About that incident in Meskha. Its not that I'm worried that the soldier that shot Gil Ma'smati will walk. I'm sure that he'll do his month. Who knows, maybe even his commander will keep him company. The thing is, he's really not to blame. I mean, he's a trained worrier. A semi-snipper, serving in the west bank. There's a good chance that he's acted simmilarly before, and was told that's the right thing to do. Ok, there's a thin line between A and B. Lines get very thin when you do long periods in the west bank.

We sent the kid there, we gave him a gun, we told him to use it whichever way he thinks would work - we don't want to know - just let us have our esspresso in peace. We should be on trial, not him.

Looks like rather than starting a blog-war, Pim has started a dai-blogue between Imshin and myself. I have this itch that we're stretching the boundaries of the genre a bit too far. I would have stopped at saying that I know for a fact how nice Pim is, and that although I know practically nothing about Imshin, she comes through her writing as a good soul. Should really stop there before it gets too sticky.

But then Imshin sounded like she had one of those moments we all have. So I just thought I'd say:

You know, neither wolves nor sheep are free. Wolves must hunt, sheep must be hunted. Humans can be free. We can choose to be a vegetarian wolf or a ferocious lamb. Choosing not to inflict pain does not mean you chose to let others inflict it on you. In the end of the day, all humans want the same things: health, love, sufficient means of survival, a future for our children. I choose to provide these essentials to myself, I choose not to deny them from others.

And about influencing others. You know, that incident in Mescha - I truly believe that such an event could not have happened in my regiment. Not because there aren't any simple-minded, trigger happy young soldiers in my regiment. Because there are enough honest men there. And the presence of an honest person inspires honesty in his / her surroundings. Nothing uber-spiritual here. Its just that you know you go back to the same tent with the same mates, and have you dark coffee with them, and then you have to look them in the eyes.

Besides, you have kids. You can't really believe that your goodness does not transcend.

To Blog or not to Blog? I keep reminding myself of William Gibson's words:

I've found blogging to be a low-impact activity, mildly narcotic and mostly quite convivial, but the thing I've most enjoyed about it is how it never fails to underline the fact that if I'm doing this I'm definitely not writing a novel – that is, if I'm still blogging, I'm definitely still on vacation.

Or, in my case - not writing my PhD. And the problem with the PhD is, if I have a keyboard, I'm not on vacation.

Oh well, just one little entry can't hurt..

J. is one of our close friends here in London. She helped us immensely when we were haphazardly organizing our move, even before she actually knew us. We've stayed friends since, though as often happens - never meet as much as we'd like. Celebrating Jewish holidays with their friends and family has become one of our family traditions.

On the 25th, at around 4pm, J.'s mother, Ruth, passed away, after battling cancer. I was always amazed by the spirit of hope Ruth inspired in her surroundings, throughout her battle with the illness. יהי זכרה ברוך (Ye'hee Zichra Baruch)

Yesterday Golani troops fired at protesters at a demonstration against the separation fence. Gil Na'amati, an Israeli citizen from Kibbutz Re'im in the Negev sustained serious wounds, while an American tourist was lightly hurt.

From my reading, it looks like the demonstration was not a very quite one. Still. Live amo? But the worst bit is the soldiers excuse: "we didn't know they were Israelis".

Today we had Christmas lunch at Seb & Anna's. Tomorrow they're coming over for Hanukkah candle lighting. That's London. Then we get back to the flat and hear about the suicide attack. That's home.

The only nice piece of news today was that the Israeli MOF is throwing M$ out the window and instructing all government offices to purchase Linux boxes. I know, it really doesn't fit on the same page with the previous post. Still, it made me smile.

Today's Ha'aretz headlines. 4 Israelis killed in a suicide bombing. 5 Palestinians killed in an assassination attempt. No. I do not see a parallel. No I do not think one justifies the other (or vice versa). All I see is 9 more dead people.

Please, read this (sorry - looks like Hebrew only). Its a petition to stop the ring road that would transform the Jerusalem mountains into a heap of asphalt.

Duh. Don't blog when you're angry says Imshin. (actually, she was quoting Meryl). Well, you're right. I wasn't quite myself. And actually, you were much, much more decent then Ze'ev Shif.

So, my apologies for being a dickhead.

But anyway, since you asked. The reason I didn't post a translation of my Dublin talk to Hebrew is that I never had the time to translate it. The reason I gave a talk at Dublin, and not in Dimona is because I was asked to speak in Dublin, and not in Dimona. And since you're probably wondering, the reason I'm here in London is to do a PhD in education.

Let me tell you a story. One day I get a call from the BBC. They're shooting this current-affairs-light program for young people, and they thought they'd have an item on Israel and refusniks. So, they're going to call in this guy from Beitar, and would I care to come? Now, after a few experiences I've had, I hesitated. But in the end, I thought its better that I go than not. So, here we are in the studio lobby. I spot the guy in the 10-years-out-of date suit. "Shimon?" I say, "Yishay. " we shake. He explains to the host that he can't accept a drink, but maybe a glass of water, thank you. "Look" I say, "I know we have our differences, but here we're both representing Israel, each by his own belief. Let's not let them drag us into anything ugly." He says sure, and how's that guy, what's his name doing? fingers the bartender for a glass of white please.

Then we go on stage (after the item on the appalling sanitary conditions of pigs). It 20 sec he's all over me, with "since 9/11 the world knows" and "Israel is in the front line of the world war against terror" and "fighting terror isn't easy. Some people just aren't up to it." While I was busy trying to fight off the hosts, who were drooling for me to tell how I killed Palestinian babies with my teeth. In the end, I think I did manage to get my message across. Simple. Violence doesn't work. That's all, have a nice day.

Why am I telling you this? Well, frankly, I think I did my country better service than the guy who's paid to do the job. I am patriotic, I am a Zionist, and I have never hesitated to say so in places which would normally not let one in. The problem with Israel's image is not me. If anything, I (and other refusniks) show that the picture is not that simple. Not that I'm looking for any medals. By the way, I pretty much stopped giving public talks. Just that you brought it up..

Now, about that remark I made about mainstream and active service. Sorry. Badly phrased. The point was that in my view quietly avoiding "unpleasant" service is much worse then standing up for your beliefs and bearing the consequences. I didn't side-step the law. I faced it.

Oh well, enough of this. Happy Hanukkah.

So. Pim posted a note about refusniks and Imshin had something to say about that. Was that what gave me the itch, or is it what R. calls "the back of the broom closet syndrome"?

Whatever. Next time, before you call someone a "self-appointed Don Quixote-type who feels superior and therefore above the law", please have the courtesy to spend five minutes of your life listening to what this person has to say. You know, being mainstream is no guarantee against self-righteousness. I was bloody mainstream for 17 years. No, actually that's not true. The mainstream, and we both now it, doesn't know one side of a gun barrel from another. Most able Israeli males don't have to bother about refusal, because if they do any service at all, its a 9-5 in Tel Aviv. If I did 17 years of regular and reserve service in the territories, and then, after long and hard deliberation decided that I would serve my country best by refusing, don't you think I at least earned the right for you to hear me* before you put words in my mouth?

Because no, I don't think I am above the law. In fact, I'm the sucker who bows his head and pays the price, while the mainstream guys get medical papers. Believe me, if I wanted I could have found an easy way out, just like 10,000 others. Hell, my commanders even suggested it. And yes, I think that right wing refusal is just as legitimate as left wing. But don't play dumb. The good guys in Tapuach or Yitzhar can't really be bothered. Refusal? Don't' make me laugh. They shoot.

Civil disobedience is part of the democratic game. It is an extreme form of protest. Read some Thoreau? It is justified (and this is my personal definition) under three terms:

• It is non-violent


• It is a personal act


• It it a result of careful deliberation, and a conclusion that the evil it brings is overwhelmed by the evil it warns against

Oh and about the number on the counter. Has it occurred to you that many refusniks are afraid to have their name made public? As in, afraid to loose their job? Their friends? But that's beside the point. This pettiness is really not worth arguing. I mean, at the time I was in Military prison 6, there were over 40 refusniks with me. That's more then there were during the whole Lebanon war. 40 should be enough to make you think. Why do these people, who have always been on the front lines, choose to spend a month in prison? Why do they defy their friends, family, upbringing, suffer economic loss? 4 should make you wonder. 40 should make you stop and think. 400 should make you shout "what the hell is wrong here?" So, you think there's only 1167, and not 1220? Fine. Have it your way.


------
* In case IndyMedia's server is down, my text is googlecached

Education Ministry grants first permit to private school. That's us, i.e., Keshet school.

From First Monday:

"We present the first version of the International Children's Digital Library (ICDL). As a five-year research project, its mission is to enable children to access and read an international collection of children's books through the development of new interface technologies. This paper will introduce the ICDL and an initial analysis of the first seven weeks of the ICDL's public use on the Web."


The library itself:
http://www.icdlbooks.org/

I found Bruce Sterling's The Hacker Crackdown online. One of my
favorites.

After over 10 years of on-line activity, I've finaly published something worth reading.

Our friend, Hilit, is into wrapping.

She wraps flower pots. She wraps tuna cans. She wraps baby formula tins.

She wraps them beutifully, with paper mache and color and stuff I couldn't figure out.

I told her this is art. And good art.

She tried to sell her stuff at the Camden lock market.

I was there when a couple of girls came by. One of them looked at one of the pieces, looked like she likes it.

But then her friend said "its a tuna can!" and they walked away.

Dr. Dani Filc (43) faculty member in the Dept. of Politics and Government at Ben-Gurion University and a board member of Physicians for Human Rights-Israel, has been sentenced to 14 days in prison (+14 suspended) for refusal to serve in the Occupied Territories. Dr. Filc, married with 4 children, serves in the armored corps as brigade physician at the rank of Major. After his mandatory tour of duty in the air force, Dr. Filc requested a transfer to field operations. He completed with distinction the course for medical officers, and in 1996 received the Chief of Staff's Award of Excellence for devoted service as a reserve officer.

Dr. Filc writes:

"After 12 years of service in the brigade, including several times in the Occupied Territories, I have reached the conclusion that I can no longer serve in the territories. This decision was not simple for me. Although I have always been against the occupation, and for many years I have been aware of the human rights violations in the territories, I debated with myself because of to my feelings of fellowship with the soldiers in the unit, because of the problematic issue of matters that are decided by governments elected by a majority, and because of the fact that my position there was that of a physician who treats everyone and might even be able to relieve some distress.

"Nonetheless, the past two years have brought me to the decision that I can no longer collaborate with what is being done in the territories. The killing of [Raed] Karmi by the IDF a day or two prior to the end of the "quiet period" set by Sharon, brought me to the conclusion that there is no real interest in negotiations.

"Moreover, I reached the conclusion that in regards to my beliefs in democratic values, the affront to them caused by the occupation - denying the rights of another people, contempt of the concept of basic equalities between human beings, and the daily affront to human rights - is inestimably more severe than any affront caused by the act of refusal. I also understand that the attempt to convince myself that I could be different there, or that by my being a physician I am not directly involved in human rights violations, is not true.

"From the moment we are in the territories, our ability to prevent suffering is minimal, no matter what our position is there. We are part of a mechanism of oppression.

"I made 'aliya' (Jewish immigration to Israel) as a Zionist who believed in the right of the Jewish people to self-determination. However, I also immigrated as a person who believes in equality between human beings and equality between nations. One cannot argue in favor of the right to Jewish self-determination while denying the same right to the Palestinian people. The occupation negates this right and therefore it is wrong, and it is wrong to attempt to forcefully preserve it.

"The same principles which brought me to the decision to move to Israel bring me to the decision to refuse to serve in the territories."

Please forward this document to others.
Please send all protest letters to:
General Menachem Finkelstein, Judge Attorney General, IDF, Fax number: +972-3-5694370
IMA (Israel Medical Association), Dr. Yoram Blachar, Chairperson, Fax: +972-3-5750704 or +972-3-5751616.

For further information please contact Miri Weingarten or Shabtai Gold of PHR-Israel, +972-3-687-3718.

And this site http://www.otherpeoplesstories.com/ is great. just wish I had the time to read the stroies.

Well, despite th egloomy forcasts, we had a wonderfull day. Drove to Maldon (as in maldon salt), on the edge of the Blackwater estuary, Essex. The estuary itself was in low tide when we came, which means mud as far as you can see with ships and barges scattered over it like olives on a pizza. Quite surealistic.

All in all, Maldon is nice but not worth the 2 hour drive (unless you've registered for the mud race). However, from there we drove on, to St. Peter-on-the-wall in Bradwell. Aparently, the oldest chapel in England. It sits in the middle of a vast oat field, behind a sea wall that protects it from the waves. You can walk up to it, into it, and beyound it - to the sea. I do miss the sea!

As we discovered, "sea" here is quite a different concept than back home. Apparently, England is actually a big mud pie someone tried to throw at the french and missed. The sea-side here is just the edges of this big mud-pie slowly oosing off. In fact, there's an Island in the Blackwater estuary called ouse, but that's a story for another night.

Anyway, when we finaly go tdown to the beach we found that the border between land and water is a strip of odd hunks of clay / mud, strewn with seaweed. They looked like sleeping trolls just back from the hairdresser. Totaly bizzare, beautiful and even sensuous - in an English way.

We rented a car for tomorrow, to finaly get out of London. Well, Murphy never fails: looks like the weather's going to be crap!

Well, looks like the guys at Blogger fixed it. I've got my archives back.

well, if you're thinking of upgrading to the new blogger - DON'T!!!

Just lost all my archives!

This guy is totally nuts. Hilarious. He led me to Britney's Guide to Semiconductor Physics

I put a Camden Local Info page on my Wiki.

There was a penguin driving through the desert when something went wrong
with his car, so he pulled into a gas station and asked some one if they
could fix it.

While some one was trying to fix it the penguin went to get an ice cream, it
was a hot day so it melted easily, he come back and the gas station owner
said "you blew a seal" and the penguin wiped his face and said "Oh no, its
only ice cream".

Hadas is having fun with Shlomi in Barcelona. Her parents are with us, which helps a lot. Generaly we're doing fine - and she's doing even better..

She's comming back tonight.

Never could resist a beta. I'm trying out the new blogger.com.

I am reading Defying Hitler by Sebastian Haffner, a personal account of life in Germany between the wars. Trying to explain why people who were fearless in battle were reluctant to stand up for their moral ideals, he quotes Bismarck (loosely translated): "Courage on the battlefield we have in abundance. Civil courage is rare".

Another suicide bombing in Tel-Aviv. FUCK!

I got Kurt Vonegut's God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian from the local library. Wonderful little book: This morning, thanks to a controlled near-death experience, I was lucky to meet, at the far end of the blue tunnel, a man named Salvatore Biagini. Last July 8th, Mr. Biagini, a retired construction worker, age seventy, suffered a fatal heart attack while rescuing his beloved schnauzer, Teddy, from an assault by an unrestrained pit bull named Chele, in Queens. The pit bull, with no previous record of violence against man or beast, jumped a four-foot fence in order to have at Teddy. Mr. Biagini, an unarmed man with a history of heart trouble, grabbed him, allowing the schnauzer to run away. So the pit bull bit Mr. Biagini in several places and then Mr. Biagini's heart quit beating, never to beat again. I asked this heroic pet lover how it felt to have died for a schnauzer named Teddy. Salvador Biagini was Philosophical. He said it sure as heck beat dying for absolutly nothing in the Viet Nam War.

Pim pointed me to this hilarious page. She was found to be the ferocious rabbit. I am, apparently the black night. Not as flatering, but that's what I got..





Running away? You yellow . . .


What Monty Python Character are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

The day before yesterday Gali said that Ipi (her favorite doll) needs shoes. So Itamar jumps up and says "I'll make some for her!" and he did. Simply took some cloth, scissors, thread and needle and did it!

Hadas has finished her Essay!!!

And did a damn good job at it too!

Israel is #28 on the NCES international survay of children's performance in math. Duh!

Yesterday we took the train to Cambridge. Had a great time.
We walked through St. John's, which is beutifull (by the way - you can get in for free from the back, which we didn't). Then we met some friends, and went to Easter service at King's collage chapel. Hadas & Itamar had already been to Xmas service, so they knew what to expect, but I was bewildered by the sight of grown men walking around in funny robes, holding funny thingies in their hands and looking absoloutly serious about it. I mean, sunday afternoon - don't you rather have a pint on the river bank?
For a finale, we did some Punting. Too bad we didn't read the instructions first. I nearly ran over an inoccent goose, and Noam actualy managed to fall off the boat. Apparently, after you do that, you have to tackle the tricky job of getting back into the punt, and then figure out a way to re-unite with your pole. Must have been a great treat for whoever was looking out of the pub window, too bad we were too far down the river to see it.
Nevertheless, it was great fun, and by the end of the hour I was good enough to hassle tourists on the bridge.

Pim has complined that I don't update my blog that much lately. Well, true.
I realized that its looking too much like the manifsto, and I didn't like that.
See, the problem is that I'm hesitant about blogging the juicy bits of my life, lest the objects of discussion will read and be offended. On the other hand, what's the point of a peep show if you're not going to take you knickers off?

So - any tips?

Well, there's an American objector, joining the three brits. I Wonder if more will follow..

Did some good

Just got this from affero:

Thank you for your request that Refuser Solidarity Network be added to Affero's database of worthy causes. I
am happy to let you know that I have added this organization to our system. You will now find Refuser
Solidarity Network on your Volunteer Preferences page and can build your profile with this organization
included.

If you have any questions about affero or building your profile, you can check out our demos here:
http://www.affero.net/ndva1.html/ or do not hesitate to contact me directly.

Lori Winslow
lori@affero.com

This weeks Doch Amin had a nice story about a guerilla sticker attack at the US senate cafeteria.

Well, if you read the page to the bottom, it turns out that this is another satire.
I mailed Ido Amin about this, and we had a good laugh. Its really not his fault, and the story is good enough, true or false.
But I wonder how many people have already forwarded his mail as the gospel. Why don't people verify their stories? All it takes is a minute on google. Imagine how much trash we would be spared!

Tamar, Nestor and the kids are with us this week (and slightly more).
On Sunday we're all going to hear Sophie play Gamelan!

Next weekend, we're going to Bangor.

Damn office phone decided it doesn't do outside calls again. And I really need to talk to Hadas. Well, lucky Michael's online in Israel:

[6:26 PM]<yishaym> hi

[6:33 PM]<yishaym> hello?

[6:36 PM]<Michael Keren> Hi Hello! Been away in the salon, haveing dinner.

[6:37 PM]<yishaym> can u call Hadas & ask her to call me? my phone doesn't do outside calls all of a sudden

[6:41 PM]<Michael Keren> calling. first fikshush: they are out shopping

[6:42 PM]<Michael Keren> trying the alchu. no response. response: horaot transferred.

[6:43 PM]<yishaym> thanks! she just called me.

 

[6:47 PM]<Michael Keren>As they say, the shortest way bw two points is the ... line

From Michael Moore's site:

With all this war going on, I just keep thinking about Marilyn Manson's interview on Micheal Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Just one sentence keeps echoing in my head:

Its all about fear and consumption

Its all about fear and consumption.

Ronit Yoeli-Tlalim met me me at Gali's nursery yesterday, and brought me a flyer for the screening of Asher's new film at the Jewish Art Festival. Since Yonathan, Gali's mate, is one of the main actors in the film, I think we should go..

Why ostriches don't fly the Iraqi skies

Iraq claims that a 70 year old farmer downed an American Apache.

Poor Hadas had to stay home yesterday morning, planning the nursery playground for Itamar's school. We went BnB hunting: some friends are coming over, and we need a place to put them.

We heard of this place near camden square, but didn't have their phone number. I decided to look for it, based on a general location & general description. and we found it. Beutiful house, english adaptation of Japanese style, with a parot as big as a horse guarding the front door (well, not really guarding - but you can't miss it).
Unfortunatly, they were booked. So, we asked them for the shortest way to the Canal - not too happy to go back down ugly Camden Road.

After streaching our legs in Camden sq.'s charming little park, we followed the BnB owner's advice, which took us down one of the areas hidden gems and into St. Pancras way. Right after the rail bridge, and before the canal we came across Camden Garden Centre which looked like the right place to buy some color for our "garden", had we the time. It's also apparently a charity, helping unemployed, so all the more reason to buy there. The nice (albeit rundown) playground behind it was not, however, something we could ignore.

Although not the best part of the canal, its still better than Camden road, and arriving at the lock from an unusual angle was a treat.

Our friends Lilian and Noam got married yesterday. They had the wedding at Frederick's, a Very posh restaurant in posh Islington.
The food was great, the company good, the music was too: all the kids danced strait through the main course. One thing which I'll have to get used to is the speaches. When I told this to Sophie, and Gordon, they asked: "don't you have speaches in Israeli weddings?"
Well, occasionaly the bridesgroom or his dad will get up and say how nice it was of you all to come, but that will never stop people from queing at the cakes table!
Anyway, it was a lovely wedding. Pitty we had to leave before the pudding (aka deserts). Gali was most disappointed to leave: she would have danced the night away if she had her way..

John Baumann, the guy that sent me Mark Twain's War Prayer, pointed me to a collection of Mark Twain's anti-war writtings.

Some ideas of How you can protest Rachel's killing.

"Rachel Corrie, 23, was killed on 16 March when she was run over by an Israeli bulldozer. Rachel was trying to stop the bulldozer from demolishing the home of a Palestinian doctor in the Gaza Strip. Our hearts go out to her family and friends. "
- more on the ISM site

It is my pleasue to bring you.. Amir Noy!

My freind Amir Noy has just IMed me that some of his works (songs & short stories) are on-line

George W. Bush: "Well, after we did such a good job in Afghanistan, don't you think its time we clean up Iraq?"

But we really had a great day. It was sunny & warm here in London. We took the kids to the park, I tried to teach Itamar to ride a bike, but he was more interested in playing football. Gali walked all the way to safeway. On the way back we were all galloping horses. We had shrimps (or as Gali calls them "Shuwimps") for dinner, and I even made some progress with my work.

My friend John Baumann sent me a copy of Mark Twain's War Prayer (You can find it all over the place, I liked the Quaker's formating). Good read for bad times.

I have a theory, I wonder if someone could check it and tell me if it holds water:

Every American president runs a war in his first term, to guarentee his second

And I say, time for a female, non-white president of the USA!

The TV here shows the bombing of Baghdad as if it were a video game.
Back home kids take their gas masks to school like lunch boxes.
Quite hard to concentrate on work these days..

damn. I hate wars!

Or, you can see the movie.

Looks like there's going to be a war tomorrow. Duh!
Good opertunity to hear Alice's Restaurant. Sorry I can't put a link to an MP3 here, but I'm sure you can find it.

Check this out! Hilareous!

Yet another interesting alternative media site:

openDemocracy. (and hey! they use jsp!)

A walk on the Thames

Yesterday we went with our freinds Francis, Nataie and Irene to Richmond. Had a great walk along the Thames. Just when we needed it, there was the White Swan pub. Also of interest was Eel Pie Island.

Irene is an architecture critic, so he had a good story to tell about every house along the way. Francis & Itamar played football on the grasses along the river - they're getting really good at it!

Buetifull sunny day, good company, a good walk, good beer, and a decent roast. What better use could there be for a sunday?

Good news!!

Shlomi called and told us that he talked to the locals, and apparently there's a special bus to take the passangers of RyanAir's London-Girona to Barcelona.

Phew! so we didn't throw £60 down the drain (though we don't look much smarter for it).

Still, RyanAir are assholes!!

Here's a note Gali brought home from nursery:

Thursday 13th March 2003

Dear Parents/Carers.

Many of you will know that on Monday 17th March it is St Patrick's Day and we would like the children to bring something in for our Interest table as well as dressing in something Green White or Orange to represent the colours of the Irish flag.
The children will be baking soda bread to have for their tea.

On Tuesday it is a Jewish festival called 'Purim' it is tradition for the children to dress up in fancy dress. We would therefore like the children to dress up in a costume of their choice to help Gali and Jonny celebrate. Once again the children will be baking a traditional cookie for their tea.
Sharing traditions from our different cultures enriches the children's learning experience.

Thank you for your co-operation

Zehra

--------------------
I love London!

But yesterday wasn't all bad. I go an e-mail from my MSc supervisor, Jeff Rosenschein. He said he thought we might try to get a journal publication (or two) out of my thesis. Try, it was written nearly a decade ago, but we never did. And apparently, it is referenced occasionaly.

Duh!
Yesterday we finally ordered flight tickets for Hadas to Barcelona (she's going to visit our friend Shlomi there). This morning Shlomi calls, and says there's a small issue with our flight: it goes to Gerona, which is 100km from Barcelons, and there's no reasonable public transportation.

oh well, here goes.. I guess it's about time I had a BLog, right?