Barnabas at work

16th January 2017

The Knesset Headquarters had long since been rebuilt and furnished with a new coat of paint and state-of-the-art amenities for maximal comfort in the harsh desert climate. Within, the dominant (and only) party of the Israeli parliament took their seats in the senatorial chamber and prepared for the latest meeting helmed by their new Prime Minister.

Barnabas Angel took in the masses of whispering ministers, clumping together and forming their own collectives while he observed from the shadows. A full ninety percent of the MPs were young men and women in their twenties and thirties, many just recently appointed to their positions in light of the Knesset Bombing that killed countless old men and women. There were countless other older, more experienced people available to take the role, but Barnabas flatly refused all of them citing grounds of **** by old people in power.

The Vietnam War was a prime example of poor leadership abusing poor soldiers sent to die for nothing, for a war that had no true purpose other than preventing the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. The old generals and politicians got away scot-free with a few scapegoats being assigned the blame.

Other older players who opposed Barnabas's ascension as president were found dead in their homes, in alleyways or in garbage dumpsters, killed under mysterious circumstances; natural causes, accidents and so on.

While the majority of the party were loyal to him, a small minority seemed to regard Barnabas with a plethora of different emotions: Fear, uncertainty and for a select few, disdain.

Barnabas resisted the urge to scoff at the last group; as if they had the right to scoff at him.

"Mr Prime Minister, the Knesset is ready," His aide informed him.

Barnabas curtly nodded, and the aide quietly took his leave. With a smirk of confidence, Israel's unlikely Prime Minister took centre stage.

At once the entire Knesset went quiet, some swallowing nervously as they stilled themselves. Barnabas smiled at this before he began his speech.

"My colleagues of the Amas Party," He said, "We have made great strides ever since the disastrous day of the Knesset Bombing. Many could not be considered our colleagues; many were as much our rivals as they were political rivals of almost every other party. It was a messy government, but it was the government of Israel - one that was nearly wiped out."

Some PMs frowned at this speech Barnabas had prepared; he usually went straight to business rather than waste time on such 'frivolities' as he freely described. Doing so meant that he was about to announce something big, and they braced themselves accordingly.

"We face increased aggression from our erstwhile neighbours every day - Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and Egypt - who see our nation as a blight upon the face of the earth, who see our people as degenerates who do not deserve a place on God's earth!" Barnabas continued, his volume rising and his throat rumbling with growing anger as he pointed towards Heaven, "Only the guarantee of our independence by the US guarantees our survival! And yet, we can achieve more! We deserve more, after enduring two millennia of constant persecution! Why is it that we must continue to tolerate this constant aggression by our neighbours, especially the one on our doorstep!?"

Many MP's flinched at the sheer aggression in Barnabas's words, leaning back in their seats as if his face was plastered in theirs.

"Ever since the Six-day War that ended in a white peace, we have lived with a status quo that has neither improved nor worsened our situation," Barnabas continued, his voice softer, gentler and more assured, "I say that changes."

Countless MPs shivered in their seats, some wiping cold sweat from their foreheads as they realised the implications of Barnabas's words.

"Already, Syria has rejected our terms for the Golan Heights, and they will continue to do so for as long as our country exists! I will not lie to you, ladies and gentlemen; we are soon approaching the precipice of war," He concluded, a shred of regret in his voice, "And when it comes, we must be prepared to fight to preserve our independence and sovereignty as we have decades ago."

Israel's army, while a great military power in the Middle East, was ranked only 17th of 145 military powers in the world with Iran ranking at 14th, for example, with nearly 170,000 active military personnel. As such, it was still heavily dependent on US military aid. Things were changing, however, as more reserve personnel were being recalled into active service and the military corps expanded. New defenses were being built and the number of tanks, ships and aircraft increased as well.

Suddenly, Barnabas's aide barged into the meeting, panting and frantic.

"Sir! We've an emergency on our hands!" He nearly screamed at the top of his voice.

Barnabas turned in shock to look at his aide Matyas Apfel, and asked, "What's going on, Matyas?"

"Radar has just detected hundreds of missile strikes heading for Jerusalem!" Matyas cried, and many faces went white, "They're coming from the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt!"

Pandemonium ensued as MPs screamed and cried, tried and failed to get their bearings together, save for a small caucus that remained calm and composed like angels of tranquility, as if Jerusalem was not under the threat of total annihilation.

"Calm down, all of you!" Barnabas roared like a lion, and the entire parliamentary chamber went silent, "We have the Iron Dome system in place, along with countless anti-missile defenses both indigenous and US-made, and we are currently underground; we need only place our faith in our defences."

Thankfully, the MPs calmed down and took a seat, and they anxiously awaited the end result of the missile strikes.

Ten seconds passed, then twenty, then thirty.

Each strike of the second hand on the clock was like a heartbeat, drumming to the beat of the earth.

Barnabas, despite his call for calm, paced around furiously as he mumbled to himself, his thoughts running rampant.

"Damned Arab states, always provoking us, always trying things like this... as if Hamas wasn't enough to deal with..."

Those who overheard Barnabas's ramblings found themselves in agreement, and a growing anger at this show of unprovoked aggression.

Forty seconds, fifty seconds...

One minute.

When one minute passed, an IDF general entered the parliamentary chambers, and this woman Barnabas knew well.

"Mr Prime Minister, all missiles have been shot down," The general reported, a look of relief masked behind stoic, professional eyes, "No damage reported, no casualties among military personnel or civilians."

All breathed a sigh of relief, many collapsing in their seats as the tension left their bodies.

"Very good, Elinor," Barnabas smiled, "And yet, our work isn't done yet."

"I am aware, Sir," Elinor nodded, "What would you have us do?"

In this situation, there was only one thing left to do.

"Lieutenant-General Elinor Levenberg, by my authority as Prime Minister, I hereby name you a full-fledged general and place you in charge of organising our offensive against the hostile Arab states that attacked us," Barnabas ordered, "I want every single facet of the IDF prepared for total warfare."

"Yes, Mr Prime Minister," Elinor saluted.

"Matyas, prepare to go to the United States and the European Union, inform them of what has transpired here and stir public sentiment towards our side," Barnabas continued, "The world must know that Israel is responding in self-defense."

"I will leave as soon as I can," Matyas nodded.

"The rest of you, we will continue this meeting later. Tomorrow, I will be making a public address, and I expect everyone in attendance."

No one could argue as they affirmed their ayes, before promptly filtering out of the Knesset chamber. As he walked the compound corridors, he discreetly turned and entered a single room, locking it once he confirmed that no one else was inside. He fished out the phone and looked at the Affection Multiplier.

And he smiled wickedly.

"Gullible fools, all of them. Cost more than a little Political Power, but that missile strike means no one will question my declaration of war," He whispered to himself, "I'll show everyone that Israel's meant to be bigger than this small blot on paper. I'll show NATO, I'll show them all..."