I love Tel Aviv
The beach is definitely the place to be on summer evenings. Grab something to take for the girls' supper and head down to Tel Aviv's newly renovated (Hebrew link) "Metzitzim" beach (named after a popular Israel movie filmed there in the early seventies) at half five in the afternoon and you get to spend a lovely tranquil afternoon and early evening, watching the sun setting. During the week it's a Tel Avivi thing. At the weekends you'll find the rest of the country there. Less pleasant for us locals. Not being snobby, just too crowded, and it's near enough for us to go during the week, without getting stuck in traffic. "Metzitzim" beach is now connected by footpath to the newly renovated commercial and entertainment area of Tel Aviv's old port. It hasn't functioned as a port for years, since Ashdod port was built, and had become very rundown. Now it has restaurants, coffee shops, bars and nightclubs. We like going there in the winter and watching the waves break on the pier.



The port actually has an interesting history. It was built during the "Great Arab Uprising" in the thirties (yes, the British had their Intifada, too), when Jews were not able to use Jaffa port. Tel Aviv port was constructed as an alternative. There is a photo of Bish's grandfather at the grand opening. Bish's mother says she was there too. It was apparently a very joyous occasion. They also built a trade fair center there, the first in the Middle East, which has since been moved to another location in Tel Aviv. The story goes that one of the local Arab notables said that camels would fly before the Jews would be able to build a trade fair center in Tel Aviv. Therefore the symbol of the fair center was (and still is) a flying camel.

Well, we're off to Mitzpe Ramon for the weekend. I'm a bit back on my correspondences. My apologies to those who haven't received answers to e-mails.

Shabbat Shalom.

posted by Imshin 10:26

Bish came home with my new cell phone. Blogging is on hold for the next ten years while I learn how to use it.
posted by Imshin 22:11

Points of Departure
I'm so glad Allison pointed out Dinesh's blog. I'm really enjoying it, and I love that he's in Sde Boqer in my beloved Negev. Lucky him. He gets to be there all the time.

For me, being Israeli, he is particularly intriguing because he tells of life in my country from different eyes. He notices and points out things that are obvious to me.

I'm taking for granted that he is a "he", based on what Allison wrote, but rereading the blog, I don't seem to see any proof of this. Is Dinesh a man's name? Please forgive, me if you are a "She", Dinesh.

posted by Imshin 16:45

I'm enjoying a day at home with the girls today. Things are a bit tense for me at work lately and it's nice not to have to go in and face the unpleasant atmosphere once in a while.
posted by Imshin 15:36

Dead sons
Youngest was reading in the paper about the timely deaths of the Hussein sons. Why didn't they kill Saddam first? She enquired. She also requested me to tell her what they had done that made them so horrible. She realized I mightn't be able to spell it out, so she asked for a "gentle version."

I didn't tell her about the shredding machine. It's enough I have nightmares.
posted by Imshin 15:33

Hudna log rambling
As a former euphoric, drooling-at-the-mouth Oslo supporter, one of the things that continues to infuriate me most, even at the advent of this cease-ish fire we are experiencing (and I'm not being cynical, well maybe a little bit. Cynical but hopeful), is the feeling that Palestinians and with them most of the world, refuse to recognize our deep historical, cultural, religious and emotional connections to this land and especially to places we will have to vacate, should this cease-ish fire eventually mature into peace and coexistence. This is probably one of the greatest changes in me. I now believe it is crucial that the Palestinians learn to understand and respect our deep connections to this land. If they continue to openly and unabashedly refuse to accept that we are something other than a foreign, unnatural entity here, I doubt I will be able to trust them, or support any peace initiative with my vote.

Before the Terror War, articles like this, written by a Jewish dweller of Hebron would have angered me. I wouldn't have been able to read it. Now I appreciate the sentiment expressed in it. I cannot agree with him. I certainly cannot accept the way this endeavor is carried out, and I am angered by the unnecessary price in human life for both sides caused by their actions, and by their often-criminal behavior towards their neighbors. I believe they will eventually have to be forcibly removed from there. I wish it had been done long ago. But I can better understand where they are coming from. I also feel the pain at the prospect of having to part with a place we see as an important part of our ancient heritage.

Regardless of how difficult it may be, however, I will gladly support such a development, if I feel the Palestinians are capable of appreciating what a great sacrifice this is for us, and of honoring us for it. I have little reason to believe this is the case right now.


posted by Imshin 15:09

Doesn't time fly when you're having fun?
It's Lynn B.'s first Blogiversary. It seems only yesterday that she was starting up. In Context remains one of my very favorite blogs.

posted by Imshin 09:29

Peace on Palestinian TV.
Just after I went to bed last night, Bish called me to see something on Channel One's late news. I missed most of it, but by the time I got to the living room they were showing what looked like a pro-peace broadcast that had apparently been aired on Palestinian TV. What I managed to see was children singing about peace in Arabic. You know, gooey stuff. Bish said that at the beginning they showed a child dressed up as a Jewish ultra-religious boy (with long side locks) singing a song about peace. Nice. I can't find any links to it.

While searching I found this, though. Also nice. "Four Israelis and four Palestinians are to make a joint assault on a previously unclimbed mountain in the Antarctic Peninsula later this year". The project is being sponsored by an Israeli businessman who lives in Germany.

Hope we get more gooey stuff as times go by, and not more of the other stuff. One down. Next stop school textbooks and curricula.

Update: With reference to Pal TV, Micol tells me not so nice. Sigh.

posted by Imshin 09:19

Blogging block
Lately, I have no idea what other bloggers are talking about. Most of the time they seem to be talking about people and things I know nothing of. Maybe it's my brain tissue melting.

Nothing particularly interesting seems to be happening over here. The economy, the single parents' struggle, the crisis in the health system. Am I meant to have an opinion on these things? What for?

Is it a summer thing? Does everyone sink into lethargy on the first of July, to reemerge only on the first of September?

Or is it just me?

I have two little girls in the shower, Youngest and a friend. They were at the pool today in summer camp and they don't really shower there very well. So. Every two seconds I have to go and help out with soap in eyes or some other such calamity. Any minute now it'l be combing parade time.

This was their last day at summer camp. Now I'll have to start taking Youngest to the pool myself. Eldest goes with friends thankfully. I'm an embarrassment (At last!).

Showers finished they're going down to play goomi (a skipping game) under the building. The heat seems to affect kids differently.

Why is it all year I say "We'll do it in the summer" and then when summer comes I'm too exhausted to do anything?

New Israeli blog: Israellycool. Doesn't seem to be affected by summertime apathy. Maybe he's a fraud. A cool fraud. I will discuss this question further. In September. Anyway, he's the guy of the moment. Go see. And I wasn't the one who cut him on the Ayalon Freeway. Honest!

posted by Imshin 17:49

My apologies about the light blogging.
It's too damn hot and humid and even the air-conditioning doesn't help my energy levels very much.
posted by Imshin 19:45

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