Lebanon – the never-ending story

Thirty seven years ago, a slightly skinnier version of myself entered the Israeli Security Zone in South Lebanon with my Givati platoon.

We were all geared up with state-of-the-art tactical battle equipment of the day. Being the platoon’s combat-medic, in addition to my weapon, helmet, flak jacket, heavy tactical vest, ammunition and grenades, I had a lot of medical equipment, anti-mine shoes and a portable stretcher on my back.

Before we set out on our daily patrols and nightly anti-terrorist ambushes on the other side of the international border, whatever our mission briefing was, it always ended with the same mantra; “Our mission is to defend the northern settlements (from Hezbollah terrorists).”

My twenty-year-old self would have been incredulous to learn that I am in the same place, with the same mission statement, almost four decades later. Despite the intervening years, nothing seems to have changed.

It is a depressing situation. I see young men and women in my PALMAR medical extraction unit who are not much older than I was the first time I was in Lebanon. The thought that they will be there in another four decades is a grim one.