israeli politics

with all the young teenagers who are attacking Israelis with knives, and rockets falling in the south, it is pretty amazing that a hundred thousand people marched today for the preservation of the Supreme Court.  I know, I know, I wasn’t there but still from my sickbed, I was with them.  And all my friends were there!  Old ladies like me, and young people and children as well.  And with what spirit and involvement – patriotism at its finest!  

And if the politicians don’t screw it up, it will make this country a better place.

involvement – feb 23, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

After the president’s heartfelt plea to the politicians to have a discussion about the reform of the high court so there would be some consensus, they went ahead blindly.  Hundreds of thousands of residents protested but no one was listening.  

I have to admit I wasn’t there.  Can’t breathe – only nice place for me to be is bed.  But I bless everyone who is active politically.

not that it does any good.  The first law passed, even though the opposition protested (they got thrown out)

But now there’s an offer on the table to discuss things, and maybe the fear of the collapse of the country will bring the politicians together – with their dignity intact.

d Read Post »

israeli politics

The Lisbon earthquake of Nov 1, 1755.  somewhere between 30,000-50,000 people were swallowed up then.  As the numbers of victims in Turkey and Syria grow, I am reminded of the fact that disasters of today are not only the result of global warming, and with the aid of the miracles of modern technology they are continuing to rescue survivors a week after the disaster.  I imagine the fire and the tsunami and the earthquake together made for a much more shocking event than the one just witnessed, but they didn’t have smartphones to document it.

lisbon earthquake – feb 12, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

Yitzchak Herzog has been saying it all along, and tonight he will make a public plea on tv – there must be a dialogue in the government and a mutual agreement has to be reached.   The polls say that more than 60 % of the people are against the legal reform and only 24% are for it.  It can’t be foisted on the people.

president speaks at 8 – feb 12, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

Oy, did I have plans for the next two days – There was a meeting with an editor about the galleys of a little book coming out in Hebrew, a gym class, the book club this evening.  Then tomorrow to Baka to examine the university there and plan a lecture series, and in the evening to meet with my long-time girlfriends for a good gossip session.  All that full dance card was erased by a debilitating cough and weakness that has left me unable to get out of bed.  unable to reason, and unwilling to consider politics.

but why wasn’t even planning to go to the demonstration in Jerusalem tomorrow, you ask?  Everyone else I know is going, but I’d promised to go to Baka Al Gharbia, and I think that cooperation is as important as resistance.  Without positive movement toward mutual understanding, the demonstrations mean little.  

But in the end, I will be lying in bed and watching it all on tv…

 

 

 

Plans – Feb 12, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

I’m not going tonight.  My body still aches and I’m afraid I’ll faint.  My heart is there, though.  Yesterday my kids went on the march of army reservists, and the others were demonstrating somewhere else.  I’ll report upon tonight, though.

if i make it through the day…

 

 

 

demonstration – feb 11, 2023 Read Post »

israeli politics

As we settle to watch our favorite satire show on tv, the news breaks in of a terror attack in Ramat in Jerusalem, with many victims.  A six-year-old boy dead, many others wounded,  The name of the driver of the car from East Jerusalem that rammed into a bus and fired his gun was announced almost immediately.  The newscaster is Moslem, and he is now interviewing the medical staff treating the victims – the staff I am sure is also comprised of people of mixed religions.  Suleiman, the broadcaster, seems to be having a bit of trouble keeping his reportage cool – as a human being he is mortified by the fact that the victims may be of the same family, that they were off to rest on Shabbat.  His sympathies are clearly with the victims and not with the youthful assassin –

The unfolding tragedies remind us of the multiple complexities of our situation. 

 

terror – feb 10, 2023 Read Post »