The latest statistics according to Shin Bet say that 1,017 Israelis have been killed since the beginning of the current intifada. 70% of them were civilians.
The civilian figure would probably be higher if off-duty soldiers were included as civilians. As virtually the entire country aged 18-21 is in the army, a fair number of soldiers were probably included in the statistics who died in pizza parlours or nightclubs or in other situations completely unrelated to their military service.
The report also tallies Israelis wounded by terrorism, targets Arafat for directly funding and authorizing terror attacks, and credits the security fence for a massive drop in suicide bombings and other attacks.
It’s hard to look at dry statistics and see the faces they represent. But consider this: 1,017 Israelis in a population of 6 million. On a per capita basis, that’s the equivalent of 9/11 in the USA… 14 times over.
In 5762, 408 Israelis fell victim to terrorism. 240 were killed in 5763 and 126 in 5764. Less than two weeks ago, we ushered in the New Year 5765. One of the most important prayers of the holiday was the Netaneh Tokef which includes the following questions:
On Rosh Hashanah will be inscribed and on Yom Kippur will be sealed how many will pass from the earth and how many will be created; who will live and who will die; who will die at his predestined time and who before his time; who by water and who by fire, who by sword, who by beast, who by famine, who by thirst, who by storm, who by plague, who by strangulation, and who by stoning. Who will rest and who will wander, who will live in harmony and who will be harried, who will enjoy tranquillity and who will suffer, who will be impoverished and who will be enriched, who will be degraded and who will be exalted.
It’s quite common, during the recitation of this prayer, for people to reflect on loved ones who have passed away during the year, or on new babies who were born, or on how our lives – or the lives of our friends and loved ones – have changed in the past year. And to wonder what lies ahead for the coming year. Whether you believe that this is foreordained and decreed in the heavens at the New Year, or – like I do – that it is determined by the exercising of free will on the part of human beings, it’s only natural to reflect at New Year’s on the bigger picture.
This year, I couldn’t help but wonder how many more innocent victims will be claimed by senseless terorrism between this Rosh Hashanah and next. What will next year’s Shin Bet statistics show?