For years, terrorists have committed atrocities against Israelis, and for years, these murderers were called 'militants'

 For years, terrorists have committed atrocities against Israelis, and for years, these murderers were called 'militants'.

The world finally sees this evil, will it accept Israel’s response? -- writes Sherri Mandell

in "Times of Israel'

ill-fated Koby Mandell, 1987-2001 

What the world just learned about cruelty, my family knew 22 years ago. So did other victims of the two Intifadas. On May 8, 2001, terrorists targeted and murdered two innocent children – my 13-year-old son Koby and his friend Yosef cut school for the day, hiking in the canyon near our home, having a day of freedom, similar in a way to what the party-goers at the Nova rave were trying to do, let loose and let go – enjoy life. 

The boys were murdered in the canyon. “Two Jewish Teenagers Are Beaten to Death,” said the headline in the New York Times. No perpetrator, no terrorists, just a passive verb. Koby and Yosef were bludgeoned to death with rocks the size of bowling balls.

Later the New York Times called the killers of innocent Israelis like my son Palestinian militants. Not terrorists. 

Koby and Yosef’s death was merely part of a cycle of violence. 

And as the number of victims of the Second Intifada that began in 2000 piled up, the New York Times and other media outlets continued to insist that killings like my son’s were not terrorism. No, the mainstream media claimed, my son was killed by freedom fighters or more innocuously, gunmen.

But the Intifada was waged on innocent civilians – women, children, old people, people waiting for busses. The Second Intifada lasted for more than five years, from 2000 to 2005. More than 1,000 Israelis were murdered. Almost every day there was an atrocity. The Fogel family was murdered in their home, their 12-year-old daughter came home from a youth group activity to find her parents and three siblings dead, her 3-month-old sister murdered, blood all over the house.

Ambassador Naor Gilon said Israel will not forget support shown by the Indian leadership and people during its ongoing war against Hamas.  

Speaking to news agency ANI, Gilon said, “The level of support which we got from Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) who, on Saturday, came out and tweeted a condemnation and extended support to Israel. We will not forget that.”   

Gilon also said he “could have another IDF (Israeli Defence Forces) with the Indian volunteers”.

He confirmed receiving  phone calls from ministers, officials and business persons extending support to Israel.

“Look at the social media of the embassy (Israeli Embassy), it's amazing. I could have another IDF with volunteers (Indians). Everyone is telling me I want to volunteer and I want to go and fight for Israelâ€æthis strong support is unprecedented for me," he told ANI.

“India and Israel, the closeness is something I cannot explain,” he added.