Category Archives: Israel

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

Some powerful stories from Friday's terrorist attack

Israel

A group of friends from life and army service planned to gather at a nightclub Friday night to have a surprise celebration in honor of another friend’s 30th birthday. Unfortunately, the surprise was on them, for all four of the people murdered were connected to the party. Read a moving account of the events and their aftermath on Ha’aretz (thank you Allison).

Lisa writes a very moving piece about living amidst terror and pain, balancing feeling all the pain with going numb.

Read, even if it is difficult, for we are all one people.

Radio from Israel

Israel

Often I listen to music while I type. Usually I play a mix of music stored in iTunes. However, this morning I am listening to live streaming of All for Peace Radio, an Israeli radio station which broadcasts in Hebrew, Arabic and English.

All for Peace Radio works for coexistence and understanding. Amongst the insipring words on their (English language) about page (you can also read it in Hebrew and Arabic) they write, The Palestinian organization Biladi – The Jerusalem Times and the Israeli organization The Jewish-Arab Centre for Peace, Givat Haviva, which are partners in the youth magazine Crossing Borders and maintain a long-standing, good and egalitarian working relationship, propose to create a 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.

Listen, be entertained and support this effort towards peace and understanding!

Flying Kites for Peace

Israel

I learned today (thanks World Changing) who got it from Gily that there is an effort to fly kites along both sides of the security barrier on April 27, 2005. Here is what World Changing posted,

Ally Gil Friend points us at 10,000 Kites, an activist art initiative to fly 10,000 kites along both sides the 500 kilometer long security barrier dividing Israel and the West Bank on April 27, 2005. Even if the people on either side of the wall can’t see each other, they–and the world–will see them flying kites for peace, dreaming together of a bright future.

Above and beyond the current conflict, where the wall separating Israel from the West Bank stretches ominously over more than 500 kilometers of territorial strife, is 500 kilometers of limitless sky, where 10,000 kites will fly in Spring 2005, spreading messages of peace.

Go to the 10,000 Kites for all the details.

May the skies soar with beauty, peace and hope on that day!

Good News Morning from Israel

Israel

Boker tov (good morning or a good day at whatever time you read this.)

This morning began (as all do) with a quick read of the news over the internet. I am filled with (slightly cautious) hope this morning reading Ha’aretz, one of Israel’s dailies. Peace seems to again be building:

Home demolitions for Palestinians is no longer government policy. [For more information on why home demolitions are problematic, see this FAQ on Home Demolitions by RHR.] Gideon Levy has an editorial piece on the home demolitions in Ha’aretz.

The disengagement plan from Gaza is being voted on today by the Israeli cabinet. The Knesset has already passed the disengagent plan, and cabinet approval is another key step for the July pullout.

Israel is also rerouting the security fence as directed by the Israeli Court. Israel’s court months ago determined that part of the route of the fence was problematic and mandated change. If only the government of the United States could be self-relfective and willing to make difficult changes or even admit when it is wrong. Somehow, I don’t think that Bush ever thinks that he or his policies are wrong.

Ha’aretz article on pullout and fence re-route. An analysis article in Ha’aretz can be found here.

Jordan is returning its ambassador to Tel Aviv, and Egypt is expected to soon do the same.

Israeli Arab women are opening more businesses and building brighter futures for themselves, their families and communities. Much of this effort is being spearheaded by The Center for Jewish-Arab Economic Development.

While there is this good news, here are a few more serious items:
Please put former President Ezer Weitzman in your prayers, as he is in the hospital.

More on the Sharm-El-Sheik Peace Conference

Israel, Palestinians

Many in the blog world, especially the Israeli blog world have written about the peace talks and the hopeful caution that we feel. I guess the caution comes from having high hopes dashed before by violence and hate.

Here are some posts by other bloggers:
Renatina writes about Tikva v’safek (hope and doubt).
Andrew Jaffe writes on his thoughts at Israpundit.
Gilly compares the feelings at this peace talk with how many of us felt in 1993 with the signing of the Oslo accords.
Imshin shares her thoughts.
Mike writes about hope and skepticism.

Adrian reflects on the decision by Jordan and Egypt to return ambassadors to Israel.

Sadly, because Abbas is making overtures towards peace, some are worried about a threat to his life (JPost, free registration needed).

Ha’aretz newspaper has many stories on the peacetalks, including a page of pictures from the summit.

May G-d spread peace over all.

UPDATE – Richard at Tikun Olam also has an informative post on the peace talks. (Sorry, Richard and thanks for the comment to let me know.)

Hope for Peace

Israel, Palestinians

Today’s meeting between Abbas and Sharon in Sharm-el-Sheik gives me hope that the beginnings of peace may again be on the horizon.

May G-d help all leaders focus on peace and justice rather than on personal agenda, ego and money.

May peace spread throughout the land.

(If you are looking for some information on today’s meeting, try the New York Times (free registration needed).)

Some thoughts on Sunday's Palestinian Authority Elections

Israel, Palestinians

Sunday will be election day in the Palestinian areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

Palestinians will elect a new President to replace Arafat. There are many predictions, pronouncements, warnings and hopeful statements on the web and in the media. I do not intend to duplicate any of them nor even summarize them. Rather, I share with you some signs and evidence of work already happening on the ground to continue to nurture co-existence and peace.

All Nations Cafe, has been engaging in coexistence for some time now. Take a look at the beautiful
pictures on their website of some of their activites. (Who are they, their information page includes the statement, “We believe that people can live in peace if they get to know each other, through sharing food, having an open conversation, through celebrating and through working together.”

According to the Jerusalem Report, the Israeli Army may not re-enter Palestinian areas after the election.

Leslie Susser of the Jerusalem Report details some of the mechanism of the election,
The January 9 election will be monitored by about 250 international observers. Former U.S. president Jimmy Carter will head a 90-member supervising committee. The election will be conducted according to the 1996 model, in which East Jerusalem Palestinians voted at post offices, rather than at regular polling booths. Israel did not want to deny East Jerusalemites the right to vote, but at the same time did not want the fact of their having voted to imply anything about the territorial status of disputed East Jerusalem. The dilemma was resolved by having them cast what could be regarded as a postal vote. The same procedure will be followed this time too.

I have hope which I pray will not be dimmed by terror or extremism on any side that Sunday will be a step toward democracy and peace for the Palestinians.

Israeli Company Donates Tsunami Warning Systems

Israel, Social Justice/Tezedek

This morning’s news from Israel includes a great statement about generosity, hope and help above profit. Meir Gitelis of Avtipus Patents and Inventions Ltd. is giving away – for free – tsunami alert systems to countries in South East Asia affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunamis. What a moment of pride. I learned of this from an article in Ha’aretz. Here is an excerpt,

An Israeli company said on Monday it planned to distribute free to Asian countries hit by last week’s tsunami a device it says could save lives by warning holiday-makers directly that a tidal wave is coming.
The system developed by Israeli inventor Meir Gitelis uses land and water sensors, smaller than a shoe box and each costing $170, to measure seismic activity and wave motion.

Like other systems already in operation, the sensors can send alerts in seconds by satellite to governments anywhere in the world. Unlike others, this system can also relay warnings directly to private subscribers over cell phones, pagers or dedicated receivers, spreading the message more widely.

Seaside hotels could install a satellite receiver to pick up warnings broadcast over the system seconds after an earthquake that could cause giant waves. Local cell phone or pager networks could do the same and send SMS messages to their subscribers…..”We’re not doing this to make money,” Gitelis said. “He want to help people. We plan to give our product to poor countries for free and we will not charge the countries that were affected by the disaster in Asia.”

Read the rest of the article here.

May this act of generosity inspire others.