s deadly battle in Shejaiya, a Hamas stronghold, was buried on Monday next to Staff Sgt. Bnaya Rubel, 20, who was killed in another battle in Gaza on Saturday. The wreaths on Sergeant Rubel’s grave were already wilting. The police said at least 20,000 people attended.  Here in Holon, a suburb of Tel Aviv, Maj. Tzafrir Baror, 32, an infantry commander killed in Sunday’s deadly battle in Shejaiya, a Hamas stronghold, was buried on Monday next to Staff Sgt. Bnaya Rubel, 20, who was killed in another battle in Gaza on Saturday. The wreaths on Sergeant Rubel’s grave were already wilting.
The deaths of the soldiers only seemed to add motivation.The deaths of the soldiers only seemed to add motivation.
“We must not stop until we complete the mission,” said one soldier who served under Major Baror and who had already attended another officer’s funeral in the morning. “God forbid that we should lose the precious blood of our fighters in vain.”“We must not stop until we complete the mission,” said one soldier who served under Major Baror and who had already attended another officer’s funeral in the morning. “God forbid that we should lose the precious blood of our fighters in vain.”
Many said they were eager for a cease-fire, but only after the tunnels had been dealt with.Many said they were eager for a cease-fire, but only after the tunnels had been dealt with.
“Tzafrir gave his life to bring quiet,” said Ela Bitton, 25, a law student from Haifa who served under Major Baror until 2008. “We have to complete what he began. But then let’s hope to live in peace on our side and theirs.”“Tzafrir gave his life to bring quiet,” said Ela Bitton, 25, a law student from Haifa who served under Major Baror until 2008. “We have to complete what he began. But then let’s hope to live in peace on our side and theirs.”
Some Israelis were flying Israeli flags from their cars as they do on Independence Day. Banners appeared at main junctions around the country proclaiming, “A strong home front means victory at the battle front.” Even the first of two Israeli civilian casualties was killed by a mortar shell as he delivered candy to soldiers stationed at Gaza’s northern border.Some Israelis were flying Israeli flags from their cars as they do on Independence Day. Banners appeared at main junctions around the country proclaiming, “A strong home front means victory at the battle front.” Even the first of two Israeli civilian casualties was killed by a mortar shell as he delivered candy to soldiers stationed at Gaza’s northern border.
Some antiwar protests in Tel Aviv and Haifa have been attacked by right-wing extremists. In Nazareth, thousands of Israeli Arab demonstrators protested on Monday in solidarity with Gaza and clashed with the police. Fifteen protesters were arrested.Some antiwar protests in Tel Aviv and Haifa have been attacked by right-wing extremists. In Nazareth, thousands of Israeli Arab demonstrators protested on Monday in solidarity with Gaza and clashed with the police. Fifteen protesters were arrested.
But the high morale among many Israeli Jews stems from a widespread belief that unlike more contentious wars that Israel has embarked on in the past, such as the first Lebanon war in 1982, this is a necessary one.But the high morale among many Israeli Jews stems from a widespread belief that unlike more contentious wars that Israel has embarked on in the past, such as the first Lebanon war in 1982, this is a necessary one.
Gaza militants have launched more than 2,000 rockets into Israel over the past two weeks, Israelis note, sending millions running for cover. Israelis were particularly shaken by the exposure of such an extensive labyrinth of tunnels, some of them, officials say, built for attacks on Israeli communities along the border.Gaza militants have launched more than 2,000 rockets into Israel over the past two weeks, Israelis note, sending millions running for cover. Israelis were particularly shaken by the exposure of such an extensive labyrinth of tunnels, some of them, officials say, built for attacks on Israeli communities along the border.
“There is a very broad consensus,” said Yehuda Ben Meir, who leads the National Security and Public Opinion Project at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. “Israelis were aware that a ground invasion involves casualties. It casts a pall, but people realize it is part and parcel.”“There is a very broad consensus,” said Yehuda Ben Meir, who leads the National Security and Public Opinion Project at the Institute for National Security Studies at Tel Aviv University. “Israelis were aware that a ground invasion involves casualties. It casts a pall, but people realize it is part and parcel.”
Efraim Halevy, a former chief of the Mossad intelligence agency and national security adviser, has advocated talks with Hamas for years. But of the current campaign against the rockets and tunnels, he said, “If Israel has gone to war on this, it must emerge triumphant.”Efraim Halevy, a former chief of the Mossad intelligence agency and national security adviser, has advocated talks with Hamas for years. But of the current campaign against the rockets and tunnels, he said, “If Israel has gone to war on this, it must emerge triumphant.”
The popular Hebrew newspaper Yediot Aharonot printed an Israeli flag over a whole page of its Monday issue bearing the words, “We are all with the soldiers.”The popular Hebrew newspaper Yediot Aharonot printed an Israeli flag over a whole page of its Monday issue bearing the words, “We are all with the soldiers.”
Lists of supposed casualties have circulated on WhatsApp, with erroneous reports of deaths stirring impassioned debate about the role of social media in wartime. Major Baror’s wife, Sivan, had posted a plea on WhatsApp for people to show responsibility shortly before she was informed about her husband’s death.Lists of supposed casualties have circulated on WhatsApp, with erroneous reports of deaths stirring impassioned debate about the role of social media in wartime. Major Baror’s wife, Sivan, had posted a plea on WhatsApp for people to show responsibility shortly before she was informed about her husband’s death.
In a different kind of appeal, friends of Sgt. Nissim Sean Carmeli, 21, a soldier who was killed in Shejaiya, called on Facebook for fans of the Maccabi Haifa soccer team to attend his funeral on Monday evening in Haifa. Sergeant Carmeli, who was promoted posthumously to the rank of staff sergeant, came from Texas to Israel and is considered a “lone soldier” because his parents live in the United States.In a different kind of appeal, friends of Sgt. Nissim Sean Carmeli, 21, a soldier who was killed in Shejaiya, called on Facebook for fans of the Maccabi Haifa soccer team to attend his funeral on Monday evening in Haifa. Sergeant Carmeli, who was promoted posthumously to the rank of staff sergeant, came from Texas to Israel and is considered a “lone soldier” because his parents live in the United States.
“We don’t want his funeral to be empty,” his friends wrote. “We don’t want his funeral to be empty,” his friends wrote. The police said at least 20,000 people attended.