Our last normal day? * The wavering US support for Israel * Lamentations for a new calamity * Sleepwalking into regional war * Facing the Houthi threat

[Times of Israel]( [The Blogs Weekly]( Thursday, August 8, 2024 from the blogs [O how she sat alone: New laments for a beloved land]( By Tamar Biala Ahead of Tisha B’Av, two October 7 survivors composed ‘kinot’ that place the recent horrors within the long history of Jewish tragedy Michael Oren [Washington’s wavering support for Israel]( [With Iran and its proxies threatening to launch a massive attack against Israel, US Navy forces are steaming toward the Middle East. As on April 14, when US warships helped intercept dozens of Iranian missiles fired at Israel, the Americans are poised to help defend our skies. The question nevertheless remains whether the United States will stand squarely behind Israel, even if it decides to strike preemptively. In view of the fundamental changes in the Biden Administration’s policy toward the Middle East crisis over the past ten months, can...]( Marc Sievers [Facing the Houthi threat: Time to stop playing defense]( They are a member of Iran’s ’axis of resistance’ and claim to be at war with Israel and the US. That should factored into the US response [I’m grateful for what ‘might be our last normal day’]( By Shayna Goldberg We’re Israelis: We make plans for next week even as we make jokes about the end of the world, because life is too precious to sit around waiting Stephen M. Flatow [Getting a package to Tehran? Not a problem for Israel]( The Jewish state has always hunted down the terrorists who harm its citizens. Why doesn’t the US? Alex Lederman [Sleepwalking into a regional war]( The hostage deal is nearly dead, in no small part thanks to Netanyahu’s duplicity. His indecision is an existential threat to Israel [As dangers loom, our ancestors give me strength]( By Rachel Sharansky Danziger Our Jewish foremothers knew how to live through catastrophes, but how they would marvel at a Jewish state supporting us as we do the same Eran Ortal [The world needs another ‘Don’t’ from Biden]( Iran’s aggression by proxies and threats to escalate give the US president reason to show strength in the region and intimidate the Islamic Republic Allen Selis [Bumper stickers for our fallen]( The Coke machine is plastered, covered, shrouded with pictures, a short quote, and dates – each for an October 7 victim or a soldier killed since [An Italian Jewish family’s story rebuilt]( By Denis Passalent When I discovered that a Jewish family once lived in my hometown, I tried to reintegrate them into my village’s story Top more choice voices Ariella Cohen [We don’t hand out candy when our enemies are killed]( I can understand the need to rejoice at the wins, but only terrorists treat death with sweets. Celebrate some other way Jonathan Lord [Making an Iranian attack Tehran’s worst option]( The Islamic Republic will be less likely to launch a major missile strike if it believes the US will strike preemptively to defang it Gary Epstein [A (maybe) valediction]( The Ayatollah might not let me get all the way through War and Peace, but at least I published this post in time Judy Halper [What to expect when you’re expecting an Iranian invasion II]( This time, they’ll likely try harder to make it hurt – just enough to let us go back to shooting at each other over the border [The Blogs Weekly]( [facebook]( [twitter]( [instagram]( [View in browser]( [Contact support](mailto:support@timesofisrael.com) [Advertise with us](mailto:advertise@timesofisrael.com) Were you forwarded this email? [Subscribe here]( [Unsubscribe]( from this List © 2024 The Times Of Israel, All Rights Reserved