Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, LX: "suicide deaths"
the lingering smell
of blood-stained body parts
scattered everywhere
another soldier dies
by his own hand, and yet ...
FYI: As of May 11, 637 officers and soldiers have been killed and ten officers and soldiers have died by suicide. And the head of IDF's Personnel Directorate announced the army will, for the first time, recognize soldiers who died of "personal circumstances' as war casualties."
As a rule, professionals in the field say, most soldiers who kill themselves are very young, in basic training or in their first year of service. But here, too, October 7 had an unusual effect. Suddenly, the military has to contend with suicidal tendencies in career or reserve soldiers and officers, in their 30s and 40s.
And this tanka is a sequel, which also could be read as a counter tanka, to the following entry:
Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, XXXVIII: "Israeli strikes"
dating profile photo:
a smiling twentysomething
with a M4
in front of mushroom clouds
from Israeli strikes in Gaza
FYI: Haaretz, March 24: 'We're Not Only Here to Fuck Hamas': How Israeli Militarism Took Over Online Dating: Why are Israeli soldiers uploading photos of themselves inside Gazan homes or with Palestinian detainees to their dating profiles?
Added: Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, LXI: "the day after"
225 days
since October 7th
still "the day after"
in this broken Promised Land
fireballing rage, mourning in the dark....
What were they thinking in the General Staff on October 7? That we would be able to wage a long war while we are shutting off water and electricity for more than 2 million people and trying to starve them? I don't know where this is going to lead, but it is clear to me that the Israeli narrative of from Holocaust to revival, which was accepted in the world beforehand, has lost" - Brig. Gen. (ret.) Dov Tamari
Over 1,000 Israeli academics and administrative staff have signed a petition calling on the Israeli government to immediately end the war in Gaza and return the hostages held by Hamas.
Added: Against the Drowning Noise of Other Words, LXII: "Israeli protesters"
a sea of protesters
squeezed shoulder to shoulder
police phalanxes
FYI: Haaretz, May 18: Demonstrations and protests calling for elections and the release of hostages are taking place Saturday evening across Israel.
The main demonstration in Tel Aviv, protesting against the government and calling for early elections, is being held at the Kaplan intersection.
