February 22nd, '04
On Hold

Just another "slice-o'-life" from the front lines of the War Against Terror:

Because of my morning exercise class, I managed to avoid hearing about the latest bus bombing until 10 o'clock this morning - almost an hour and a half after seven people were blown to smithereens just outside Jerusalem's Liberty Bell Park.

Of course, the moment I switched on the car radio, I found myself in the situation to which we've all become so accustomed. Within seconds I caught the Hebrew phrase "pigua rachtzani" (murderous terrorist attack). It took another few minutes before I got the details because the radio announcers had been chewing the story over for a while and had taken a break for some of Israel's ready supply of slow, mournful music.

After getting home, then making the requisite calls to my relatives who live nearby and could possibly have been on the bus, I put the attack out of my mind and tried to settle down to work.

Unfortunately, today I was scheduled to put in a call to a certain business executive. A busy and important man, his calls go through two banks of secretaries, and catching him in meetings, I had to call him back separate three times. Every time I was put "on hold", the telephone started playing "Kol Yisrael" - Israel Radio - in my ear.

"...three have arrived at Shaarey Zedek in critical condition and are presently undergoing surgery. One died in the ambulance on the way..."

"...Hamas claims responsibility for the attack..."

"...the suicide bomber was identified as Muhammad Za'al, from the Bethlehem area..."

"...Al-Aksa Brigades has now claimed responsibility for the bombing..."

"...to recap, emergency information numbers are..."

"...hearings against the security fence are set to open tomorrow at the Hague's International Court of Justice..."

Sick.

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