Tel Aviv Diary - July 2-6 2013 - Karen Alkalay-Gut
July 2, 2013 Clean slate. Events have been so intensive I can't even promise an update. But will start from here.
I am watching an Egyptian woman reporting in Hebrew from Tahrir Square - urging us to follow her example and ensure that the government reflects the desires of the people. What an amazing human statement. Let us all learn from each other.
July 3, 2013 Piles. I am suffering from piles! Piles and piles. Papers, exams, back mail, bills.... And still we celebrate - weddings, retirement (even though it doesn't really happen until October), demonstrations. I actually hear them most nights - in front of Yair Lapid's house. What can I say? I've never agreed with capitalism, and i believe that Egyptian woman who said that governments serve the people, but I don't believe that small demonstrations work - without an alternative economic plan. My plan would be to take all the settlement money and put it into factories in development areas. especially the factories that are built but not operating any more.
July 4, 2013 Hiba Hamdi Abu Saif reports to us every day from Tahrir Square, and who could help but celebrate with her and the Egyptian people. Politics and religion must not mix. When can we come to Egypt? we ask her. Not right now, she says, but soon - you used to come here and you will be welcome again soon. Go to Egypt? I couldn't even get myself to leave my bed this evening - not even for the U.S. Ambassador's July 4 party! I know I'm missing big time, but I'm giving my feet a rest until the morning. July 5, 2013 While my heart celebrates together with the Egyptian people, I understand the trouble the Gazans are now in because of the skirmishes on their border, probably protests over the revolution. The closing of the Egyptian/Gaza border at Rafiah and the tunnels at Rafa puts the Gazans in danger of great shortages. And thank you, yes, my feet and my knees and my back are much happier now - even the tiny bit of shopping i did today was painless. The amazing bargains at the shopping mall in Ramat Aviv revived me greatly. July 6, 2013 Because Oren and Yael wanted to return some trays to the American Colony Hotel we all went there for lunch. An inveterate shopper I went back to the incredibly classy antique shop that Amjad runs. He's got everything there - a hotel shop with carpets from all over the world, hundred year old Armenian vases, kohl jars from Persia. He'll probably sell to you for reasonable prices. But to get back to reality, I'm really keeping my fingers crossed for the Egyptian people. The scary chaos might not last but - how to live from day to day. unbelievable.