Alisa wrote about Friday afternoon in Israel. The best bit is the afternoon shloff (sleep). Fridays aren’t the same if we have to stay awake for some reason. If some inconsiderate parents throw a kiddies birthday party commencing at 4 o’clock in the afternoon (or even before, grrrr), you’re going to get some very grumpy parents bringing their kids to the party!

I find there is much more “real news” on the radio on Shabbat than there used to be. They used to keep the news light and put in “positive” items. There’s just so much more happening, nowadays, and it’s stuff that can’t wait for the end of Shabbat.

posted by Imshin 22:20

Is Ben Eliezer going to leave the government?
Israel channel 2 news says Defense Minister and current head of Labor Party, Ben Eliezer, is going to leave the government, this week. They said he's dropping in Labor Party polls and wants to use the vote on the budget as an excuse to leave the government while being seen to be taking a stand on social matters (blah blah blah) to boost his popularity among party members. They say it’s serious this time.

posted by Imshin 21:50

UN
Fergal Keane, of the UK’s very left-wing Independent, says that the real news right now is what’s going on in the UN:

Here is the scenario put to me by a diplomat friend well informed in the ways of the United Nations. There will be a vote sometime in the next fortnight involving all 15 members of the Security Council. Before that Bush will open a direct line to Putin and persuade him not to use the Russian veto. Abstain if he must, but no veto. The carrot will be billions of dollars in assistance to make up for what Russia stands to lose if Saddam is overthrown. The Americans also believe the Chinese won't use their veto. Ever the pragmatists, the Chinese take a long view in which relations with America on issues like trade and Taiwan are far more important than Saddam.

The French are now also regarded as less of a problem. President Chirac has already extracted maximum image benefit from the six weeks of negotiations at the UN, and in any case his position has always been contingent on being able to stand alongside bigger and mightier Russia. If the Russians were out of the picture, Mr Chirac would be most unlikely to stand alone. Again abstention would offer an honourable alternative.

posted by Imshin 21:36

I’m deeply sorry about the hostages that were killed, but I salute the Russians. They did the right thing.
posted by Imshin 19:17

Fed up.
I admire Gil for having the energy to be writing about solutions. I don't feel I even have the energy to read other people’s suggestions, let alone suggest any of my own. I'm so tired of it all.

Update: This said, Gil's readers' suggestions are very interesting.

posted by Imshin 19:09

Imshin’s gossip column. (Now I’m well on the way to getting my own TV game show).
I must be getting desperate if I’m getting my stories from Tzipora, mythical gossip of Tel Aviv local weekly rag “Ha’ir”. I just couldn’t pass up this item about Israel’s self-anointed royal family. Tzipora says that the IDF radio station, Galei Tzahal, organized a show called “Singing with Rabin”. The Rabin family demanded quite a few first row seats for family members and friends and then no one showed up except the late Yitzhak Rabin’s sister. Well, noblesse oblige. Son Yuval Rabin couldn’t have come anyway, he was busy buying a house in Washington D.C. with his wife, Tali (Bish asks what’s wrong with Mitzpe Ramon?). Daughter Dalia quite rightly refused to comment. None of our damn business.

posted by Imshin 19:08

Out and about
Today we went on a trip organized by the parents of my eldest daughter’s class. You never saw such a badly organized event. We spent half of the day lost, driving around, looking for where we were supposed to be going.

In the morning we got lost on the way to the breakfast stop. I was starving and getting very grumpy. The place we were meant to have turned off, according to the guide’s explanation, did not exist, and we’d typically left our roadmap at home. (the guide was one of the mothers).

After breakfast, we went to see some caves, which used to be inhabited by prehistoric people. We found that alright, because we’ve been there before.

Then we got lost again on the way to the lunch stop. This time we were lost with about five other cars full of hungry families. Getting lost together is so much more fun. We found the group eventually. Thank goodness for cell phones. How did we ever manage without them?

By the way, everywhere we went was packed with picnicking and day tripping Israeli families. And the traffic was very heavy on the way home. So much for the terrified-Israelis-huddling-at-home theory. So there, terrorists, you lose again!

As Farid says “people who live through violence become increasingly numb to it in degrees. its a survival mechanism that otherwise would prevent people from showing up for life. but that's all we can do, isn't it? just continue showing up for life. as they do in israel, in bali, in russia, in maryland and washington, d.c.”
(I’m not sure how to link directly to this post of his. It ‘s from 10/26. The one before it – 10/25 is worth reading, too. Very moving).

posted by Imshin 19:07

Shabbat Shalom!
posted by Imshin 16:37

Ehud Yaari in the Jerusalem Report:

The Israeli-Palestinian arena is now dominated by Iraq. All calculations are subordinated to the expectation of war. The timetable of our ongoing conflict is based on the assumption that sometime between the end of Ramadan (the first week of December) and the return to work after the Christmas holidays (the first week of January), the Americans will strike their blow.

With regard to the heating up between Palestinian factions in Gaza we witnessed following the October 7 murder of the commander of the Gaza anti-riot police he says the murder

could have provided the PA with an excuse for such a crackdown. That would have allowed the PA to demonstrate that there is a real partner for dialogue on the Palestinian side, and to go into the war on Iraq with the Gaza Strip producing significantly less volume of terrorism and rocket attacks than at present.

But they did little and he says the Fatah recognizes that

if the PA does not rein in Hamas, Israel, at the end of the day, will have no choice but to carry out a thorough clean-up in the Gaza Strip, similar to the one under way in the West Bank. It is just as clear that the moment the Palestinian lathes manage to produce rockets with ranges long enough to threaten, say, Ashkelon, the IDF will in any case have no choice.

posted by Imshin 16:37

A tabloid for snobby English intellectuals (if they wouldn’t put me on their blog list before, I’ve really had it now).
The Guardian has sent a correspondent to Los Angeles. He has checked things out and has come up with his verdict. This will probably bowl you over with surprise. Apparently ”In the US, not everyone is an overweight gun fanatic - and not everyone wants a war with Iraq”.

posted by Imshin 14:12

…since September 11, America has ceased to be a "status quo" power in the Middle East and has become, or anyway is becoming, a revolutionary one.
David Frum, former speech writer for President Bush, writes in the UK Telegraph about American involvement in the Middle East.

posted by Imshin 13:41

How do you think the Israeli – Palestinian conflict should/could be solved? Take a stand on the comments on Gil’s blog.
He is thinking of removing his comments but before he does he is offering an open stage to anyone who wants to propose his opinion on how to solve the Israeli – Palestinian conflict. Please go and give your input. He has since said he won’t be removing comments just yet, so your comment won’t disappear.

Have you been following the developments on Gil’s blog? Reacting to a particularly offensive comment he wrote a post which he begins: “One thing I really can’t stand is when Israel sympathizers (Jews or Gentiles) who do not live in Israel call for radical acts/solutions. Every supporter of Israel is important that’s for sure, and each can hold his own thoughts left or right”. This led to a lively debate on his comments.

posted by Imshin 13:36

The theatre is probably as symbolic in Russia as the WTC is in the US.
The Russians will not let the Chechens get away with this terrorism. Unlike many Western European countries, and even the US, before 9/11, they understand terrorism for what it is, and wouldn’t dream of surrendering to it. I disagree with Joseph Norland’s assertion that their being victims of terrorism is ironic in face of their policy with regard to Israel and Iraq. Russia’s loyalties lie with Russia. Period. Their stand on Iraq is not a matter of namby pamby peace stuff, appeasement and public opinion. It’s about negotiation and diplomacy.

posted by Imshin 10:32

Distorting things
In the aftermath of Yitzhak Rabin’s murder, some right wing friends of mine were offended by the way the media, politicians and a lot of people in the street were generalizing about right-wing people’s blame. “He was our Prime Minister, too.” They said. “We may not have voted for him and we may not have liked what he was doing, but we are also shocked and horrified. We are also in mourning.”

In the years to come, Rabin’s family has seen fit to claim the way he is commemorated for their own. I suppose this can be seen as justifiable. Their loss is personal. But Rabin was the Prime Minister of all Israelis and his murder affected all of us.

Both Rabin’s children have used his reputation to build political careers for themselves. His late widow, Leah, managed to get on everyone’s nerves regularly. When Netanyahu was Prime Minister she banned him from taking part in the annual memorial rally (I know you shouldn’t say bad things about the dead, but she was a royal pain, what can I do?). Rabin’s daughter, Dalia Rabin-Philosoph, made an embarrassing speech at his grave during this year’s memorial service. She strongly attacked government policy, although she belongs to the coalition member, Labor Party. This was in the presence of Prime Minister Sharon, Defense Minister Ben Eliezer (until recently she was his deputy, but is now openly supporting his inner party opponent Haim Ramon) and other government members.

Now I read on Ariga’s mailing list that ”The annual Tel Aviv City Hall Plaza (Kikar Rabin) rally to commemorate Rabin and to stand up for a peace process will be held this year on the evening of November 2.”

Arafat likes to talk about Rabin as his friend. I doubt Rabin ever saw Arafat as his friend. The man is dead, and who knows? But he wasn’t known as “Mr. Security” for nothing. In his autobiography, written after he resigned from his first Premiership, in 1977, he has nothing nice to say about Arafat, quite the reverse.

No one knows how things would have turned out had he not been murdered, but I tend to think it could very well have come round to the same place in the end, regardless. Rabin was committed to the Oslo Accords, which he had signed, but I believe he would have changed his tune, if he had been alive when they were breached so violently by the other side.

I doubt very much if Rabin would be going to any peace rallies, singing “The Song For Peace” off tune, if he were alive today.

Yitzhak Rabin’s memory and legacy continues to be usurped from the Israeli public by his family and, with their blessing, by the Israeli far left. Thus the lessons of the murder are not being learnt.

Bish and my youngest daughter, who was four at the time, where at the moving peace rally on the 4th November 1995, following which he was murdered. They came home with shining eyes, just before the murder. We were among those wandering in shock around the square in the aftermath. It seems absurd to me that, seven years on, I should not be able to feel comfortable go to a rally in his memory, because I know views I oppose will be upheld there?

Update: Another thing I don't get is all this personality worship. Rabin himself would probably have hated it.
posted by Imshin 10:31

Fred Lapides quotes Oriana Fallaci on Israpundit. Remind me to order her book, the pile of unread books by my bed isn't tall enough, yet.
posted by Imshin 08:08

At last lazy bones has moved! (new comments)
I've been frustrated with enetation comments for a while, so I've moved at last to Haloscan. Sadly, some lovely comments have gone, but now you won't have to wait for hours to read them. Time for a fresh start.
posted by Imshin 07:17

I’m very relieved that he’s been caught.
posted by Imshin 22:38

How does this sound?
Just like treatments for head-lice that soon become ineffective, because the lice grow immune, we Israelis have become so accustomed to terrorist attacks we have become immune to fearing them on a daily basis. The more attacks there are, the less effective they become in terrorizing us.

Terrorist attacks have become just another of those things that can kill you in less than pleasant ways, like traffic accidents, cancer, Alzheimer’s, (missiles from Iraq…) to name but a few. The danger is very real, but normal, well-adjusted people don’t spend their lives fearing them.

No? Well, just a suggestion.

posted by Imshin 21:32

A Jew, a Conservative and a crook - definitely not a gentleman or Why do journalists never have anything nice to say about anything?
David McKie of the Guardian tells the intriguing story of a shady British character of the 19th century. He makes a point of mentioning the shady character’s Jewish background (the son of a Jewish peddler from Dublin) and his “real” (Jewish sounding) name. I am surprised that this gossipy detail is seen to be relevant, in such a sanctimonious, PC publication.

I know a lot of people who have changed their names for various reasons. Bish’s last name, which I adopted when I married him, is the name of his choice, and not the name he was born with. I see nothing wrong with that. I wouldn’t say this is not our “real” name.

I also know quite a few British Jews whose parents or grandparents felt it necessary to shed the burden of a “Jewish sounding” name. This seems to be much less prevalent among American Jews.

Mr. Mckie’s commentary has to do with some busts of famous Brits, that the aforementioned crook had erected in Leicester Square, which, it seems, he had bought and renovated, and that have recently been ruined by the misapplication of chemicals. Mr. Mckie seems to think that if the original donor of the busts wasn’t a very nice person, it is some sort of poetic justice that they have been damaged. The fact that the guy died destitute and discredited was not punishment enough, apparently, even over a hundred years later.

Something on the line of “fruit of the poisoned tree”?

Remind me to throw out my copy of “Crime and Punishment”. Never mind that it is one of the books that left the greatest impression on me. Dostoyevsky was an anti-Semite, after all. That’ll show him.

posted by Imshin 21:02

John Casey of the Guardian doesn’t think those primitive Iraqis can handle democracy. They’ll have to make do with another tyrant. It’s just the way they are.
posted by Imshin 21:00

Haggai saw Elliot Chodoff speaking about the "Sociology of Terrorism", and has summarised it here.
posted by Imshin 23:42

I wonder.
Terrorism strikes again. Is the world as forgiving, understanding and accepting of the Chechens' terrorism as it is of the Palestinians' terrorism? After all, the Russians have been much less willing to accommodate the Chechens over the years than Israel has been with regard to the Palestinians. Israel's "atrocities" are nothing near those said to have been perpetrated by Russia in Chechnya. I think that if the Chechens expect to gain the worldwide public support our pals over here have, as a result of horrific terrorist attacks, they're going to be sadly disappointed.

Cynicism aside, this is horrible. If the many Russian born Israelis are anything to go by, Russians are very culturally minded people. They love the theatre. Those Chechens really knew where to strike to make it hurt worst.

Update: Another thought that comes to mind: There has been a lot of Chechen terrorism in Russia and no one even noticed. They had to do something really really momentous for the world to sit up and take note.

posted by Imshin 23:03

Interesting stuff happening in Iraq following this amnesty thing.
posted by Imshin 22:49

Answer to Cyrus
My indignation at the behavior of the settlers in Gilad Farm has nothing to do with the Oslo Accords, and my views about them. Wherever you think the border should be, in Israel the law is such that private citizens cannot decide for themselves where inhabited areas should be newly built. Agricultural and open areas cannot be built on, even if they are privately owned, without the necessary state authorization. This holds inside the Green Line, as well.

We are fortunate enough to be living in a democracy. The laws of the jungle are not the accepted laws of the land in Israel. There is an elected government; there is an elected legislative body; there is a judicial system; there is a police force; there is an army. Private citizens who attack policemen, policewomen and soldiers are breaking the law. Therefore they are subject to arrest, trial and, if convicted and if deemed necessary by the court, prison sentences. I see no reason why Israeli law should not apply to Israelis living in Judaea, Samaria and Gaza, unless they prefer to be citizens of the Palestinian Authority, in which case they would be subject to Palestinian law (which they are welcome to). There are plenty of legal ways to express opposition to government policy, as I have pointed out in the past, with regard to left-wing protest activities, if I am not mistaken.

Protesting against government policy is one thing. Breaking the law by, not only building without authorization in a dangerous area necessitating state protection, but actually violently attacking those very representatives of the state who protect you, is another. At a time of war, and in the very center of the war zone, no less, such behavior could be construed as treason.

I won’t even mention violently harassing villagers busy with the olive harvest, which in my mind is wicked.

All of the right-wing friends I have discussed this with agree with me on this issue, by the way.

(Gil seems to have been served a dose of venom, too. I sympathize).

posted by Imshin 18:41

A high-ranking Israeli army officer and others have been arrested for spying for the Hizbullah.

I am opposed to the death penalty as a rule, but right now I am so angry about this, I'm feeling people like this should not be allowed to live.
posted by Imshin 17:06

In a viciously sarcastic book review (of “Le Conflict Israelo-Palestinien:
Les Medias Francais sont-ils objectifs?” Observatoire du Monde Juif, 173pp)
in this week’s Haaretz book supplement, Daniel Ben Simon (Hebrew link) ridicules French Jews strong support and love of Israel. He thoughtlessly (I hope it’s just thoughtless and not malicious) generalizes in portraying them as disloyal to France.

His incredulousness at the French Jews' love of Israel raises questions about his own feelings towards his home. I could suggest that if he dislikes Israel so much, maybe he should go and live somewhere else.

The review hasn’t been translated yet. Usually they translate parts of the book supplement towards Friday, so I’ll post the translation when available.

posted by Imshin 16:58

Yesterday there was a cleanup project in Makhtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater). When standing on the balcony on the cliff, looking down into the crater, the girls and I always looked down to see a distant bathtub someone had thrown over, and a mattress. I wonder if they'll be gone next time we're down there. Bish doesn't look down. He's not very happy about heights, and has only recently began venturing onto the balcony, which is suspended over the cliff.
posted by Imshin 21:06

Jack Kemp has visited Israel and he’s hopeful. Bish is optimistic as well. I wish I was.
posted by Imshin 20:31

A brave group of Palestinian women are putting on a feminist play in Gaza.
posted by Imshin 20:29

Zeev Schiff, Haaretz:
If the aim is to destroy this mediation attempt as well, then Palestinian extremists have no doubt planned other suicide bombings inside Israel in the near future. They are not primarily motivated by a desire to retaliate against this or that Israeli act; rather, they are a deliberate and recurring strategy on the part of Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian groups. Their objective is not merely to kill the maximum number of Israeli citizens, but also to wipe out any mediation attempts that would lead to a renewed dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.

posted by Imshin 20:27

Man would fain be great and sees that he is little; would fain be happy and sees that he is miserable; would fain be perfect and sees that he is full of imperfections; would fain be the object of the love and esteem of men, and sees that his faults merit only their aversion and contempt. The embarrassment wherein he finds himself produces in him the most unjust and criminal passions imaginable, for he conceives a mortal hatred against the truth which blames him and convinces him of his faults.
--- Pascal, Pensees

As quoted in “The True Believer”, by Eric Hoffer.

posted by Imshin 20:22

Little Noam Chen, 28 months old.

She was traveling home in the car with her father and her older brother (4) and sister (10). At first her father thought all the children were OK and got out of the car to help the people on the bus. But when Noam didn’t stop crying he picked her up out of her baby chair and her older sister said “Daddy, she’s got a hole in her back.”

She’s been operated on. Her situation is critical but stable. Her father hopes she will be OK.

Her brother was wounded in his legs.

posted by Imshin 12:31

14 die as Israel faces new bomb threat
What does the UK Guardian’s headline mean? They’ll write any jibberish as long as they don’t have to write what happened: 14 innocent people were murdered by Palestinian terrorists.

The BBC also has a strange way of reporting the event: Annan 'appalled' by Israel bus bomb. Like anyone could care less what he thinks.

posted by Imshin 06:00

When my eldest daughter was a teeny weeny thing in the WIZO day care center, she had a little boyfriend. He used to sing her the love song from Don Bluth’s “Thumbelina” (Barry Manilow, what can I say?); they both dressed up as Power Rangers in Purim (she was the red one and he was the blue one). They were inseparable, quite oblivious to the rest of the world. They were the cutest couple you ever saw. The romance ended abruptly when they reached the ripe old age of nearly four and his family moved to Karkur.

She doesn’t remember him.

Anyway, I hope he and his family were nowhere near the blast.

posted by Imshin 21:47

14 dead (Israel channel1).
posted by Imshin 20:33

Gil has said some things about the settlers which I agree with. I can't link to his post. Go read - 10/21 00:00.
posted by Imshin 20:26

11 dead. (Israel TV).

This number doesn't include the two perpetrators.
posted by Imshin 20:02

At least 10 dead. Over 50 wounded. 100 kilograms of explosives.
posted by Imshin 19:35

The way it is.
I was in the post office. A guy dressed like a lawyer (white shirt, black pants), was busy talking on his cell phone. I could make out parts of his conversation. You could understand he was talking about a “pigua”. He finished his conversation and loudly updated the postal worker. We could all hear. Then he started calling other people and updating them.

No one else said a word. No one else made any phone calls. I finished my business there and went to pick up my youngest from her chess class. While there I spoke to another mother and the organizer. No one mentioned the attack. When we got home I put on the TV. Then the piano teacher arrived and I turned it off. The piano teacher had already heard.

My mother-in-law called to cancel her weekly visit this afternoon. She was afraid of getting stuck in traffic because of the attack.

A terrorist attack has become as mundane an event as a minor traffic accident. No big surprise, there had been lots of warnings. It was even in the area anticipated. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing more to say.

Sick.

Update: Gil offers an explanation for this.

posted by Imshin 19:22

Karkur Junction, near Hadera: At least 8 dead; 39 injured. A car blew up next to a bus.


Ehud Yaari on Channel 2 news: Watching Al-Jazeera he saw a change of tone – The interviewers interview Hamas leaders immediately after such an attack. The Hamas leaders’ are usually festive as a result of their success. This time the interviewers asked what this attack is good for, what they think to achieve. Yaari said the Hamas leaders seemed to be on the defensive.

posted by Imshin 18:37

If you are a Jew who appreciates Christian support for Israel, you might like to sign the Jews Thanking Christians For Supporting Israel Petition.
posted by Imshin 21:01

Remember this, R.T.?
Especially for Wolf Men everywhere, here’s a monstrous addition to the “Yellow Belly Custard” collection.

posted by Imshin 21:00

Some Jewish West Bank Settlers have been gradually becoming wilder and wilder. They returned to an already evacuated outpost. They are giving the police and the soldiers a hard time. Some spent their Shabbat shooting at unarmed people. I think they are dead wrong to think they have popular support. You’d think the police and the soldiers have nothing better to do. Shame on them.

posted by Imshin 06:21

We’re back.
Well actually we were back last night but blogger was not letting me post.

Mitzpe Ramon was peaceful, as usual. The weather is much cooler, now. The days are pleasant, the evenings cool. Sweater cool.

Yesterday morning we visited a place inside Makhtesh Ramon called Ein Saharonim. This is a spring, which is a main source of fresh water for the local wild life. There was a Nabatean way station there about nineteen hundred to seventeen hundred years ago. It was on the Spice Route and the camel caravans used to rest there. The ancient Khan has been excavated. Very interesting. The spring was dry, but it should fill up in coming months and it will be interesting to see the difference.

We didn’t see any wild life this time, besides lots of migrating birds and a lizard.

The traffic was very heavy on the way home. We crawled alongside two OXFAM and EU humanitarian aid vehicles for a while. They must have been on their way back from Hebron. Bish pointed out that the vehicle drivers hardly looked like humanitarian workers. They didn’t. They looked more like big tough soldiers. I suggested that these organizations probably don’t send the little old ladies that collect the donations to actually give out the aid.

In Mitzpe Ramon people’s stories seem more interesting. Maybe because they’re different from the stories I usually hear. This couple we met had been conned when they reached the town, and bought an apartment for twice its worth. Seven years on, he’s unemployed and they want to leave but they can’t sell or rent out their home, even at a considerable loss. He’s got a good trade but he’s no spring chicken and won’t find it easy even if they do manage to leave. It looks like he finds solace in drink and in the Torah. And he dreams of living by the sea, although he obviously loves the desert.

I was reminded of my great-grandfather, a Russian immigrant, who left a wife and five children he couldn’t feed, in the North of England, and went to try to find a better life for them in the Goldene Medine - America. He didn’t find it there, but at least he tried.

Our new acquaintances are not hungry, they manage to make a very basic living, without frills, on her salary, but they feel trapped. They are not able to cut their losses and change their fate. He says there is work at his old workplace, but he’s tired of breaking his back for a pittance. I got the feeling he’d left as a result of a row. He seemed understanding of his former employers for not being able to pay higher wages.

They are nice, warm people. He has used his energy, creativity and skill to make a lovely garden, using materials he’s come across, and he is full of plans of how to improve it. He is spirited and engaging, what they call here: full of pepper. She is quiet, assured and sensible.

They said they’d been to Tel Aviv recently, with their children, for an “event” (probably a wedding) at one of the good hotels on the beachfront. They had been so intimidated by the heavy traffic that they hadn’t dared venture out of the hotel.

My great-grandfather returned to England to his family, in case you were wondering.

posted by Imshin 06:13

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