Things and stuff – Yohay Elam שטויות בשתי שפות – יוחאי עילם
In the past few days, there are serious clashes between Hamas and Fatah. It’s mostly taking place in the Gaza strip. Tens have been killed and tens have been kidnapped. Armistice agreements haven’t passed the extent of several hours. Anarchy rules.
For many Israelis, this is a wet dream come true: Palestinians fighting each other and forgetting about us. “Let them run their own business, kill each other, and we’ll stand on the sidelines (and smile)”, is something I often hear.
There many ways to demonstrate. A mass jam session is surely a unique way. I attended such a demonstration on today’s sunny afternoon in Tel Aviv.
Officially we were making noise, as opposed to being silent. This kind of fun protest is a good way to bring important issues to people’s attention. Despite very low publicity, about 100 showed up. More pictures.
Update: Here’s a video of the event by Carmel.
What’s the story?
Hundreds of women are held against their will in central cities in Israel, and “employed” as prostitutes. The authorities know where they are, and don’t act to release them. The media usually ignores these cases.
In the USA, president G.W. Bush can lie to the public for a very long time. But if the president would be charged of rape, would he still stay in office?
In the USA, president G.W. Bush can lie to the public for a very long time. Almost 4 years after the stupid war in Iraq, no WMDs were found. Also connections of Saddam’s regime to Al-Queda weren’t not. It’s amazing that even after the Democrats gained control of both houses, the impeachment of the president is still not on the agenda.
But if the president would be charged of rape, would he still stay in office?
Well, here in the middle east’s wonderful democracy, president Moshe Katzav is to be indicted with charges of rape, alongside other severe charges, that come from many women. He still awaits a hearing with Attorney General Meni Mazuz in the next 3 months.
He refuses to resign until charges are officially pressed, talking about a blackmail conspiracy, blaming the media the media for lynching him, etc. The intense inquiry took half a year and tens of witnesses. I’m sure that the decision was carefully considered.
The president’s role in Israeli democracy is mostly symbolic, and doesn’t affect the country’s decision making. Still, this symbol, this man that represents Israel around the world, is now a great embarrassment.
With the chief of staff Halutz escaping an enquiry committee by resigning, prime minister Ehud Olmert investigated over several corruption allegations, and now the president officially accused of rape, our country has seen better days.
In the past five months since the Israel-Hizballah war ended, Syria has been sending signals. They declare that they are willing to negotiate with Israel towards a peace treaty.
Their declarations aren’t always too straightforward, and they do permit arms to cross their border and reach Hizballah in Lebanon. And, many analysts here in Israel suggest that Bashar Al-Asad is bluffing. This may be true, but what can we lose? A few months of non fruitful negotiations?
Our Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert, voluntarilly said that one of the main reasons for not giving it chance is the American refusal. I was already frustrated in the past by our lack of independency, especially when it seems so obvious that it is against our interests. If not peace, at least some more constraints on Hizballah. Time has already been wasted for quite stupid reasons.
So why am writing this again? Well, things have seriously changed.
The US mid-term elections, held in November, showed the American discontent from the current foreign policy. Donald Rumsfeld is gone. The Baker Hamilton study group also suggested a serious change in US policy, also towards Syria. Israeli head of intelligence said Syria is serious with negotiations. A shift in policy? No.
Olmert, currently in the news because of new allegations of corruption, doesn’t want to move the spotlight from his dirty business to a peace initiative. With an approval rate of 14%, he sticks his good friend Bush, and wastes precious time. The “window of opportunity” doesn’t stay open forever.
A new war next summer?
It’s again that time of the year – the end.
The most significant event of 2006 was undoubtedly the war between Israel and the Hizballah in Lebanon. Except the killing and the destruction, it exposed the Israeli government’s negligence of its citizens. Refusing to officially declare the fighting as a war, saved some money for the state, money that was necessary for the paralyzed economy of the north of this country.
The border town of Kiryat Shmona was abandoned by its strong citizens, while the weaker ones stayed there to suffer. The comparison to Katrina in New Orleans is inevitable. The war exposed the government’s mismanagement and the widening gaps between the rich and the poor. Many people feel that the country doesn’t belong to them, but to a small elite group of corrupt businessmen and cynical politicians.
In the meantime, life in Tel Aviv was as usual. The streets were full and the job market (at least in the hi-tech industry) was steam hot.
Anyway, I’ve been reacting to the news about the war many many times, and in both languages. I “created news” just once, when visiting Haifa during the war, and “reporting” from there (well, personal impressions). Improved pictures are here.
Next year, I hope to write a more personal end year roundup.
Happy 2007!