War is everywhere now. There are IDF troops in Gaza and Lebanon. Despite the reports, I can assure my readers these are not small incursions. The IDF is targeting terrorists up and down the West Bank. There is an uncertain number of suicide bombers on the loose in the center of the country, so broad areas have been closed off for all human endeavor as the police hunts them down. A suicide bomber was stopped yesterday about 500 yards from where I am currently sitting. He is known to have several accomplices with back-up suicide belts. The border guard and the police are all over the Arab areas of East Jerusalem. The Arabs in this city are having nightly celebrations in support of their terrorist brethren. Their idea of celebrating is shooting into the air. As someone who lives a stone's throw away from Arab villages, I don't appreciate the shooting. Residents of many northern areas are leaving for the slightly safer south, and volunteer families are taking them in. The combat in the north is not going to be over in two weeks, don't believe the silly statements in the press.

On the other hand, the country has banded together. Aside from the hopelessly left-wing, everyone is solidly behind the war effort. Even Tel-Avivians, known for their looney left-wing views, are realizing that this is very serious and is the opening round for what may very well be an existential war. The fact that Tel-Aviv is within range of the enemy probably plays a huge part in their re-discovered militarism. Granted the IDF is far more powerful relative to our enemies than it was in 1967 and 1973, but that doesn't mean that it's going to be easy. The nature of guerilla and urban warfare is such that a significant amount of the IDF's advantage is nullified. No one wants to return the 1982-2000 period when the IDF was losing 70 soldiers per year in southern Lebanon, but it seems that there might be little choice.

Of course, as the overwhelming majority of Israelis, I am not frightened by the current events, nor do I fear what may develop in the near future. None of my life plans are being altered, much less my daily routine. Like that old, polio-ridden anti-semite wisely said, "we have nothing to fear but fear itself." Succinctly encapsulated brilliance.