israeli politics

Gaza - 6.2.25

As we listen to the hostages that were released and their stories of the various tortures they endured, while we wait for the next group of hostages to be released, The U.S. president expands on his plan for Gaza.  We take over Gaza, hand it over to the U.S.A. and they will repatriate the NATIVES.  Egypt has suggested that they be repatriated to Israel.  Long ago I had a long conversation with the Egyptian novelist about Egyptian humor.  He told me a joke unique to Egyptians and I replied that I knew the joke in Yiddish.  I told him a Yiddish joke, and guess what – it was on his list of unique Egyptian jokes.  The basis of the jokes was always irony, irony directed at the situation of the people.   

Strangely enough, there was no suggestion that they be given American citizenship…

 

Gaza – 6.2.25 Read Post »

blog, israeli politics, my life in tel aviv

recovering - 6.2.25

I’ve been cancelling stuff all week, gave concert tickets away, gave apologies to ladies tomorrow for late morning meeting, am about to give a tentative “no” to cholent on shabbat and have warned the dentist on sunday that recovery is conditional.  Now I can concentrate on Gaza.

What madness is this?   

We had been exiled from Gaza as well.  We had been exiled from Israel and from many other places.  How can we support exile?  

If what is wanted is to rebuild Gaza for the sake of the people it can be done in pieces.  if what is wanted is beachfront luxury…wow.  

You may say that they deserve it, for the way it has been behaving for over a year and fourth months, and in the years past, the tragedy that has affected all this country.  And indeed a desire for revenge is understandable.  But I don’t think it adds to our sense of morality.

And I don’t believe the the rest of the world will accept it.

and, oh yes, i don’t think this announcement is going to help getting our hostages back.

 

 

 

recovering – 6.1.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

sick sick sick - 2.5.25

Nothing to say about today because I couldn’t go to the conference in Beer Sheva.  But I managed to give my talk on zoom, because my ex-students are now professirs and take care of me.  When I recover I will tell you more.

 

sick sick sick -2.5.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

flu - 4.2.25

of course it has to come when there are a thousand things going on.  the kind of flu that makes you look as bad as you feel.  My plan is to beat it by tomorrow so I can go to the conference in Beersheva.    But I’ve had to cancel so much I’lll have to double down next week.  And we’ve got a shiva to be at.  

now I’ve been watching the build-up of troups on the Egyptian border.  Even though Oren told me last week Egypt must have a deal with Turkey to meet for coffee at the Habima square and decide how they’re going to divide Israel, I’ve been assuring myself that they’re just planning to scare the Gazans so they don’t try to come to Egypt.  But Oren’s little vision seems more and more realistic.  Maybe it’s just the flu but I really don’t fancy fighting Egypt.  On the contrary, I would love to celebrate my 80th birthday in Alexandria.

First, I have to get my fever down.

 

 

flu – 4.2.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

co-existentialism - 3.2.25

At Giora’s fineral yesterday I was so moved that I didn’t notice I was wearing a thin shirt and was chilled to the bone.  So now instead of going to the shiva I’m in bed.  

That gave me time to send something to Benj DeMott. https://www.firstofthemonth.org/co-existentialism/

and

Co-Existentialism II (Addendum on relations between Jews and Arabs in Israel)

 

But now I can’t go to my cardiologist appointment in the morning, even if i feel better, even if I wear a mask, because I may pass this on to another patient in the hospital.

 

 

Co-existentialism – 3.2.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

poetry reading – 1.2.25

It’s been a year since Hebrew poets got together in a living room to read, and there were no few references to the war.  But the one that struck me most was one by a poet I don’t know who wrote the dialogue between the spotters and headquarters. Another poem was about gang rape at the Nova festival.  Most other subjects seemed irrelevant.  Even though there were the usual poems about love, philosophy, religion, and language, they all had the taste of a great tragedy underneath.

 

 

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israeli politics

strategy - 31.1.25

Waiting for the hostages to come back, a few at a time, I kept thinking today about the story I heard about Stalin.  That when he first came to power he brought in all his generals and leaders and said he was going to teach them how to lead.  Then he asked that a chicken be brought in, and he took the chicken and began plucking its feathers , one at a time.  The chicken squawked and made terrible sounds of pain, but he continued until he had finished plucking all the feathers.   Then he put the chicken down and it ran away.  

Then he took a handful of corn from his pocket and put it at his feet, and the chicken came running back to Stalin and ate every piece of corn.  

“That,” he said, “Is how you become a leader.”

I feel that Israel has become like the chicken with the hostages.  We are so grateful, we forget everything else.  We’ve certainly forgotten that we have to begin to understand our relationships with our Arab neighbors, that we have to propose a plan for rebuilding Gaza, that we have to lead the way in creating a two state solution.

I have been feeling all day like a plucked chicken.

Strategy – 31.1.25 Read Post »

israeli politics

hostages as survivors - 30.1.25

Whenever we have free moments, we turn to the tv and watch what is happening with the hostages that were freed today.  It has occured to me that we really don’t have a protocol for how to treat people who were imprisoned for  almost a year and a half – sometimes in isolation , sometimes as sex slaves, sometimes as servants, sometimes tortured, sometimes raped, sometimes all of the above.   Some are thin, but most are a bit chubby on carbs, and they claim to have been fattened up for the photo op of their release.  They are all still in hospital recovering.  

I wonder if that includes the 5 Thai workers who were released today.  What kind of trauma are they living through?  Certainly the army girls who lost more than 2/3 of their friends are not yet totally aware of their new situation.

But one thing the Hamas has succeeded in doing – stopping all of our lives, and filling us with fear of the future as we watch people who had been put away for life sentences for multiple murders being freed and scattered around the world where they can do harm everywhere. 

hostages as survivors – 30.1.25 Read Post »