The Israel Situation » Tel Aviv

Setting The Facts Straight: 1948

Eric — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 16:18:15 +0000

Tel Aviv University Professor Carlo Strenger wrote a piece for the Guardian that discussed the history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the 1948 war. While I disagree with many of his comments, a couple of paragraphs stand out.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is more than 100 years old. Israel is, no doubt, not doing what it should to end the occupation of the territories conquered in 1967. Along with many others in Israel I am committed to ending it. But there are many Palestinians and others who endorse their just cause who take every opportunity to return to what happened in 1948 – which is not constructive.

I think the first step is to get history right. Palestinians were not just passive victims in what they call the Nakba, as if it had been something like a natural catastrophe. Far from being only victims, they made decisions like choosing to follow Muhammad Amin al-Husseini who formed close ties with Nazi Germany. Arab rejection of the Jewish presence created a zero-sum-game that made the attempts of Jewish leaders like Magnes and Buber to seek cooperation and coexistence with Palestinian Arabs irrelevant.

It is important to remember that Palestinians made choices (and it is often conveniently repressed by them and their proponents). They could have accepted the UN partition plan of 1947. They chose not to. Let us not delude ourselves: if the Arab armies that attacked the fledgling state of Israel had won, not a single Jew would have been allowed to stay in Palestine, and countless would have been killed. Israel won the 1948 war, and, as is well documented now, used the chaos of war to expel 750,000 Palestinians from Israel. This is a tragedy for the Palestinians, but they are not the only ones who pay a heavy price for losing wars.

This great article is written for the 100th anniversary of the founding of Tel Aviv. I suggest you read the whole thing at the Guardian. Maybe the Palestinians will stop complaining and work to move forward. While I hate Kadima, the Palestinians could learn something from the word’s meaning. It means to move forward. Quit living in the past and work to make your life and your kids lives better. Fighting is getting us nowhere.

Setting The Facts Straight: 1948 is a post from: The Israel Situation

Israel’s Streets on Yom Kippur

Eric — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:44:11 +0000

Ha’artez has a great photo report of Israel’s busy streets on the not so busy Yom Kippur. It is worth taking a gander. The streets of Israel empty out every year on Yom Kippur and children are often seen riding bikes through major streets and highways.

Israel’s Streets on Yom Kippur is a post from: The Israel Situation

Israel Investigating Possible Soldier Kidnapping

Eric — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 18:22:00 +0000

IDF officials have begun an investigation into a reported Israeli soldier abduction. The Maan News Agency, a Palestinian news source in Beit Lechem, has reported that the “Al-Quds Army” terrorist group has claimed that they are holding a kidnapped soldier. The little known terrorist group is thought to be associated loosely with Hezbollah.

Israel has responded with roadblocks and a massive search. A major roadblock was setup on highway one between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem near Ben Gurion Airport and Lod.

The “dragnet” around the country has not yet produced any results. The terrorists claim they kidnapped the soldier in the area around the airport. The search began after a soldier reported seeing what looked like a group of people attempting to force another soldier into a car.

I hope we do not have another Gilad incident forming. I will keep you all updated if I find out anything more.

Israel Investigating Possible Soldier Kidnapping is a post from: The Israel Situation

Maccabiah Games Next Week

Eric — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 20:47:00 +0000

The 18th annual Maccabiah Games begin on July 18th in Israel. The Maccabiah Games are kind of like the Jewish Olympics. It is something interesting to read about and learn about. The open ceremony and most events are going to be held at Ramat Gan Stadium in the Tel Aviv region.

Maccabi USA

Maccabiah Games (Wikipedia)

2009 Maccabiah Games

Legacies continue at `Jewish Olympics’ – Miami Herald

Maccabiah Games Next Week is a post from: The Israel Situation

Israeli Posed for NBA Draft First Round

Eric — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:39:00 +0000

Omri Cassipi, a 6′ 9″ Macabbi Tel Aviv veteran is in the sights of the NBA. Word is that the Portland Trailblazers have their eyes set on Cassipi, who has spent 4 years on the Tel Aviv team, a member of the Euroleague.

Few Israelis have actually made it into the NBA, though many have tried. The JTA has a comprehensive history of failed NBA attempts. I wish Cassipi luck in his bid for the world’s top basketball league.

Israeli Posed for NBA Draft First Round is a post from: The Israel Situation

Drunk Stripper Wakes Up in Ramallah

Eric — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 20:39:00 +0000

An unfortunate Tel Aviv stripper woke up this morning in Ramallah. The “nice Jewish girl” got into a car with a group of men and does not remember what happened from there.

The story is kind of funny and kind of sad. My bet is that she was drugged, taken advantage of, and left to fend for herself while still drunk in the Palestinian de facto capital city.

A Palestinian police officer found the girl and brought her to a waiting staff at a nearby checkpoint. The girl was taken back into Israel for questioning about the incident. She could easily have been kidnapped and murdered in the dangerous city.

The YNet article title, “Tel Aviv Stripper Gets Drunk, Wakes Up in Ramallah” is good for a laugh though. The woman in her twenties did not even know where she woke up until a few minutes later when safely in the hands of Palestinain security.

The moral of this story: don’t get drunk and go to the West Bank.

Drunk Stripper Wakes Up in Ramallah is a post from: The Israel Situation

Blues By The Beach

Eric — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 19:15:00 +0000

Any American who has spent time in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv knows about Mike’s Place. I had quite a few trips to the Jerusalem location during my semester in Israel, and I have many friends who visited the Tel Aviv location, located next to the US Embassy on Tel Aviv beach.

Mike’s Place is essentially an American ex-pat haven. If you order a drink in Hebrew, the bartender will respond in English. American sports are often shown on the TVs and projector screens. Bands that play classic rock from the US (and UK) play on the stages most nights of the week.

Mike Baxter was in Israel filming a documentary on a terrorist during the Intifada and decided to change gears while already in Israel. He decided to make a film about living in Israel under the threat of terror. He focused on the American bar in Tel Aviv, Mike’s Place.

A terrorist attack took place at Mike’s Place one night. That night, Jack was there with his camera. He was filming as the explosion happened.

That attacked changed Jack’s life. It took the lives of several of his friends. People that Jack interviewed for the film had their lives taken that night.

Jack completed his documentary with the help of Joshua Faudem, another Mike’s Place friend. The film is now available to view online and the DVD is going to be released in March.

It is rare that I advertise in a post, let alone for free, but this film is one that I think everyone should see. It can help you understand life in Israel from a much different perspective.

Visit Blues By The Beach online.

Blues By The Beach is a post from: The Israel Situation

Real Life Mob Wars in Tel Aviv

Eric — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 16:54:00 +0000

Mob boss Yaakov Alperon was killed in a car bomb assassination in Tel Aviv. Sounds like something out of the Godfather, right?

Tel Aviv police are out in force now protecting the funeral of the mobster. Israel has serious mafia problems. This is largely related to prostitute trafficking from the former Soviet Union to Israel and other parts of the world. Not a Kosher industry by any standard.

A special police unit, known as Unit 443, has 1,000 dedicated officers working to fight organized crime in Israel.

Real Life Mob Wars in Tel Aviv is a post from: The Israel Situation

Meretz Advertisement Deemed Immodest

Eric — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 21:20:00 +0000

A Meretz ad will not be put on the sides of Dan buses in Tel Aviv because the woman pictured is wearing a sleeveless shirt. The ad features Yuli Goldstein, candidate for municipal council in Ramat Gan.

The Canaan advertising company is in charge of bus ads for the Dan bus company, and holds to modesty standards. Meretz, known for the militant anti-religious views, refuses to change the ad and uphold modesty standards.

I say that is just fine. One less Meretz ad can’t be bad for the world.

The ad above is shown censored for respect of religious readers.

Meretz Advertisement Deemed Immodest is a post from: The Israel Situation

Paul McCartney Visits Israel Despite Protests

Eric — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 19:00:00 +0000

In the early years of Israel, The Beatles were scheduled to perform in Israel but were turned away by the government. Israeli officials said that The Beatles would corrupt the morals of Israel’s youth, and The Beatles never scheduled a return.

Tuesday, Sir Paul McCartney is going to play a historic show in Tel Aviv. Despite many protests from fellow British citizens, McCartney says he is coming to Israel with a message of peace. Rumors say that some of the protests included death threats.

McCartney said that while any large event will bring some protests, “most people understand that I’m quite apolitical and that my message is a global one and that it is a peaceful one”.

Paul McCartney Visits Israel Despite Protests is a post from: The Israel Situation