More than 8000 people have signed a petition calling for the release of the convicted refusniks.. Sorry, Hebrew only, but I just had to have a link to the left bank.

Took the kids brass rubbing at St. Martins in the field. So English. Yet, I must admit, in the end I found myself fervourosly exposing the hidden charm and chaste of lady something, armed with a hard piece of gold colored wax.

After we accomplished our artistic missions, we had lunch at the Crypt Cafe. One of my favorites in London. Quite a bizarre place. The food looks very chick, and is probably quite tasty. We settled for our home-made sandwiches, and a cup of hot chocolate / cappuccino.

About vantage points. I tried to resist snapping back, but what can I do? Its my nature...

You know, sometimes, if you have your nose stuck against a wall (excuse the pitifully pun), you can't really see much beyond it.

So Naive, so simple, so beautiful.

Zero tolerance

Hoaxes, Urban legends, Chain letters and Spam are among the persistent ills of the internet. Recently I have been receiving quite a bit of this "genre". In some occasions, I have responded somewhat bluntly. My apologies if I have hurt someone's feelings.

However, my concern with this kind of communication goes beyond plain irritation. As annoying as these mails are, in my eyes they signify a much deeper problem.

I think we all agree that participating in a democratic society requires accepting responsibility for your actions and words. When sharing information with the community, this means that you have reasonable basis to believe that this information is indeed true. Suppose I would call a few of my friends and tell them that I heard that so-and-so has been involved in criminal activity, and therefor should not be trusted with community funds. You would expect me to have hard evidence for this fact, or else would consider my actions severely unacceptable. Now, suppose that when considering several sites for our school, I circulated a rumour that a particular site is located above a unique geological formation, which guarantees us an oil well in our back yard, which would fund our school for the next 100 years. In this case, not only would you see my conduct as inappropriate, you would also politely suggest that I seek urgent help.

Why is it, that when we go into "cyber space", we let down all social and cognitive defences?
Do you really think that there are computer viruses which, when you say cheese, jump out of your computer and bite your nose?
Do you really think that Bill Gates has pledged to send you 240,00$ if you will but a sock on your ear?
And do you really think your kindergarten friend knows about a "serious deadly internet worm that spreads faster then light" but Ha'aretz, NY Times, and all the anti-virus companies haven't heard of?

Now, I know what some would respond: "What's the harm? I sent you some information. You judge it, and if you don't believe it, hit the delete key." Well, the same argument goes for all the "real world" examples I gave. Would you accept it there? Probably not. Because in the real world, if you say something, YOU are responsible for your words, not the receiver. Well, its time to realize - this is the real world too. The same norms apply here. The only difference is that verifying is much, much easier. Usually, a 5 minute trip to google or wikipedia would do*. Which means that you have absolutely no excuse for spreading disinformation and other junk.

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*: If you read Hebrew, Hanan Cohen's site is a useful place to go as well.

Last night Hadas & me went to see the new year born on Primrose hill. The site was amazing. Like a disney version of the opening scene of Blade Runner. The sky was clouded, and beneath our feet the city lights sprawled endlessly. The whole cityscape was sizzling and crackling in bursts of blue, red, green and white. Occasionally a rocket would go whining over our heads and explode in a spray of colours and smoke. In the distance the London eye was throbbing like a fluorescent heart, until at midnight it too exploded with interleaved circles of white fire, the size of a small hurricane. All around us were hundreds of people sipping champagne in delicate flutes, ignoring the biting wind, singing and snapping photos with their mobile phones.

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.


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* 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.