ONE GOD, ONE NATION, ONE PEOPLE and ONE TORAH

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's Statement: “The State of Israel is in the middle of a campaign to bring back quiet and security for our citizens. We won’t tolerate rocket fire on our cities and towns. So I have ordered a dramatic widening of the IDF operation against the Hamas terrorists and against the terrorists of all other terror groups in the Gaza Strip.” The escalation was ordered “only after all attempts to bring back quiet went unanswered, and Hamas chose escalation. We do not go joyfully to battle, but the security of our citizens and our children comes first. We will do everything it takes so that the quiet that existed here in recent years will continue.” Yesterday, the Israel Defense Forces launched Operation Protective Edge in Gaza. This operation is an effort to stop the recent escalation in Hamas terrorism and missile fire. Since the beginning of the year, over 450 rockets have been fired from Gaza into Israel. Yesterday alone, 80 rockets were fired into Israel. Once again, the residents of southern cities such as Sderot, Ashkelon, Ashdod and Be'er Sheva have returned to the bomb shelters. Today, a missile fired at Tel Aviv was stopped by Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. Israel has blamed Hamas for the brutal murder of three students kidnapped on their way home from school. In the coming days, many will criticize Israel's actions while glossing over the necessity for them. As we pray for the safety of the Israel Defense Forces and innocent civilians on both sides of this conflict, we must not be silent. We must know our facts and speak out in Israel's defense. Israel must not be condemned for doing what any responsible government would do to protect its citizens from terror. We must not permit Israeli defense to be equated with Hamas aggression. The IDF has commenced Operation Protective Edge in Gaza against Hamas, in order to stop the terror Israel’s citizens face on a daily basis Gaza terrorists have fired more than 450 rockets at Israel since the beginning of the year. The attacks have sent thousands running into bomb shelters and threaten 3.5 million Israeli lives. Since Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005, terrorists from the strip have fired more than 8,000 rockets into Israel.