Hamas’ current attack on Israel comes almost to the day on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War. After their triumph in the Six-Day War, the Israelis believed themselves to be invincible. Then Syrian and Egyptian troops struck.
By Marion Hombach
On October 6, 1973, Israel lost its aura of invincibility. It is the day of the Feast of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the highest holiday on which people pray for forgiveness for the sins of the past year and remember their ancestors. Not only the strict believers celebrate the day with fasting and prayers – public life is suspended throughout the country. Even in the outposts on the borders with Syria and Egypt, only skeleton crews, mostly young recruits, are keeping watch.
Israel, the winner of three wars with neighboring states, feels safe. Maybe even unassailable.