israeli politics

lies - 10.9.24

I love to make up stories, telling a joke in the first person as if i myself had experienced it, exaggerating about an accident that almost happened to me, complaining about a bank error that almost…. 

But I am very careful to separate truth from my imagination.  This is why I fact check every article I write against original sources, and although i may make a mistake here and there, I do my best to avoid it.

One of the reasons I don’t reread the entries on this journal is because I’m afraid I’ll pretty them up.  After all, what I’ve promised here is impressions of my life in Tel Aviv, not a newspaper.  So I don’t ‘cover’ stories, and I don’t always know the truth.

And I’m really good at recognizing lies.  And I don’t believe Bibi, Ben Gvir, Smotrich, Miri Regev, any Hamas official or representative from UNRWA there.  I do believe the Gazan people most of the time, as well as the Lebanese and I used to believe Nasrallah until about a decade ago.  I believe Biden and I tend to believe Kamala.  This doesn’t mean I like any of them.

This was just to let you know where I stand and you can decide how much you can trust me.

Oh yes, and sometimes lies can tell a deeper truth if you can figure out where they came from.

 

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israeli politics

haifa - 8.10.24

My plan today was to run errands all morning, to make up for the stuff I missed doing yesterday when we had those rockets from Yemen and Lebanon.  Normally I think I take the rockets in stride, keep my head down and don’t let it get into my heart or humor.  But I found myself watching the tremendous rocket barrages on tv today – the damages to property are incredible.  And when you think of a child in a war with a rocket as big as a truck, it is really terrifying.  

This is of course true of Lebanon and Gaza as well as Israel, but the rockets here are closer to me – I know those neighborhoods.  I know those people.

 

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israeli politics

Oct 7

The greatness of a nation may be determined by its ability to contain opposites and paradoxes. antithetical emotions, values, actions.  Today, as the greatness of the monstrousity and the greatness of the loss becomes apparent to us, the amalgamation of this society is also visible.  

I can write no more.

Oct 7 Read Post »

israeli politics

Oct 7

I often say I don’t write about Oct 7 because I don’t have the authority – that people who suffered on that day have much more that should be listened to.  But today I found myself writing this on Facebook: 

This day, October 7, we recall some of the horror stories from last year, terrible events that have left an indelible mark on civilization. So many of these horrible incidents could not have been comprehended while they were occuring, and their monstrous proportion still can not be seen in their entirety because the hostages are still missing. The entire civilized world needs to come together to end this terrible chapter of history.

 

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israeli politics

Youth of Today - 4.10.24

How often have I sat around with friends my age and complained about the next generation?  How often have we worried about how they will manage to maintain normality when they do not have basic skills?  Well it turns out that they have basic skills and more.  They are overcoming amazing obstacles, especially our government.  In every aspect of our lives right now it is the next generation that is winning this war.  They are not only the fighters, the communicators, the chefs, the doctors, the healers, and all that.  And they are doing it all with such dedication and originality, I can only admire them.

We are also losing them in the defence of our country.  Each one a gem, fighting from love of their country, not hatred of their enemies.  

I am humbled by every one I meet.

 

Youth of Today – 4.10.24 Read Post »