Eamonn Fitzgerald's Rainy Day

What's it like on the ground? At a time when missiles are being exchanged across borders? The Truth Laid Bear has compiled an invaluable collection of links to Israeli, Lebanese and Palestinian bloggers who are posting about life and death in a time of war:

Israeli blogger Yaakov Kirschen: "We've lived with, and largely tried to ignore, the ongoing missile attacks on our citizens but the kidnapping of Israeli soldiers was the last straw. Public opinion here in Israel seems totally unified and in complete support of our fighting back."

Lebanese blogger Vox's Den: "Did you ever watch Hezbollah units parading in Beirut's Southern suburb and and making the fascist salute to Nasrallah? Well guess what happened to the guys wearing dynamite belts and holding cardboard RPGs? These mighty fighters were occulted by God overnight. They just vanished. Nobody knows where they are, but according to some rumors Beirut's sewers are experiencing a lot of demographic growth these days. But there's no need to worry, the resistance will be back. Once the last Israeli plane leave Lebanon, our courageous Hezbollah fighters will return to threaten the Lebanese who dare to question their policies."

Lebanese blogger Stuck in Beirut: "Everyone is also very disappointed in the world community's failure to secure a quick cease-fire. Meantime life goes on. I saw people stopping their car at the edge of a blown-up bridge, crossing it on foot and exchanging car keys with people coming from the other side. I have to believe that they knew each other, but it struck me as an ingeneous solution to an impossible situation."

Palestinian blogger Jordan…Enjoying my Space: "I'm not allowed to thank Allah when I see an Israeli ship sinking in the sea, because I have to be more aware of what's going on behind the scenes. I'm not allowed to thank Allah when I see Israelis who slaughtered my brothers in blood hide in shelters like dogs, because when I do, I'm an idiot who agrees on killing the Lebanese people. I'm not allowed to open that ancient box of dignity and have a look (without touching) at something that I really miss when I hear Hassan Nasrullah's speech inviting me to have a look at that burning thing over there after uttering all the logic and the sense in the world, because if I dare to do that, I'll become an oblivious Iranian agent. If I dare to raise my hands and ask Allah to help my fellow Muslims in their fight against that devil called Israel, then I'm a Syrian informer."

Israeli blogger Israpundit: "Meanwhile Israel is getting ready to invade Lebanon in force to engage Hezbollah directly perhaps by Monday. It should be bloody on both sides but not as difficult as fighting in a dense urban area. I expect that Israel will invade Lebanon from the Golan Heights to cut off Hezbollah’s retreat to Syria. Paratroopers will also be used. Israel will attempt to encircle Hezbollah. The US is most certainly backing them. The destruction of Hezbollah and the ending of Syrian influence in Lebanon would be a big victory for the US and would diminish the power of Iran."