STILL MISSING

     For almost three days now, the three boys who were kidnapped are still missing. The security forces of Israel are looking for them, for their kidnappers, but why were they notified only eight hours after the police were told? Why did the police wait five hours to take it seriously? These are questions to be answered later, once the boys are home, but for now the focus is on bringing them back, returning them to the arms of their aching families.
     Hamas, which always publicly shouts that the plan is to kidnap either an Israeli soldier or civilian, now knows it has gone too far in kidnapping children. Now they are saying that to accuse them is "stupid". Really? When one keeps announcing intent to do something and it happens, what are people to think?
     In the meanwhile there is barely any ripple in the waters of the world. When a 20 year old Arab throws bricks and stones at an Israeli soldier, and receives a rubber bullet in exchange, the world bemoans the damage to the "youth". Today, the Times reprinted a feed from Reuters which at least allowed that the two 16 year olds are kids but called the 19 year old a "man". The USA and its President keep quiet when one of the boys is an American citizen. No where do we hear a condemnation of Hamas nor a retraction from the USA which said it would work with a Hamas  - Fatah unity government, going back on their oft published vows not to do so.
     And all the while there are three families sobbing, broken hearted. Their children are in distress, danger, alone and terrified, if still alive, and if so, in what condition, and they can do nothing. In Israel, every child is the nation's child. There is not even six degrees of separation and so the entire nation is wounded and we must be wounded too as do not think that we are exempt from this kind of terror.
    Write to your representative, to the President, to Ban Ki-moon who calls for restraint!!! Really, what is Israel to do when its children are missing - not go after them with all their might until they are found and brought home? Why not urge restraint on the animals of Hamas? Why not come down hard on these and other related animals? But, as usual, when it comes to Jewish blood, to Jewish children, the world is quiet. What the hey, let's go play ball.
     Eyal, Naftali, Gilad - these are their names. They are real. They are children. They are in terror, pain, crying. Do not forsake them.