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rockets and guided missiles remain a threat, resulting in thousands of displaced Israelis unable to return home. The Houthis Meanwhile, some 1,200 miles southeast of Israel, another radical terror group has joined Hamas in causing mayhem and bloodshed in the Middle East. The Yemen-based Houthis – who, like Hamas, are proxies of Iran – have attacked several vessels passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb strait, which leads to the Red Sea, causing significant disruptions to one of the world’s major shipping routes. This campaign likely marks the most significant threat to maritime security in the region since the era of Somali piracy in the late 2010s. As ships are forced to reroute around Africa, this situation poses a great risk to the global economy, with the potential to drastically raise oil prices and other costs. A U.S.-led coalition has launched Operation Prosperity Guardian in an effort to protect passage through this vital waterway, bombing Houthi installations in Yemen. The coalition includes the United Kingdom, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, and Sri Lanka. The goal is to destroy the Houthis’ assets in order to secure shipping routes so the global maritime economy and trade can continue. The campaign began on January 11 th , when the U.S. and British militaries attacked over a dozen Houthi targets in Yemen, a coastal nation that has been through a decade-long civil war. The Houthis have vowed to strike back, as the Iranian-backed militants seem determined to fight despite the odds stacked against them.  Outrageous Outrage Expectedly, Israel’s military actions have met with harsh condemnations and hostility throughout the world. While the governments of most major Western nations – particularly the U.S. and U.K. – have steadfastly supported Israel’s war on Hamas, university campuses throughout the West have become hotspots for anti-Israel sentiment and rhetoric. Loud, angry, and provocative protesters have been marching, calling for a ceasefire and parroting the outrageous claim that Israel is committing a “genocide” in Gaza. These demonstrations have, in many instances, devolved into outright antisemitism, with some Jewish students facing hostility and harassment. The presidents of two major Ivy League universities – Harvard and the University of Pennsylvania – were forced to resign following a torrent of criticism for their testimony before a Congressional committee, in which they showed indifference to anti-semitic speech at their campuses. But the most public – and absurd – display of what we might call “outrageous outrage” toward Israel occurred at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague, Netherlands, on January 12 th . South Africa formally accused Israel of committing “genocide” against the Palestinians as per the 1948 definition of the term. Ironically, the ICJ was established after the Holocaust in 1945 in response to Nazi Germany’s genocide of European Jewry. Now, less than 80 years later, the court convened to hear South Africa’s claims that, in light of the large number of civilian deaths resulting from Israel’s actions against Hamas, Israel is committing “genocide.” Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has called the charges “preposterous” and described them as a “blood libel.” Several of Israel’s allies, including theU.S. andGermany, have likewise dismissed South Africa’s claims, and Israel assembled a team of outstanding legal experts to refute the outrageous accusations before the ICJ. Israeli public opinion remains strongly supportive of the war on Hamas. Benny Gantz, former Chief of Staffof the IDF and – until recently – a prominent member of the opposition to Netanyahu’s government, joined the government early during the war, and has been serving on the war cabinet. Opposition leader Yair Lapid has expressed full support for the military campaign. Throughout Israel, signs and posters can be seen with the pronouncement, “ Beyahad nenatze’ah – Together we will win.” The October 7 th atrocities have awakenedmany Israelis to the grim reality that the Jewish State can no longer allow Hamas to live in its backyard, in Gaza, and that Israel has no choice but to dismantle this evil terrorist organization. Since Hamas took over Gaza in 2007, Israel has tolerated occasional rocket fire from the Strip, figuring that the Iron Dome defense system provided enough protection to obviate the need to wage an all-out war against Hamas. The events of October 7 th have shown Israelis that itmust eliminateHamas at all costs, and that thiswar must be fought in order for peace to prevail. Uncertain Future While many uncertainties about the future remain, it seems quite clear that Israel will never again allow the Gaza Strip to be ruled by a hostile entity such as Hamas, and that this war – and Israel’s control over Gaza – will not end until the communities in southern Israel can live in peace and security, without fear or rocket attacks or terrorist infiltration. As the Jewish State fights for its survival, Jews around the globe lift their eyes heavenward and pray for the safety and success of our courageous IDF soldiers, for the swift return of all our hostages, and for true peace and security in Israel and throughout the world. “Israel is beyond grateful to all that the Sephardic community has done to stand by our nation.” - Dean Elsdunne, International Spokesperson of the Israeli Police 26 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE