Ho Hum; Labor Party Primaries hardly noticed in Israel

With Israel Labor Party primaries now under way, and on top of current security issues such as the beleaguered town of Sderot and military actions into Gaza, today's inter-party primary elections for a new Labor Party leader seem to be so boring that even the most mediocre TV program will probably receive better ratings.

The three front-runners, including present party leader and Defence Minister Amir Peretz, also include former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and a newer 'kid on the block' former Naval Chief Ami Ayalon; who appears to be the front runner, and the only new face among a group of hopefuls whose aspirations are not generating any excitement within a political party which is only a shadow of it's former self.

Peretz, running a distant third behind 'Rear-Admiral' Ayalon and Barak 'The Watchmacher' (Barak's favorite hobby is disassembling and reassembling watches and clocks) still thinks he can pull off an upset and retain his present position, made increasingly unstable in the aftermath of the sensational Winograd Report. Amir appears to have delusions of grandeur, however, as pre-primary polls show him able to garner less than 20% of the party vote, compared to Barak's 31% and Ayalon's 35%.

Barak also appears to be suffering from a few delusions himself, as his short term as Prime Minister resulted in Israel's hasty pull-out from Lebanon in May, 2000, followed by the disappointing Camp David Summit later that summer and the Second Intifada in the fall. Even Barak himself seems to have some doubts as he was quoted recently as saying: "if there will be a run-off, I'll lose it (the election)".

Ayalon appears to be the only possible man who might possibly be able to bring some new life into the party which was virtually unopposed in Israeli politics for nearly thirty years. But in light of present realities, even he may have an uphill struggle due to infighting within Labor, together with Ayalon's personal connections with Palestinian Professor Sari Nusseibeh concerning a two state solution for Israelis and Palestinians; a not too popular conception nowadays with Kassam rockets still raining

down on Israel's southern regions. The aftermath of last summer's war, coupled with the present Hamas led hostilities in the south, has increased right winged feelings and given strength to more hawkish political parties, particularly opposition Likud party leader Binyamin 'Bibi' Natanyahu.

In the fall-out from events which may occur during the coming days (especially if the conflict with the Palestinians grows more intense) it may even set the stage for such people as Arkady Gaydamak to become even more popular at the expense of current politicians, including Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who appears to holding onto power by the skin of his teeth. If Gaydamak continues to win friends and influence people, as he has with his assistance to Sderot residents and others in distress, even he might be a possible political leader in the not so distant future. After all, with all the millions that Arkady has, he doesn't need to be corrupt – he has enough money already.

Labor's chances of being in the next Israeli government are not too good at this point. But Israeli politics often results in strange bedfellows; and when push comes to shove, this party could very well be right in there again, alongside an even more right-winged government. After all, a deal is a deal, even if the 'menu' is not too palatable.

The writer is a political commentator and free lance journalist

Keep it in the Family

Another week begins in Israel...A shooting attack in Jerusalem...The police on highest alert...The IDF attacking Gaza... And another 22 Kassams.Not to mention the race for the leadership of the Labor Party, which will be decided Monday.

And Arkady Gaidamek, the Russian tycoon who stepped in to provide Sderot residents with some refuge by setting up a temporary accommodation in Tel Aviv.

Well I suppose that’s good news.

Someone actually doing something for the benefit of others.
Someone realizing that the people of Sderot are our people, our brothers and sisters.
That Sderot today can be Haifa or Jerusalem tomorrow...
The time has come for the Jewish people to realize we’re all in this together.

Hamas couldn’t care less whether you’re religious or secular, Labor or Likud.
And if not Hamas, then Hezbollah or Ahmedijan.
Like Haman and Hitler before them. They want all Jews out.

And if you need proof it’s not just a war against Israel, look at the increased anti-Semitism in Europe since the IDF’s attacks in Gaza.
(Hundreds of similar attacks also occurred in 2000-2001 as well.)

The Jewish people are under threat. Again.


Now is not the time to attack each other.
Now is the time to realize we’re one family.
I don’t expect all members of a family to agree with each other...

And yes, there are families in which siblings don’t even speak to each other.

But I bet that 99% of the time, family members would do all in their power to protect the lives of their parents, brothers, sisters and children.

Now is the time to put our differences in perspective and understand we have much more in common than we tend to think.

Like life, for example.
Let Hamas and Fatah kill each other.
Israel, and Jews, are different.
Every Jew is connected to every other Jew, whether in Ashkelon, Australia or America.
That’s just how it is.

And the sooner we realize that, the safer we’ll be.

Israel Needs Something More

Another 9 Kassam rockets last night...
More targeted IAF attacks on Hamas strongholds...
And the cycle of pointless and endless violence continues...

It’s a cycle that’s been revolving since 1948, and – in its present format – since the first Intifada.

Nothing has changed.

And nothing will, unless Israel drastically changes track.
Well that’s not strictly true. If Israel keeps up its reactive, targeted attack policy (which has got us nowhere), the Hamas, Hezbollah and our other friendly neighbors will continue to laugh at us and gently send their rockets over the fence every day until they get what they want.

After all, they forced Israel to evacuate Gush Katif with this policy. They humiliated Israel in the Second Lebanon War with this policy, so why should they stop?

Israel must do what it has to do. No fear. No hesitation.

Israeli citizens are being attacked every day.
This is not the time for “protecting innocent Palestinians.”

This is not the time for worrying “what the world will say” or “how Bush will react.”

Israel must finally realize that its future is in its own hands. And it has to take the lead in the war against evil because no-one else will.

Now is the time to allow the IDF to do what it’s supposed to do: defend Israel. And that’s by giving them free rein to eliminate Hamas in Gaza.

No more political diplomacy. At least not with Hamas.

When you’re dealing with a bunch of terrorists, you have to talk in their language.

Israeli citizens have a basic right to live without the daily threat of Kassam rockets over their heads.

And normal Palestinian citizens have a right to live without tyranny and fear...

Yes, do it by trying to minimize loss of innocent lives...

Yes, do it by giving a 48-hour ultimatum for those that want to leave Gaza...

Yes do it, by clearly explaining to the world what we’re about to do...

But DO IT!

Before it’s too late...

Thoughts on 40 Years of United Jerusalem

May 14 is being celebrated in Israel's capital as the 40^th anniversary of a united Jerusalem. A united Jerusalem – what does that really mean? For some, especially Israel's Arab enemies, it still means Al Nakba or 'The Catastrophe', as they consider this fact to be detrimental to Arab pride as they claim part of the city to be occupied Arab land.

For Jews, especially religious Jews, a unified Jerusalem is the fulfillment of a dream that was only that, a dream, for 18 years, from 1948 until June 7, 1967. It means being able to travel in virtually all parts of the city including the Old City; and the ability to pray once again at the Kotel or Western Wall, the last remnant of the Second Temple. Going to 'The Wall' on the Jewish Sabbath is an experience in itself; and many Jewish families come from abroad to celebrate Bar Mitzvah ceremonies in front of this ancient landmark.

For Christians, to be able to pray in their holy sites, including the Church of the Holy Sepulture in complete freedom is a great asset, and many Christians are grateful for this fact. For a united Jerusalem is to their advantage as well.

For Muslims, Israeli governments from the outset have given them formal control over the Temple Mount, known in Arabic as Karim al Shariff . For Jerusalem, or Al Quds (The Holy), is Islam's third holiest city. Muslims living in the city enjoy full residency status, and many are also Israeli citizens. Despite everything said by Muslims living outside of Jerusalem, they have more freedoms in a united Jerusalem than any minority groups have in nearly all Muslim and Arab capitals, including Cairo Egypt and Amman Jordan.

So why all the controversy regarding the status of this city; and why do so many Arabs want to see the city divided once again, as well as the eviction of all non-Muslims? It is simply because they want to possess the entire Land of Israel including the Holy City of Jerusalem. This will never happen as long as Israel is strong and the Jewish people are strong.

Meanwhile, all that can be hoped for is the realization of the prophecy written in the Book of Isaiah: "For out of Zion shall come forth the law and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem".

And that simply says it all.

United or Divided?

This Tuesday is Jerusalem Day.

The day we celebrate the miraculous military victory in the Six-Day War, 40 years ago.

The IDF reclaimed Jerusalem, and more specifically the Old City and the Western Wall, as well as what we know today as Judea, Samaria and Gaza.

Israeli leaders always promise they will maintain a “united Jerusalem.”

This means (I think, depending on who says it) that Jerusalem will always remain the undivided capital of Israel.

Whatever that means.

But the more immediate question is why has Jerusalem Day become almost the exclusive property of Jerusalemites and the Religious Zionist community ?

Unlike Independence Day, which is a national holiday (with a handful of exceptions), Jerusalem Day is just a normal working day.

And if you took a random poll on Tuesday outside Jerusalem, I’m not sure that even 30% would know what day it was.

Jerusalem may be united but the Israeli public are divided.

Why?

There are many explanations of course, but I would guess that one of the main reasons is that the majority of Israelis simply do not appreciate what Jerusalem
means.

It is not just another city like London, New York or Paris (with all due respect to those wonderful places of course.)

Paris is named after the Greek myth. Paris chose the love of the Helen of Troy as opposed to the options of wisdom and power.

And London comes from a Celtic word meaning “wild and wooded town.”

Jerusalem was allegedly named by God. It’s a combination of two words: ‘yira’ – to see, and ‘shalem,’ which
means ‘complete’ or ‘peace.’

Jerusalem is a metaphor for the vision of a perfect world. It gives us perspective on our lives, as Aldous Huxley once said, “We have each of us our Jerusalem.”

Jews prayed “Next Year in Jerusalem” for over 2,000 years of exile. Despite oppression , poverty and disease,they preserved the dream of a world of
love and justice; a world where the rich looked after the poor and power did not corrupt.

The Talmud says that creation began in Jerusalem, and the world radiated outwards from there.
Medieval maps show Jerusalem at the epicenter of Asia, Europe and Africa.
The world flows into this spot, and Jerusalem gives perspective to the rest of the world.

Even when the Jewish people were far away from Jerusalem, we never forgot. We never despaired. Never gave up hope that the place where Abraham almost sacrificed Isaac would once again return to Jewish hands.

Jerusalem represents the eternity of Israel. Of the Jewish people. Jerusalem is an idyllic vision of God
in our lives.

An image of a perfect world.

Jerusalem reminds us of Israel’s greater purpose in life. Like it or not, Israel is a nation unlike any other. Period.

Like it or not, the Jewish people has a responsibility to the world. A ‘Jerusalem’ responsibility. A vision of perfection and peace.

It won’t be easy. And we won’t be uniting the world this Tuesday.

Because before we do that...

We must unite ourselves.

Lagging Behind

Lagging Behind

Lag BaOmer. That’s the name of the holiday celebrated in Israel today (and mainly last night.)

My kids stayed up all night around their bonfires. For the last month, they’ve been dragging branches, tree trunks, broken furniture and wooden legs (only joking) to prepare for this all night fire alert.

What’s it all about?

It’s all about Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, a wise man who lived during the Roman conquest of Jerusalem some 2,000 years ago.

When the Romans outlawed Torah study, Rabbi Shimon dared to oppose them. And so they promptly issued a price for his head.

Rabbi Shimon and his son Elazar fled to a cave. They had no food but miraculously a carob tree grew nearby, along with a stream of fresh water.

They spent their entire days deep in Torah study.
For 12 years.

Then one day, Elijah the prophet visited them and told them that Caesar had died and the decree against Rabbi Shimon had been annulled.

However, since they had been exclusively involved in lofty spiritual matters for 12 years, when they left the cave they vaporized everything they saw, Harry Potter-style.

At which point a Heavenly voice ordered them back into the cave to learn how to control their spiritual powers.

Rabbi Shimon became the greatest teacher of his generation.

One of his students, Rabbi Abba, described the day of his master’s death:

“I couldn’t even lift my head due to the intense light emanating from Rabbi Shimon. The entire day the house was filled with fire, and nobody could get close due to the wall of fire and light...”

Indeed, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai wrote the archetypal Kabbalistic treatise, the Zohar, which literally means “shining light.”

So that’s why Israeli children build bonfires 20 and 30 feet high on Lag BaOmer – to celebrate The great light and fire that was Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai.

What’s all that got to do with you and me?

At least three things I think:

1. An ideal leader will illuminate the path for his/her followers. He will not use his power to burn and destroy.

2. Although we are sad at the death of someone we cherish, we should always be encouraged by their good deeds and their impact on the world.

3. We should learn about perseverance and enthusiasm from our children. It’s certainly not my idea of a good time to get splinters in my hands the whole month just to sit and stink of smoke all night long...

But as Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach once said:
“Sometimes we should walk in front of our children to show them the way...

Sometimes we can walk with our children when they know the way...

And sometimes we should lag behind our children so they can show us the way.”

Happy Lagging!

Judgment Day for Olmert?

Despite attempts by embattled Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert to remain in office, a mass rally scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday night may decide the fate of the man who has been shouldered with much of the blame for Israel's failures in last summer's Lebanon II war. The event, at Kikar Rabin in Tel Aviv, is expected to be attended by more than 100,000, including a number of well known media and entertainment personalities as well as yet-to-be-named politicians. Seemingly hemmed in on all sides by a number of protest groups, including striking university students (pictured) Olmert's political future seems in jeopardy as a majority of the Israel public feel that he has failed in his position as head of government and should therefore resign his post.

It's not the first time that Israeli political leaders have resigned following wars and other trying events in which their leadership was questioned. David Ben Gurion resigned his prime minister's post at least twice; and both Golda Meir and Menacham Begin resigned after receiving public castigation following the Yom Kippur and Lebanon I war. In the case of Olmert, however, he refuses to leave his 'watch' despite the devastating findings of the recently released Winograd Report. The same also holds true for Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who also is trying to stay put despite an even higher "vote' on behalf of the Israeli public.

What remains to be seen is what will happen after the dust settles following tonight's rally, where such 'well-knowns' as Aviv Gefen, Gilad Sagev and Nimrod Lev. Interest groups such as the Movement for Quality Government, Organization of Northern Border Communities, as well as a large contingent of army reservists who found themselves thrown into the heat of battle with virtually no preparation, and little or no food and water. "We want the P.M. to know just how we feel concerning what happened to us in Labanon" one angry reservist was quoted as saying. It's questionable if any members of the Prime Minister's cabinet will make an appearance, but for sure, many of the opposition Knesset members may show up for this event which may draw as many as 200,000.

As for both Olmert and Amir Peretz, they will probably not like what they see and hear should they both watch the spectacle on T.V. Judging from Olmert's appearance at a ceremony to inaugurate the new National Police Commissioner, Dudi Cohen, Olmert's already tired and drawn face may become even more pathetic on the "morning after".
All the signs and banners telling both Olmert and Peretz to go home, will remain in the minds of many, especially the ones for whom the 'party' is being held.

Ouch – That Hurts!

Findings in the release of the Winograd report on Monday, April 30, have made Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's problematic leadership even more troublesome for him as well as others in his cabinet. Polls conducted by several local media sources have concluded that around 69% of the country's population think that he should resign his office; and an even larger percentage, 75%, believe that Defense Minister Amr Peretz should also begin cleaning out his desk. Both men, as well as former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz, were found to be responsible for the way last summer's Lebanon II war was carried out, with the report's committee, headed by former Tel Aviv District Judge Eliahu Winograd , laying the majority of the blame on Olmert himself for hastily sending Israeli air and ground forces against the Hezbollah in Lebanon without a clear-cut military strategy.

The end results, after 34 days of mayhem on both sides of the Israel-Lebanese border, brought misery and suffering to both countries, and left the Hezbollah in an even stronger and more popular position that prior to the conflict. And the two captive IDF servicemen, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser remain in Hezbollah hands.

Despite the severity of the report, both Olmert and Peretz refuse to vacate their offices, and though Peretz was noted as being completely unqualified to hold the defense ministry portfolio, he seems unwilling to accept reality and even talks about taking another cabinet position, the finance ministry, as well as even running for prime minister as the Labor Party's head in the next election. The third person shouldering much of the blame for the war is former IDF Chief of Staff Dan Halutz. Halutz, now in the U.S.A. on a study sabbatical at Harvard University, resigned his position three months ago. That position is now filled by Major General Gaby Ashkenazi. As COS during the war, Halutz's command of the armed forces left many questions concerning the IDF's ability to fight the kind of guerrilla warfare that the Hezbollah forces have become known for. Also not answered is how to protect the public against the onslaught of Kaitusha and other missiles launched at Israeli civilian targets, even paralyzing the country's third largest city, Haifa.

It is being said that should elections be held in Israel now, Olmert's center based Kadima party will loose many Knesset seats, with many of them going back to the right-winged Likud Party, from whence many Knssset members fled to join Kadima, which was founded in September, 2005 by former prime minister Ariel Sharon. Needless to say, the Likud's present chairman, Binyamin (Bibi) Natanyahu must be enjoying the spectacle and planning his next political move as well. Following one of his party's worst election showings in it's history, with only 11 seats after the March, 2006 elections, the Likud now stands to rise again to its former glory, with Natanyahu at the crest of the wave.

Regarding Olmert and the rest of the Kadima Party, many are wondering if they will go the direction of another former short-lived party, Shinui, and fade away into political oblivion. As for Olmert himself, his political "oblivion" may be just around the corner

You Too Can Fly the Flag

If you’re ever in Israel around Independence Day time you’ll see cars on the streets sporting little Israeli flags on their windows.

And many have US flags too!

Kids stand at traffic lights selling these flags to patriotic motorists at 5 shekels a piece (just over a dollar these days)...

But this year there’s another flag for sale:
“Don’t Let our Apathy Kill Them!”

A blue and white design with a picture of the three soldiers kidnapped last summer:
Ehud Goldwasser, Eldad Regev and Gilad Shalit.


For the last few months there’s been incessant talk about possible prisoner exchanges and imminent release, at least for Shalit. The others are rarely mentioned.

But as we write, who knows how they are, where they are and what kind of suffering they’re going through?

Who can understand the pain and anguish of their families as they begin another day of worry, uncertainty and helplessness?

It is our duty, and the duty of any civilized human being, not to remain apathetic...

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing,” said Edmund Burke in the 18th Century.

Everyone reading this is a “good man/woman”
I’m sure.
NEVER say “but what can I do?”
Everyone can do something.
Even if it’s a daily prayer...

Keeping the pictures of these three young men on your wall...

Thinking of their poor families when you sit down to dinner with yours...

Or if you’re more actively inclined, then petitioning your government to do something about it...

Writing to the UN, the Red Cross or other organizations who may have a way of getting through the evil...

Organizing human rights demonstrations...

This is not just another news story about three men, Israel and the terror organizations.

It’s part of the universal war of evil against good.

And that’s your war too...

So whatever you can do, DO IT!

Fly the flag.

“Don’t Let Our Apathy Kill Them.”

Remembrance and Independence

Israel’s Memorial Day for Fallen Soldiers and Terror Victims falls on Monday,
April 22, immediately followed by its 59th Independence Day.

Once again, it’s that time of year,Where smile is tinged with tear.

But that’s the life of the Israeli, the Jew;
Times of joy, and sadness too.
Always together, always hand-in-hand,
Rolling, rolling... like tides across the sand.

In Israel the union is especially acute,
One minute they shake; the next they shoot.
But such is life here, and so it looks ahead,
For us to live, Some have to stop. Dead.

Today we remember those who gave their lives for us to live;
Those who had so much life in them, so much left to give.
They fell in ’48, they fell in ’56,
’67, ’73, ’82, 2006...

Bricks in the building of a country, Seeds in the sowing of a land.
But how much will be left underground, Before the building will finally stand?

The pain is felt across the divides; United. Silence. Tears.
Memories are clear and fresh, Despite the months and years.

For some it’s past, for most it’s here, The reality of Israel today.
Still fighting for its existence, With a heavy price to pay.

And then we climb, up half a flagpole, The tears drip into cheers,
And optimistic as we are The bloodstains turn to beers.

Israel is here to stay. Israel is strong and brave.
Israel is hi-tec, cool, Israel’s on a wave.

So from the depths of sorrow, We celebrate our home,
By banging plastic hammers And spraying shaving foam!

Is that how we rejoiced in ’48? Is that how we show our thanks?
To 18-year-olds who fell in battle, Or burnt to death in tanks?

Do they teach in our schools, The art of how to appreciate,
Or do they assume you’ll find it out When it really is too late?

It seems that that’s what happens When we stand on Remembrance Day
We simply appreciate life, The life that’s gone away.

And the switch seems all too hard; To value our own life in minutes, and days,
So we just go fry up steaks And clog up all the freeways.

Yet there are those who offer thanks to God For giving us a land,
And those who study ancient texts About His outstretched hand.

Israel is a country of life and death, Cries and graves a national chore…

We know we’re prepared to die for it,
But what are we living for?

"Flagging Patriotism" on Israel's 59th?

Less than three days before Israel's 59th independence anniversary, we finally put some flags out on our balcony, courtesy of a local newspaper. In many neighborhoods there appears to be a marked absence of flags and banners that are usually hung out in the days preceding Israel's annual national holiday; and from recent articles and news commentaries, this 'phenomena' seems to be a nation-wide reality.

More than eight months following the end of last summer's war in Lebanon, and with an atmosphere rife with political controversy and scandal, it's no wonder that fewer symbols of national pride are being displayed by a public that is becoming more and more disillusioned with what is transpiring – especially among the country's leadership. To give you an idea about what has brought all of this on, a quick survey highlight the following problems that Israelis presently have to deal with:


1. The President of the State has been indicted for charges of rape and other forms of
sexual misconduct.

2. The Prime Minister is under investigation for his handling of the war, as well as a
number of financial dealings involving properties and other investments.

3. The Defense Minister, chosen for a position he was completely unqualified for, is
under fire and many have called for his resignation.

4. The Finance Minister is now under increasing investigation for allegations of both
Grand Theft and fraud, with "clarion calls" for his dismissal.

5. More and more Israelis, especially aged ones (particularly Holocaust survivors) are
living under the poverty line and cannot even buy enough food to survive. This
also includes one in every four Israeli children.

6. The three Israeli captive soldiers are still unaccounted for, and the present
government appears unwilling or incapable of securing their release.


7. It was revealed this weekend that emigration (Yeridah) is now exceeding
immigration (Aliyah) for the first time in over twenty years. And this is despite an
increase in new immigrants (Olim) from France and other European countries.


Need one say more…..

It's not the first time that following a major military conflict that feelings of dismay and lack of patriotism have been evident in the Jewish State. What makes this year's phenomena even more striking however, are the other problems that go along with the aftermath of the Lebanon II war.

Israel's growing economic affluence (for some, that is), largely brought on by the "get rich quick" attitudes inspired by the technological boom, have given many people the economic freedom and mobility that enables them to relocate their entire business venture by simply packing their 'laptop' into a suitcase and boarding an international flight to American cities like Boston or Santa Clara California. Zionistic calls to 'settle the land' are becoming fewer and fewer, particularly following the mass disengagement from settlements in Gaza and planned 'resettlements' from large sections of the West Bank.

Though many of the 'Yordim' or emigrants are ones who came to Israel from Russia and other former Soviet Union republics, they as a whole are intelligent, highly educated people, whose skills are very needed to ensure Israel's technological edge over her adversaries. With countries like Iran on the verge of becoming nuclear powers, this 'brain drain' is even more critical, and could even be fatal in next few years.

We must therefore find ways to correct the many problems facing our country; and this can well begin with coming together as a nation and showing a bit more patriotism – even if it is only the placing of flags on our cars and on our balconies.

Remember – we don't have another (Jewish) country.

Remembering the Dead – and the Living: Yom HaZicharon, 2007

Israel prepares to honor it's war dead and those killed in acts of terror at Remembrance Day 2007, also known as Yom Zicharon. Coming just months after last summer's Lebanon II war, the people of Israel have those killed in this unfortunate episode to add to many otherswho have fallen in battle or were killed by acts of terror since the founding of the state. Also to be remembered are the three captured Israeli soldiers: Eldad Regev, Ehud Goldwasser, and Gilad Schalit. Schalit was captured in late June when his patrol unit was attacked on the border with Gaza; and Regev and Goldwasser were captured by the Hezbollah July 12 on Israel's northern border with Lebanon - an act which sparked a war that ended more than a month later with more than 150 Israelis killed, including 38 civilians from Ketusha rocket attacks.

Since the early 1980's and the war known as Operation Peace for Galilee, or Lebanon I, a number of Israeli soldiers have been reported as either missing in action or captured. So far, none of these soldiers have returned alive, and many, including Air Force Flight Navigator Ron Arad, have been missing for years. It was only in the Yom Kippur War that some captured prisoners were returned alive, many after spending several months as prisoners in either Egyptian or Syrian jails and prison camps.

The reality of this past and recent scenario is that Israeli soldiers captured alive do not appear to have much likelihood of ever coming home again to their families; alive that is.

Recent optimism concerning a prisoner exchange with the Palestinians for the release of Corporal Gilad Schalit seems to be constantly frustrated as demands made by the Hamas dominated Palestinian Authority for the inclusion of prisoners with "blood on their hands" are just not acceptable by Israel. In regards to the other two being held by the Hezbollah, their spiritual leader, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, knows how to play on the emotions of concerned relatives as they did several years back when the remains of three Israeli soldiers, and a reserve officer named Elkanah Tennenbaum, were exchanged for more than 1,000 Lebanese and Palestinian prisoners.

On Sunday night, April 22, Yom Zicharon will begin in Israel with a special memorial ceremony at Har Herzl in Jerusalem. While special remembrance flames will be lit there, and at numerous ceremonies around the country, we must all pause to say a prayer for the three captive soldiers and hope that they will soon be released and back with their loving families.

That's what Yom Zicharon is all about: not just to memorialize the dead, but to pray for the living as well.

The Holocaust Choice – Man or Beast?

Monday, April 16 is Holocaust Memorial Day in Israel.

62 years later and the questions remain as fresh as ever.

Yes we can spend the day discussing and philosophizing about God’s whereabouts between 1939-1945 or – for that matter – Man’s whereabouts too.

But will that get us anywhere?

Because if we conclude that God’s to blame, then we must surely conclude he’s also to blame for establishing the State of Israel three years after the war.

And if we think Man’s to blame,
then what’s new? He’s also to blame
for Somalia, Serbia, 9/11, Iraq and any
other major disaster in history.

All of which just leaves us more frustrated, confused and depressed.
And sometimes there just are no answers.
As a wise man once said,” Faith begins where human intelligence ends.”

So how can we take a positive, practical message from Holocaust Day 2007?

The Holocaust teaches us that human beings have the potential to rise to the heights of angels...
Or plunge to the depths of depravity.
62 years later, we have the same choice.
Each and every one of us.

As we live our lives, we have that choice every single day.

Are you going to fall victim to your basest desires or are you going to follow your greatest destiny?

It’s good vs. evil.
In you.
The choice is yours.

Remembering “Yom Hashoah” (Holocaust)

Every year, soon after the end of the Passover Holidays, Jews all over the world, and especially in the State of Israel, observe a day of remembering for one of the worst periods in the history of the Jewish People.

Known as Holocaust Remembrance Day, or Yom HaShoah in Hebrew, all normal activities are altered and in Israel, places of entertainment, including restaurants, theatres and like are closed. Programs dealing with this subject are conducted in Synagogues, community centers, schools, etc., while television programs run ceremonies, interviews, movies and other features to bring forth various aspects of the period which ran from the mid 1930’s until the end of World War II.

We are now seven years into the new millennium and more than 66 years after the last shots were fired in Europe and the remnants of the cream of European Jewry were finally set free from the man-made hell of concentration camps all over northern and central Europe. For more than six million Jews, however, liberation came too late, as they had been swallowed up in the inferno created by a country that was once considered to be one of the most law-abiding and cultured in the World.

The Holocaust for the Jewish People is not the only disaster that has stricken Mankind – within the framework of man’s inhumanity to man. Literally thousands of events are evident throughout recorded history, ranging from conquests by the great empires of the earth, religious carnage by events such as the Crusades, rise of Islam, etc., Spanish Inquisition, and, of course, wars. Since the beginning of the 20th century, when Mankind was supposed to be more enlightened and cultured some of the worst atrocities have occurred, and in themselves, were no less horrible than the Holocaust itself. Ranging from the Turkish slaughter of the Armenians in 1918, to the Japanese persecution of the Korean and Chinese peoples, not to mention those living in South East Asia; the mayhem in various African countries, such as Rwanda, Liberia, Senegal, Ethiopia, and Sudan, where millions have died horrible deaths; the Khmer Rouge carnage in Cambodia; and the events in various Balkan countries including, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, the Kosovo province of Serbia-Yugoslavia, the Chechnya province of Russia; the list literally goes on and on.

And despite all of this, it was recently announced in the U.K. that public schools there will no longer include studies of the Holocaust in their study curriculum, as this offends Muslims who are denying that the Holocaust ever happened!

For the Jewish People, whether living in Israel or in the Diaspora, life is never 100% secure, even in democracies such as England, America, Canada, etc. Israelis know all too well the alternative to being unable to defend oneself. As a country established for Jews to live in after being hounded and persecuted for centuries, Israel form the outset has had to defend itself from its “neighbors”, some of whom actually welcomed Jews in former years. In war after war, terrorist atrocity after atrocity, and recently Intifada after Intifada, the Jews of Israel have literally been fighting for survival. With one of the largest population of Holocaust survivors and children of Holocaust survivors, the importance of Yom HaShoah carries on year after year, in order that new generations of Jews will continue to spread the message of “Never Again”.

"Never Again”: the meaning of this expression is symbolic in the culture of Israelis, in that Jews will never again allow themselves to be weak and defenseless and at the mercies on the peoples of the countries in which they live. Never again will Jews be forced to give up their faith and religious practices. Never again will Jews be considered as pariahs, stateless wanderers, being forbidden to live in certain areas, and barred from working in certain trades and professions, etc.

But being strong has its price, and this price is particularly and painfully felt in the State of Israel, especially within the past few years. Both physical and economic hardships have become a part of Israeli lives, with more and more wars and terrorism attacks.

Despite all of the adversities, Israel continues to carry on, and likewise, Jews all over the world continue to have this Homeland to come to if they should ever need to flee their present places of dwelling.

By continuing to keep the memory of the Holocaust alive, Jews continue to be strong.

Because once they begin to forget this segment of their past, it creates the seeds of it happening again in the future. Already many non-Jews all over the world, like the example of the U.K., preach denial of Holocaust, saying it was a fabrication to create sympathy towards the Jews.

The truth is stronger, however, and millions of Gentiles join their Jewish brethren annually to commemorate this event. For they too know that “he who forgets the lessons of history will certainly be doomed to repeat it”.

Azmi Bashara – Bad Boy or True Arab Patriot?

The furor over Balad Party leader Azmi Bashara's political future makes many Israelis wonder if he may be the beginning of other Arab Israeli Knesset parliamentarians going over to "the other side".

And that 'other side' may be Israel's enemies, including radical Islamic countries like
Syria and Iran.

Mr. Bashara's radical political views in respect to being a member of the Israeli Knesset have often gotten him into trouble with the Israeli government, particularly among the more right wing political spectrum, including the Likud and other parties who take a dim view of such actions. Bashara's frequent trips to neighboring Arab countries, resulting in his hob-knobbing with such people as exiled Hamas leader Khalid Maashal and Syrian leader Baashar Al-Assad, has resulted in many Israelis calling for his ouster from his parliamentary seat as well as indictment for seditious anti-government activities.
Other Arab Knesset political leaders, including Taal Party leader Dr. Ahmad Tibi, seem moderate in comparison to Bashara, who has been advocating the disillusion of the Jewish character of the state in favor of a secular one.

Presently "languishing" in a posh Amman Jordan hotel suite, Bashara is pondering both his political as well as personal future. Carefully weighing his options, he is considering returning to Israel and coming into the line of fire by an unfriendly, Jewish parliamentary majority who seem bent on kicking him and possibly his political party from Israel for good. Or, to voluntarily give up his Knesset seat and show his true personal and political "spots" by officially emigrating to either Syria, Lebanon, or Jordan.

Syria, and possibly other countries unfriendly to Israel may want to use Bashara as a propaganda tool against the Jewish State by having him send a clear message to other Arabs holding Israeli nationality that the time as come for them to decide as to with whom their loyalty really lies. For Bashara himself, it's becoming more and more evident regarding where he wants to be; and that place is not within a Jewish dominated and governed republic. One might wonder if Bashara would consider becoming involved in Palestinian politics; but most likely, even he is not that stupid, judging from the current state of anarchy which is tearing the Palestinian Authority apart and which almost led to civil war.

Most Israelis would like to see Bashara exit Israeli politics; and the country as well. His continued presence in both has been damaging to all, to say the very least.
Other Israeli Arab politicians, many of whom live very comfortable lives in the Jewish Republic, must now decide who really butters their bread; for life in most neighboring Arab countries, including Egypt and Jordan, may not be nearly as pleasant as life within the 'confines' of the State of Israel.

At the end of the day, many Arab-Israeli politicians may decide that they have never had it so good, Bashara included.

Israeli Air Force pilot flys F15 with one wing shot off.

In the year 1983 an F-15 of the Israeli airforce collided with a skyhawk while doing a practice. the skyhawk blew away but the pilot abandoned it peacefully. the f-15 lost his right wind but the pilot Ziv Nadivi couldnt see it because of the vast fuel fumes that covered it. the pilot and the navigator Yehuar Gal didnt not know they are flying on one winf only, a state which is of course "impossible" to fly in, and didnt not abandoned the jet but continued to land a crash landing. because of the high velocity of the jet (450kmph) while landing, the stopping hook was cut away and the jet stopped a few meters before the end of the runway.

after more than 20 years, we can finally see the movie.

(this is from the History channel)

Israel you didn't know

This clip will show you Israel, Israel you didn't know exist.
Based on the "Cool facts about Israel"

Watch Israeli Soldiers in Action

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Are These Israel’s Real Goals?

After all the hype, glamour and expectation, the Israeli soccer team tied with the mighty England 0-0.

No goals for Israel.

No goals for England.

Nothing.

In front of 40,000 fans in the stadium and millions more in England, Israel and who knows where else!

In NBA or NFL terms, that means a full game (with all the commercials, timeouts, etc.) ending 0-0!

Go figure.

And the Israelis were happy, saying the result indicates good progress!

It’s not my job here to explain the mysteries of soccer, but I would like to consider the wonders of modern-day Israel.

Israel – whether we like it or not – is the Promised Land.

Promised by God to the Jewish people.

For what?

To play soccer?

To become another England or America in the Middle East?

I think not.

Of course there’s value in sport and in developing a western-style, democratic, educated society, but what are Israel’s long-term goals?

To be a nation just like any other nation?

Have we survived thousands of years of exile, persecution, pogroms and Holocausts just to become a nation like any other?

Were we freed from Egypt just to be able to compete against England in the European Championships?

Please correct me if you think I’m wrong, but I would guess Israel is here to achieve some piritually valuable goals.

After all, do we really need another America? Does God care if we beat England or not?

It’s a “Promised Land” so the Jewish people can leverage its intrinsic holiness as some sort of “light unto the nations.”

To take it a bit over the top, that means Israeli sports crowds should behave impeccably, with respect and courtesy for their opponents...

No swearing or curses during the game...
No violence...

OK. That’s maybe for the Messianic All-Stars in Jerusalem but you get the idea.

For if Israel has no goals but to score goals, why are thousands of IDF soldiers risking their lives every day?

And why are Hamas, Hezbollah & Co. out to kill us?

Pesach in 2007

This year, in the Hebrew year "Tash-oz" (5767) the Pesach holiday takes on an ever more special significance in Israel. Following last summer's war in Lebanon, and after the trauma that many Israelis experienced from the onslaughts of Ketusha missiles from the Hezbollah, Pesach in 2007 will remind everyone living in Israel and elsewhere how precious personal safety and freedom really is. Many Israeli soldiers are serving their country far away from friends and family; especially the ones known as lone soldiers or "hayal boded" in Hebrew. It is hoped that everyone will open their homes, and their hearts, to these brave young men and women who made the decision to come to Israel alone, leaving family members back in their home countries. We must also hope, and pray, that the three captured Israeli soldiers, Gilad Schalit, Eldad Regev, and Ehud Goldwasser, will soon be free and back with their families during the Pesach Holiday in 2008.