Category Archives: Israel

Politics, culture, people, life, religion and general info on Israel.

Hebrew University and Al-Quds University Issue Joint Statement on Cooperation and Dialogue

The Presidents of Hebrew University (Prof. Menachem Magidor) and Al-Quds University (Prof. Sari Nusseibeh) [If you don’t know, Al-Quds is “The Arab University in Jerusalem”.] issued a joint statement about the importance of working together rather than fostering division and separation (like the AUT boycott has).

[Thank you to Allison Kaplan Sommer for the tip.]

President of Hebrew University President of Al-Quds University

Here is an excerpt of their statement
Cognizant of the moral leadership universities should provide, especially in already turbulent political contexts, we, the President of Al-Quds University and the President of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, have agreed to insist on continuing to work together in the pursuit of knowledge, for the benefit of our peoples and the promotion of peace and justice in the Middle East.

Our position is based upon the belief that it is through cooperation based on mutual respect, rather than through boycotts or discrimination, that our common goals can be achieved. Bridging political gulfs – rather than widening them further apart – between nations and individuals thus becomes an educational duty as well as a functional necessity, requiring exchange and dialogue rather than confrontation and antagonism. Our disaffection with, and condemnation of acts of academic boycotts and discrimination against scholars and institutions, is predicated on the principles of academic freedom, human rights, and equality between nations and among individuals.

We therefore call upon academics here and worldwide to act in support of our mission, as one which might allow for ending our shared tragedy rather than prolonging it.

You can read the whole statement on An Unsealed Room

Israeli & Palestinian Radio!

While catching up on my blogs this morning after shabbat and a 14-hour workday on Sunday, I read Richard’s post on All for Peace Radio, a radio station jointly run and programed by Israelis and Palestinians. Their stated purpose includes:

joint radio station broadcasting in Hebrew, Arabic and English, which aimed at a wide audience amongst both people and provides messages of peace, cooperation, mutual understanding, coexistence and hope.

The goals of the project include:

1. exposure of the various aspects of each side to the other side
2. exposure of interviewees, artists and topics of each side to the other side
3. emphasis on the different and the similar
4. breaking of stereotypes existing on both sides
5. discussion of common interests such as health, environment, culture, transportation, economy, etc.
6. exposure and reporting on joint initiatives and projects and on alternative ideas for the conclusion of the conflict
7. providing hope to the listeners
8. preparing listeners towards “the morning after” the conflict

I’m listening as I write this blog – go listen!

Yom HaAtzmeut in Israeli Papers

Ha’aretz has a list of 10 Who Made Israel What it Is (The list is followed by comments/discussion.)

Ha’aretz special section Independence Day in Focus

Jerusalem Post web discussion of the question What’s Israeli?

YNet Opinion pieces
Israel & America – Two-Way Independence by Yoram Ettinger
The Article I Never Wrote by Yair Lapid

JTA
As Israel mourns and celebrates, a new immigrant looks at the swings by Jonathan Udren

Links for Yom HaAtzmeut (Israeli Independence Day)

Some bloggers on Yom HaAtzmeut
Blurry Mind (Not directly about Yom HaAtzmeut, but on what her family is going through with her brother’s recent death during his IDF service.)
Divrei Moshe
Dutchblog Israel has three posts on this Independence day
I Dream, Therefore I Am
Israel21c [A site with much about technology and life in Israel.]
Israelity: Life Beyond the Conflict
Jerusalem Wanderings
Normblog
The View From Here
This Normal Life & Brian’s Family Tiyul
Sha’s post and top 57 things about Israel

Background & Information
Hatikva – Israel’s National Anthem (Information, English text, Hebrew text, many music renditions…)
Israel’s Proclamation of Independence (English)
About Israel’s Proclamation of Independence
Palestine Post May 16, 1948 Commemorative Issue
Israel’s Flag
My Jewish Learning Israel Index to anything you want to know about Israel

An Issue or Two
AUT (UK Professor’s Union) Boycott and Consequences

Games
Israel Geography Game (Flash)

UPDATE
Another blog post: In Context

Happy 57th Birthday Israel!

Today is Yom HaAtzmeut, Israel’s Independence Day! 57 years ago on the Jewish calendar, the British left their mandate-controlled Palestine and Israel embraced its independence.

Israel is a complex, beautiful, amazing, little country. Young as a modern political entity, but ancient – people have lived there for over 4000 years.

Celebrate!

Some thoughts on Yom HaZikaron

Today was Yom HaZikaron in Israel.

[Want information about today? Get basic information at My Jewish Learning or Jewish Virtual Library.]

I am reminded of the Yom HaZikaron when I lived in Israel. As is still the custom, the sirens blew twice – once at the beginning of the commemoration and once at 11 am (just at the start of the national memorial ceremony at Har Hazikaron {Israel’s national cemetery}). The moment the siren begins its plaintive wail, all action ceases. Meetings, phone calls, cars, buses – everything. People get out of cars and buses, standing in the street, honoring and remembering those who have died. The sirens wail is accompanied by silence and tears cover the land, permeating thought, deed and emotion. About 7 million people live in Israel and about 22,000 have died in Israel’s wars. Nearly everyone knows someone who has died – parent, child, sibling, extended family member, friend….

I attended the national ceremony around 11 am the morning of Yom HaZikaron. A large crowd was gathered at the cemetery, and there too the silence permeated by the siren was all encompassing. After the siren, the ceremonial speeches began along with prayers and wreath-laying. When the official activities ended, families fanned out throughout the cemetery, visiting their loved one’s graves, crying, talking, placing stones and some lying on top of the graves. The way the cemetery is set up, one can tell which are the most recent graves. Walking by them was heartbreaking. Grief poured forth and strangers comforted one another. All in Israel, all of the Jewish people are family.

To my Israeli family, my thoughts are with you today. Your sacrifices have not been in vain and are not taken for granted by this (currently) diaspora Jew.

Good News Morning re Israel

Hello. Today seems to be a good news day for Israel (may this continue to be so). Israeli troops turned over control of Jericho to the Palestinians (with Tulkaram, Qalqiya and Bethlehem on the short list for future cities) and the effort to remove Syria from Lebanon moves forward. (Now we just need to do something about Hizbollah.)

Here are some net sources:

Ha’artez, “Israel to Hand Over Jericho Today”
New York Times, “Lebanon Flag Is Hoisted as Syrians Slip Away”
BBC (with its usual viewpoint), “Israel begins handover of Jericho”

UPDATE: Ha’aretz “Jericho handover delayed at last minute”