Jerusalem Sky

Paintingz

2009-06-21T02:49:00.000-07:00

Dream

2009-05-25T16:53:00.001-07:00

i could watch this video 38786865 timess

2009-03-26T03:48:00.000-07:00

2009-03-08T04:30:00.000-07:00

track of the day gb.com

2009-03-06T06:01:00.000-08:00

DEMO design

2009-02-17T18:51:00.000-08:00

cute baby laughing

2009-02-17T10:36:00.000-08:00

This made me laugh

Random

2009-02-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

Waltz With Bashir

2009-01-31T11:34:00.000-08:00

2009-01-12T00:32:00.000-08:00

Why Does the World Hate Israel?

2009-01-05T18:58:00.000-08:00

Why Does the World Hate Israel? By Herbert London

"Israel is a tiny nation, roughly half the size of Lake Michigan. Its population is roughly half the size of the New York metropolitan area. Despite being a Jewish state, more than twenty percent of its residents are Arab, and most Jews in Israel describe themselves as secular rather than religious.

Yet if one were to read world press accounts or daily condemnations from the United Nations or the recent decision of the ICJ criticizing the construction of the fence, you might conclude that Israel is a world power intent on destabilizing Middle East affairs.

Why, it might well be postulated, does the world resent this speck of land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean?

Although my comments are speculative, I suspect they could be borne out empirically if historical accounts were fair and objective.

Israel is a thorn in the side of the Arab world because it is a remarkable technological phantasmagoria. Almost every Israeli is engaged in a software scheme. The Jews in this arid nation have made the deserts bloom; they have converted brain power into technical marvels and consequent wealth.

By contrast all nearby Arab nations are dysfunctional. Their governments are tyrannical; the people are poor and uneducated and local officials have been unwilling to convert oil revenue into social benefits.

Resentment is the natural result of this contrast. After all, Israel has all of the geographic disadvantages of its neighbors and it doesn't have any oil fields. Yet it prospers, while others falter.

Second, it should be hastily noted that Israel is a proxy for anti-American sentiment. The misguided belief that the U.S. is an imperial power eager to put its stamp on the Middle East is demonstrated by the aid and support given to Israel. Rarely is it noted by United States detractors that American assistance to Egypt is equal to aid for Israel. Moreover, American involvement in Iraq was neither precipitated by Israel (Does the tail wag the dog?) nor has this engagement influenced Israel's relations with her neighbors in any new directions.

Third, the Palestinian question has awakened emotions on the European left and in many Arab states. Yet, remarkably, the critique of Israel is generally quite banal. Arafat, as putative Palestinian leader, was granted 97 percent of the West Bank and some control over holy sites in the negotiation at Wye Plantation. Yet he turned down these generous Israeli terms.

In fact, there aren't any terms that serve the ambitions of Arabs eager to destroy the state of Israel, unless, of course, national suicide is a reasonable negotiating point.

Fourth, the fence has the metaphorical power of the Berlin Wall. It is used for propaganda purposes to argue that Israel is intent on ''taking Arab land'' and isolating itself from Palestinians.

What should be noted is that the Berlin Wall was created to keep East Germans bound to the chains of communism, while the Israeli fence is designed to prevent suicide bombers from continuing wreaking bloodshed among Israelis.

Intifada II has resulted in at least a thousand dead Israeli citizens since 2000 and others maimed as well. It is encumbent on any leader of any nation to offer his people a modicum of security against those bent on bloodshed. If the fence reduces threats and increases security, Prime Minister Sharon should embrace it. His duty to protect his own people transcends any obligation imposed on him from multilateral organizations.

Fifth, the Palestinians have made their case to the international court of public opinion more effectively than the Israeli government. They have positioned themselves as underdogs against a mighty military force from tiny Israel. They have persuaded many of their supporters that the land Israel acquired after the '67 war is ''occupied'' rather than ''disputed'' territory. Hence, their sanguinic tactics are ignored by opinion markers normally opposed to terrorist activity.

Sixth, the Palestinians manage their news media. There isn't an opposition voice in the Palestinian territory and if an unpredictable comment is made, it is often squelched with force. Reporters Without Borders has reported numerous occasions where journalists were beaten when they challenged Hamas or Hezbollah positions in print.

Israel, as an open and free society, entertains every point of view, including anti-Israel arguments. As a consequence, criticism of Israel is widespread and criticism of Palestinian activity muted.

Seventh, the United Nations is now systematically organized to criticize the United States and Israel. It is instructive that in a statement emanating from the Secretariat's office condemning the construction of the fence, not a word was mentioned about suicide bombers who precipitated the construction.

As I see it, there is very little that can be done at the moment to change international opinion. Israel has an obligation to its own people to remain resolute against usually unfair and hateful allegations. For the Middle East this is the Dark Ages. But if the Arab world wishes to enter the 21st Century--a far from clear conclusion--it will have to adopt and perhaps emulate much of Israeli life. On that slim reed, hope shall continue to exist."

London, Herbert I. "Why Does the World Hate Israel?" http://mes.hudson.org/. 21 July 2004. Hudson Institute. 6 Jan. 2009 <http://mes.hudson.org/>.

Some Jamz!

2008-12-23T13:16:00.000-08:00

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

Choubi Choubi!

2008-12-23T10:45:00.000-08:00

Sweet Iraqi Music!

"Meticulously selected from Iraqi cassettes and LPs found in Syria, Europe and the Iraqi neighborhoods of Detroit, Michigan, this unique collection of folk and pop styles displays a wealth of outstanding music that is exclusive to Iraq and has rarely been showcased abroad. There are many reasons why Iraqi music stands alone in the dynamic world of Arabic music: one example is the unbelievable rapid fire machine-gun rhythms fluttering atop the main tempo. This is the work of a unique nomadic hand drum called the Khishba –also known as the Zanbour (Arabic for wasp). A style prominently featured here is the infamous Iraqi CHOUBI -a driving rhythmic style that can include fiddles, double reeded instruments, percussion, bass, keyboards and oud over its signature beat. Other styles featured are the BASTA (an urban Baghdadi style), the BEZIKH, and the pulsating HECHA. Also heard is the MAWAL- a vocal improv that sets the tone of a song, regardless of the style. Additionally there are three cuts from Ja’afar Hassan’s 1970s record, "Let’s Sing Together". Being a folk-rock record, it’s a true anomaly for Iraq. Hassan was a mouthpiece for the Iraqi Socialist movement just a few years before Saddam Hussein. But most of the music in this collection was produced during the Saddam period– between the 1980s and 2002. Since the 2003 invasion and the wholesale disassembly of the country, classic tracks like these may already be part of a disappeared past."

Alexandro Bellini

2008-12-14T17:24:00.001-08:00

"So what if the guy threw a shoe at me?"

2008-12-14T17:16:00.000-08:00

Neve Tzedek (works of Lea Majaro Mintz Shimon)

2008-12-14T05:57:00.000-08:00

Tel Aviv/Yafo Scenery

2008-12-14T05:44:00.001-08:00

View of Tel-Aviv

View of Yafo

Ari

Old Theatre

All throughout Tel-Aviv there are these random book stations where anyone can trade books for free

View of Yafo

Street art in Tel-Aviv

2008-12-14T05:24:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving

2008-11-30T09:08:00.000-08:00

Chocolate covered strawberries!

This was honestly the best pumpkin pie I have ever had

After dinner dance party

Miriam is think about salt

Desert!

All vegetarian thanksgiving!

Ari had been planning on making mashed potatoes for weeks, he completely forgot to make them, this is him realizing this.

Helena looking angelic

Miriam making funny faces, waiting for dinner to be ready

Adela preparing her guacamole salad

Helena enjoying some whipped cream remains

Camera war!

Ari and Helena

Adela and guacamole

So my roommate and I decided, because most of our friends have never experienced thanksgiving, that we would introduce them to this fine American holiday. Although most of our preparation for the meal began a few hours before we ate, all of the food turned out great. It was all vegetarian because a number of our guests did not eat meat and because it is hard to find turkey in Israel. The menu for the meal consisted of: stuffed cabbage, mac'n'cheese, cornbread, rice, two really delicious salads. The deserts were: poached pears, chocolate covered strawberries, pumpkin pie, and Ben and Jerry's ice cream. This great night of feasting was followed by a small dance party where my roomate Newman revieleved that he was an incredable dancer.

Mt. Scopus (French Hill) + Veiw From Austrian Hospice of Arab Quaters Old City

2008-11-28T06:55:00.000-08:00

The longest running religious battles of all time, and the Jews are squished in the middle.

I was stuck in the middle of what seemed like thousands of angry Arabs. I kept looking behind me because I was scared I was going to get stabbed. Fortunately, I made it out safely.

I thought the bright orange patch of hair on this man's beard was interesting

Fish

Get your kicks outside of the Damascus Gate!

Entrance to Damascus Gate

Views of the Arab Quarters from the Austrian Hospice

Candies!!!

Sexy Arab babe

Sculpture in the Austrian Hospice

Oriental Strawberry Tree (Arbutus Andrachne) @ Mount Scopus British War Cemetery

Entrance to Damascus Gate

Pond at Hebrew U

Oriental Strawberry Tree (Arbutus Andrachne) @ Hebrew University

Finished

2008-11-25T17:20:00.001-08:00

I finally finished this painting, I'm not really sure what to think. I sketched it from a drawing I did of the after math of Katrina, I ended up losing the sketch, so i decided to use bright colors and geometric shapes. Any comments will be much appreciated...

<3>

In Progress

2008-11-22T16:59:00.001-08:00

Drawings

2008-11-22T16:46:00.001-08:00

Amazing Graffiti Animation

2008-11-20T16:36:00.000-08:00

Cuddle Parties!

2008-11-20T16:29:00.000-08:00

I was feeling kinda lonely so I google'd 'Cuddle' and I found this strange website.

Sewing

2008-11-18T15:22:00.001-08:00

I have been trying to sew recently and I have found this activity very relaxing and meditative. I am working on sewing a stuffed animal and some embroidery.

...Family, Scenery, Market

2008-11-18T13:38:00.000-08:00

Family, Scenery, Market

2008-11-18T13:11:00.000-08:00