JERUSALEM, Israel – Despite threats from many fronts, tens of thousands of Israelis gathered to pray at the Western Wall in Jerusalem and at Hostages’ Square in Tel Aviv for the Jewish commemoration of Tisha B’Av.
It’s a day on the Hebrew calendar when disasters have hit the Jewish people, such as the destruction of both the First and Second Temples and the start of World War I.
The prayers began on Monday and will continue until sundown on Tuesday, including a reading of the Book of Lamentations. During the biblical reading, people sit on the ground as a sign of mourning and humility.
Israel says it’s taking the threats from its enemies seriously, whether Hezbollah, Iran, or other proxies, and the Israel Defense Forces aren’t waiting to strike back.
“We attack all the time and remove threats as soon as we detect them, said IDF Chief Spokesman Daniel Hagari. “We are at peak readiness for this mission.”
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant pronounced the Jewish nation ready. “We are in days of vigilance and preparedness. The threats from Tehran as well as Beirut may come to fruition,” Gallant stated.
The U.S. agrees with Israel’s intelligence which warns that a wave of major
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