Author: PTI
Publication: The Times of India
Date: August 7, 2006
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1863492.cms
Even as Hezbollah missiles are raining in
this Israeli city, the Jews of Indian origin will not abandon their country.
"This is our city and we are going to
stay here till the end. We can't leave it and not at this crucial juncture",
Herzl Penkar, said, as three rockets hit his neighbourhood, Kiryat Ata, on
the suburbs of Haifa.
"We are trying to follow the instructions
given by the Home Front and hide in the shelter houses everytime the siren
warns and believe that running away would be like a psychological defeat",
Herzl said.
Helen, whose house shook under the impact
of three rockets that fell some ten metres away from her building, said that
the 3000-strong Indian community was determined to stay in the trouble-torn
region.
"We cannot give in to terror and our
services are required here in the city to keep it moving. We are trying to
stick to the basic rules of protection and leaving everything to God,"
she said.
Prof Lael Anson Best, Chair of the surgery
department at the Ramabam Hospital, almost had a narrow escape from Sunday's
attack and later he operated upon two youngsters who were wounded in the attack.
"I operated upon two of the youngsters
who were brought to the hospital after the rocket hit them in Kfar Giladi.
As I was headed home after handing charge to my deputy I heard loud explosions
on the way. Later I found out that luckily I had changed my way because the
rockets struck on my usual route", Best said.
"The incidents remind me of the 1982
war. The hospital is prepared. The theaters are sort of bunkers to protect
from an eventuality of the rockets hitting the hospital", Best said.
His wife, Rebecca and their daughter also are determined to stay in the city
in solidarity and as a "matter of principle".
"The day we show weakness, we would be
wiped out," Rebecca, said. She, however, added that "we would like
to stay in peace with our Arab neighbours".
"I was so sad to see that the Arab neighbourhoods
in the city took most of the blows today. Haifa is known for its tradition
of co-existence", Rebecca, said.
Best and his family have another worry to
deal with. Their daughter is to get married this month but they do not know
if the administration would give them the permission. With wedding cards in
his hands, Best says: "I will have to give up on my friends from India
who were expected to come here for the wedding. We cannot put them in danger
though it will be sad".
Most of the Indians in the city, which also
has an Indian synagogue, feel that Israeli operation in Lebanon is "justified".
"What will you do when somebody enters
your house and forcibly snatches things from you? If you have the ability
to resist and defend, you will respond" was the common refrain. Atleast
15 Israelis were killed in Hezbollah rocket firing in Kfar Giladi and Haifa,
while the retaliatory attacks claimed 14 lives.
