Apologies to Dr. Binyamin Klempner, he has been sending me his updates from Israel regularly every week and I have fallen behind with adding them here. Why Is Israel Losing The PR War? The latest update from Israel, The Yakking Show, wood & reflections on Rhodesia.
You will find his latest for the week ending March below. I have posted the two earlier ones with no preamble or added comments from me in the “Updates From Israel” Category.
The Yakking Show, the never-ending work on wood and a few other activities have kept me busy the last few weeks, so this blog has been somewhat neglected. If you have been watching or listening to the show, you will have noticed that we have changed direction and are now focusing on health and fitness topics, including holistic health, alternate health, mindset, exercise and herbal medicine. We have had some amazing guests recently and we have many more interesting and enlightening guests booked for the weeks ahead. One of our most popular recent episodes was with Dr. Robert Morse.
Getting enough trees out of the bush and into the yard for cutting and splitting for next winter has been difficult. The rain and snow in December left the field too wet for the corn (maize) to be combined. More rain in the last few weeks has left standing water in the bush lot and made the fields too muddy for the tractor. The window to pull trees out of the bush before the fields are worked and the new season’s crops planned is rapidly shortening.
I have been lucky to cut down some good-sized dead Ash trees at a neighbour’s and cart the logs home on the few dry days we have had. The pile of logs in the yard is growing, but it’s only about 15% of what I need for next winter.
Update From Israel – Losing The PR War
Dear Friends,
Sitting on the curb of a dark cold windy road, on the Southern side of massive cement blocks, put there to protect us from Hezbollah who are dug out on the Northern side of those same cement blocks with snipers and anti-tank missiles, I made small cups of espresso for soldiers who just returned from a four-month tour of Gaza. They told me that every home they entered had large photographs of Hamas leaders hung on the wall. Every home they entered had a large map on the wall with the outline of Israel with Palastine written on it. Every home they entered had a Hamas flag somewhere in the home. And most homes they entered had weapons, and the weapons were always kept in the children’s rooms, and always under the children’s beds. They also told me that the people they were looking for had all escaped to Rafah. They are soldiers of Hamas, they said, and don’t wear uniforms like our soldiers do. They wear plain clothes. Shoot when it’s safe for them to do so, and then disappear. Shoot and run. Always shoot and run.
Several weeks later I was speaking with another lone soldier. By this time we’re all getting a bit frustrated. Frustrated with the system. Frustrated with foreigners who have opinions, and, worse, voicing their opinions, thus furthering division and divide when all they should be doing is voicing their support and sending in their donations. But it seems like, for the most part, the donations have stopped. I told the soldier I was speaking with that the hardest part of the war, for me, has been the sad fact that donations from the United States have all but stopped. Showing, at best an indifference, and, at worse, a turn of heart regarding Israel and this war. Turning from support to tacit opposition. Americans blaming Israel, blaming Bibi, blaming Gantz, blaming Lapid, blaming the left, blaming the right. Blaming. Encouraging Hamas with their blame. Encouraging Hezbollah with their blame. Holding us hostage with their blame. Killing us with their blame.
The soldier I was speaking with was originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico. He knew well what I was talking about. Relatives who, five months ago, were proud of his taking part in this war, were now ashamed. He told me that he really appreciates the work I do motivating soldiers on the front. I told him that, although the military establishment considers me a civilian, I consider myself to be very much part of the military. He wholeheartedly agreed. We spoke about our frustration with the way the Israeli military views its civilians as opposed to the way Hamas views its civilians. Hamas views their civilians as plainclothes soldiers. An army in which every citizen, in the capacity appropriate for that citizen, can, and should, be a part of. A citizen army. In so doing, the distinctions between soldier and civilian become blurred beyond recognition. The Israeli military, by contrast, clearly distinguishes, making stark and uncompromising divisions between soldier and civilian.
We discussed the sad history of wars fought over the past sixty years between citizen armies and professional armies. It would seem that the citizen armies, or at least combined armies, armies that incorporate citizens, at the very least in supporting roles, have been the winning armies over the previous six decades. Vietnam. Afghanistan. Iraq. Disciplined professional armies can’t seem to compete with the dedication and determination of citizen armies, which possess a discipline all their own. At any rate, we discussed our frustration with the Israeli military establishment for neglecting its non-existent, but, would-be, citizen support brigade. A brigade that I would love to be a part of.
So, all in all, I wish I could give better news. But, as we like to say here in Tiberias, “Everything’s good, and everything’s for the good.” Meanwhile, with or without financial backing, with or without moral support from our sisters and brothers in the United States, I’ll keep fighting by supporting the soldiers.
https://thechesedfund.com/theunityfarmfoundation/support-our-israeli-soldiers
Stay safe!
Binyamin Klempner
Sadly, Binyamin’s comments are all too accurate, particularly here in Canada. I escaped the desolation of Zimbabwe where, up to 1980, as a mainly citizen Rhodesian army, we had kept the terrorists at bay for 15 years and won the military battle convincingly. When the Western powers forced us to handover our peaceful, economically successful country to those terrorist leaders, the result was an economic and human rights catastrophe that culminated in the government’s theft of commercial farms and the destruction of agriculture.
I was grateful to immigrate to Canada in 2004 and become a citizen. as soon as I had lived here for the required number of years. Never in my worst nightmares did I imagine that Canada would emulate Zimbabwe in trampling on so many rights and freedoms that are the cornerstones of a democratic society. The tolerance of the police for supporters of the terrorist groups Hamas and Hizbollah to block traffic, and intimidate Jewish business owners and cow University leaders into submission is as insane as Canadian police protecting and encouraging supporters of the SS during WWII would have been.
Sadly, Israel is losing the PR war. The forces of evil are using propaganda, “wokeism” and political correctness to turn terrorists into angels. Exactly the same tactics that destroyed Rhodesia, have set South Africa on a similar path to destruction and left millions in Southern Africa with no jobs, devastated economies and shortened lives in miserable conditions.
Binyamin is looking for sponsors for his project to publish his updates as a book. Details are below.
For quite some time, I’ve been meticulously crafting a series of letters shedding light on the experiences and humanity of our soldiers in Israel. These letters serve not only as a means of storytelling but also as a crucial tool in the ongoing battle on the global Public Relations front.
As you may know, there are two fronts to this war: one fought with conventional weapons, and the other fought in the arena of public perception. While we persevere with determination on the former front, the latter poses a greater challenge. Our losses in the realm of public opinion are substantial, and it’s evident that the narrative needs to be reshaped.
It is with this purpose in mind that I have decided to compile these letters into a book and self-publish it on Amazon. By doing so, we can deliver a substantial blow to those who misrepresent us and provide an honest portrayal of our soldiers as real, authentic human beings defending their country with the utmost humanity.
However, I cannot achieve this goal alone. I am reaching out to you today to request your support as a sponsor for this project. Your sponsorship will not only contribute to the publication of the book but also play a pivotal role in the ongoing battle on the PR front.
By becoming a sponsor, you will be directly contributing to the dissemination of a narrative that counters misrepresentation and showcases the true essence of our soldiers. Your generosity will help amplify our voice and ensure that the world sees the Jewish people and the people of Israel in a fair and accurate light.
The estimated cost of self-publishing this manuscript on Amazon is $3,500. Your donation towards sponsoring this book will be greatly appreciated and will make a tangible difference in our efforts.
To make a donation, please visit 
https://thechesedfund.
Thank you in advance for considering this sponsorship opportunity and for your continued support. Together, we can make a significant impact in shaping the narrative and defending our just cause.
Stay Safe,
Binyamin Klempner