Constance Spry

A truce only on paper… on the ground, shelling and violations have not stopped since October 11. The painful toll: 1,943 injured, 713 martyrs, and 756 bodies recovered.

Yahya Sinwar remained imprisoned in Hadarim Prison between 1995 and 2002, where he continued his academic studies through the Open University. Like other prisoners, Sinwar funded his own education using the monthly stipend provided by the Palestinian Authority. He completed 15 courses in the departments of humanities and social sciences, studying diligently for his chosen subjects in his prison cell. He had plenty of time and he used it; his studies lasted for seven more years. He received good grades, with an average of 90. This became the second educational framework of his life. Previously, in the 1980s, he had earned a bachelor's degree in Arabic language and literature from Gaza University. Sinwar's first course was "From Jerusalem to Yavne," a history course covering the periods of the Mishnah and Talmud. The course included topics such as Yavne after the destruction of the Second Temple, the Bar Kokhba revolt, and the Oral Torah. He completed the course with a grade of 81, which, according to the JP, is a solid grade, though not one of his highest. As his Hebrew skills improved, his grades also rose. Later, he took the course "Jerusalem Through the Ages," which traces the city's history from its early days as a Jebusite settlement through the Hasmonean, Roman, Muslim, Ottoman, and British periods. He received a score of 92. In "From Exile to Sovereignty," Sinwar studied the history of the Jewish people in ancient times, extending from the Persian Empire to the Greek, Roman, and Byzantine periods. This course included discussions on the Hasmonean kingdom, the decrees of Antiochus, and the Maccabean revolt. He received a score of 94. Sinwar showed great interest in the formative periods of Jewish history. He enrolled in two additional courses focusing on this era: "History of the Jewish People in the First Temple Period" and "Judea and Rome," which examines the history of the Jewish people during the Roman Empire. These courses covered topics such as Herod's reign, the destruction of the Second Temple, and the Bar Kokhba revolt. From there, Sinwar continued to explore later periods of Jewish history. He took the course "Jews in an Age of Change," which focuses on the status of Jewish ministers in European royal courts from the 15th century onwards. He took the course "Between Jews and Christians: Jews and Christians in Western Europe Until the Early Modern Period," which examines Jewish life in Christian lands from the birth of Christianity to modern times. This course covered theological debates, persecutions, blood libels, and the phenomenon of the Marranos. Sinwar finished the course with a grade of 93. He did not miss the opportunity to learn about the Holocaust and took the course "In the Days of the Holocaust." This comprehensive study covered Jewish life in Europe, the rise of the Nazis, the plan for extermination, and how it was designed and implemented. Through his studies, Sinwar also gained in-depth knowledge about the Israeli regime. In the course "Between Zion and Zionism 1881-1914," he studied the history of Zionism and received his highest grade, a 96. Additionally, he took the course "Patterns of Society in Israel," which examines the roots of Israeli society and the relationships between its various elements. In the field of social sciences, Sinwar took "Government and Politics in Israel," a fundamental political science course similar to civics lessons. This course covered Israeli democracy, the separation of powers, political parties, the electoral system, and a section on minorities. Later, he even translated two books from Hebrew to Arabic: the autobiographies of former Shin Bet heads Yaakov Peri, "Kill or Be Killed," and Carmi Gillon, "Shin Bet Between the Cracks." His studies in the social sciences culminated with the course "Essays in Space: Chapters in the Settlement Geography of the Land of Israel." This course provided information about settlement patterns in Israel during the 20th century, including urban planning, settlement strategies, the creation of the rural map, and neighborhood rehabilitation. As in other courses, there was a section in this course on minorities, specifically the transfer of Bedouins to permanent settlements. Despite his academic success, Sinwar chose not to complete his degree; he was only a few courses short. He did not finish because he did not need to. He had the time and money to continue, but his goal was not to obtain a degree from an Israeli university. His goal was to acquire the knowledge he needed. And once he had that knowledge, he stopped studying—and started using it.

This account deserves a lot more followers

Back to the Stone Age.

Ben Gvir is posting videos showing off the execution chamber where he will exterminate thousands of Palestinian hostages. Imagine if Hitler broadcast videos of his gas chambers to gloat like this.