israeli politics

so many things still crazy. Israel tried to send medical supplies to Gaza but got shot at yesterday and had to turn back, but today seem to be succeeding.  I think this is one of the signs that we have great empathy for the Gazan people, but not for the present government there that spends fortunes on building weapons of destruction with no regard for an unprotected people.

Yes, I was in Gaza a few times many years ago, and felt very comfortable with the people – even though then I couldn’t speak a word.  But that was before Hamas.  We women sat together and crocheted, showing each other different tricks of flowers.   I have since forgotten the stitches, and barely remember how to crochet.  

But it would be wonderful to sit with those women again.  

Without the weapons. 

 

May 22, 2021 – almost normal Read Post »

israeli politics

Today as we drove through Tel Aviv, torn up for the past few years in the attempt to build up a metro system, stuck in the traffic jams resulting from closed streets,  we kept recalling the frequently repeated joke in the past few months:  if only we could hire those professionals from Gaza, who managed to build underground tunnels throughout the residential neighborhoods there without showing it aboveground at all .

may 21, 2021 – the metro Read Post »

israeli politics

There may be one benefit from this war.  The relationship between Jews and Arabs in this country seems to be improving – we are beginning to understand how intertwined we are – how interdependent.   Even though we don’t always mix socially, we do mix every day in our lives, and very often we do like each other very much.  

I may have written these lines under the influence of the numerous commercials that come on the news programs that I am addicted to.  They all talk about their companies and their products in the context of communities composed of both peoples.

I certainly hope we keep moving in this direction.

 

 

may 20, 2021 – benefit? Read Post »

israeli politics

We’ve been talking about ceasefire all evening, with the understanding that if it is actually declared, the rockets will intensify and finally hit my neighborhood.  I’m doing french showers and no shampooing until then – and I have more than a minute to go for shelter.  I’ve got friends and former students who have less than 15 seconds.  i wonder how they change their clothes.  This of course includes Arab citizens as well as Jews.  I doubt that there are sirens at all in the desert, and yet rockets fell there.  And in the villages.  

I lost track of how many rockets have been fired on citizens here – 6000?  no, only 4.500.  So if there are almost 9 million inhabitants that’s half a rocket per 1000 people.  or one rocket per 500 families.  How many panic attacks does that mean?  How many heart attacks?  How many children like my granddaughter wake up sobbing in the middle of the night?


 

 

MAY 20, 2021 – NO SHAMPOOING YET Read Post »

israeli politics

When you enter a shelter for protection from rockets

Do you inquire politely if everyone is clean?

Do you demand to see proof of vaccination

Or do you just breathe deeply, relieved

To be away from a more aggressive jeopardy

To be with people as frightened as you?

may 20, 2021 – a new day, right? Read Post »

israeli politics

Because I learned so much from zoom this year, I was anxious to see how the kids have switched back to zoom after having been in school for a few weeks.  The only difference I noticed was the extent to which their ears were attuned to sounds outside.  A motorcycle revving up, a whirr from a kitchen appliance, a news program from a passing car – anything can prime them for a race to shelter.    Things seem normal, but there is a level of awareness and sensitivity that I remember from previous wars.  So many previous wars.

I know the children in Gaza are affected worse – they get a phone call to leave their homes and their homes disappear.  And then no one is responsible for them.  It is terrible.  

 

may 19, 2021 – school on zoom Read Post »