july 19 , 2006

Katusha Rockets Raining Down

We’re driving through northern Israel on our way to Kiryat Shimona.  We’re on our way to do a live shot for Wednesday’s 700 Club.  It’s one of the towns on Israel’s border with Lebanon that’s taken the brunt of Hezbollah attacks for years. 

Now it’s just not Kiryat Shimona, but the whole of northern Israel, including towns like Tiberias and the Israeli port city of Haifa that are experiencing what it’s like to have Katusha rockets raining down.  Both Haifa and Tiberias were huge developments in this war.  Haifa because it Israel’s busiest port and third largest city and Tiberias because it’s one of the major centers for Israeli tourism. 

It’s hard to imagine many tourists visiting Capernaum where Peter lived or the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount when a Katusha could fall from the sky. 

And the Hezbollah missiles have basically shut down the port. No ships are coming in or out and the docks are largely deserted. By the way, I’ve been told a Katusha makes a whistling sound when it comes down and gives you just a moment to react. The roads are fairly deserted and for some reason most of the traffic lights are out on the way. We're also seeing some Israeli military vehicles along the way, part of Israel's build up on the border.

We’re passing through some of Israel’s most beautiful countryside.  Now, it’s under the cloud of war.

The outcome of this war will have a direct impact on the lives of the people here, both Jew and Arab.  One military analyst – a retired Israeli General said it’s possible the war could change the strategic balance in the Middle East.  We’ll see.  For now, Hezbollah seems to remain defiant, despite the overwhelming fire power of Israel. 

This blog was written from Israel's northern border on Wednesday, July 19th about 10:00 a.m. Israeli time.

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