AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/17/2002 12:57:00 PM
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BODY: Nelson Mandela reading my blog?

(I’m just kidding). It turns out that the Mandela attending Barghouti’s trial was just another Arab fantasy.

Ha’aretz reportes: “Contrary to an earlier report, Nelson Mandela will not attend the Tel Aviv trial of Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, a spokesman for the former South African said Friday. "Mr. Mandela has called for him to be treated fairly, but he will not attend the trial," a spokesperson for Mandela told Reuters.”



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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/16/2002 03:33:00 PM
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BODY: Foolish move Nelson

Nelson Mandela agreed to a request by Marwan Barghouti’s lawyer to attend the Barghouti’s trial in Tel Aviv as an observer. Mandela’s job will be to ensure that the trial is fair and open.

It is important that the trial will be fair, and I’ve no doubt it will be, just like every trial in Israel. The trials in Israel are usually a bit longer than the less than an hour trials in the Palestinain Authority.

From the Guardian report: A lawyer for Marwan Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian legislative council and secretary general of the Fatah movement in the West Bank, revealed he had been in South Africa last week to invite the former president to the trial.

It’s a noble thing to bother yourself to ensure a fair trial, but it’s despicable to bother yourself thousands of miles to help a notoriuos terrorists. In more peacefull days Barghouti was a negotiating partner, some even say he was one of the moderates in the Palestinian side. He also holds an official title: “member of the Palestinian legislative council and secretary general of the Fatah movement in the West Bank” – so what? Is he allowed to order the killing of hundreds of Israelis? I don’t think so. The moment Barghouti chose to leave the negotiating table and practice terrorism there was no reason forbidding Israel from dealing with him, he was lucky the IDF didn’t just waste him.

Back to Mandela. More from the Guardian: "He said he was enthusiastic about coming," Khader Shkirat said. He quoted South Africa's most famous political prisoner as saying: "What is happening to Barghouti is exactly the same as what happened to me. The government tried to de-legitimise the African National Congress and its armed struggle by putting me on trial."

If Mandela did say this he is disgracing his own name. Barghouti is a murderer. If Mandela wants to put them both in the same boat, it’s his lost. If he will attend th trial I’m sure he will soon be sorry for that.



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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/15/2002 06:19:00 PM
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BODY: Israeli Beaches

Nice photo of Tel Aviv’s seafront over at Renatinha’s Balagn. Check it out.

Update: Two interesting revolving panoramic photos that you should check out: Tel Aviv’s Sheraton Beach and Eilat’s Princess Beach. The two beaches are lovely and very different from one another. (You can scroll the photos by clicking the left button of your mouse and move it to the direction you want to).



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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/15/2002 11:29:00 AM
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BODY:
Time to investigate U.N. abuses

Joseph Alexander Norland, currently writing at Dawson Speaks, is running a campaign calling to investigate the UN abuses. There is an anti-UN petition that is currently collecting signatures

From The Petition Site:
We, the undersigned, petition the Government of the United States to form an independent commission of inquiry to determine how the United Nations has violated its Mandate, abused its power and resources, engaged in racism and anti-Jewish acts, and supported Islamic terrorism against the free world. We would also like this commission to determine if and how this organization can be rectified, and if such an organization in its present state deserves to exist at the American taxpayer's expense.

If you agree with the above please sign the petition over here.



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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/15/2002 11:10:00 AM
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BODY:
Unbelievable

The most unusual thing happened this morning in Israel – It rained. It was very scattered and maybe should be referred to as just a few drops but still it was water coming form the clouds. I don’t think I ever witnessed rain in August. About 10 years ago I remember it rained a bit (hour or less) in June. Rain during the summer time here is something so irregular I had to mention it. Superstitious people will probably see that as an omen for something, hopefully for something good.



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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/15/2002 10:40:00 AM
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BODY:
The InstaPundit effect II

Diane E. of Letter from Gotham channels her InstaPundit originated readers to my blog. And so, my counter experience yet another InstaPundit after shock. Thanks Diane.




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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/14/2002 11:57:00 AM
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BODY: The prudes from the north

As you probably know Israeli opinion, including mine, on Europeans is not so good. Personally I think some countries, especially the Scandinavian ones, are so self-righteous its absurd. From their safe and civilized location in northern Europe they lecture us on what and how to things. They consider themselves to be the most enlightened people on earth and seem to enjoy rebuking Israel.

Now it’s not that anyone here really gives a damn about what those prudes have to say but it still pisses me off. It’s very easy to criticize when you don’t have to deal with suicide bombers, enemy states surrounding you, crazy tyrants constantly threatens you, when millions of children around the globe are been taught to hate you and to think you are the devil.

The Scandinavians were once good friends of Israel. They used to sympathized Israel and thousands of them volunteered in Kibbutzim around the country. Those days are over. By the way if anyone is interested you can check about volunteering to a kibbutz through this link.

I’m not sure what made them change their minds (the basic situation here didn’t change in the last 35 years). I’m guessing though that some of the dislike to Israel is just a derivative of European dislike of America (but that’s a different story to a different post).

Update: I just wanted to make it clear that I am aware that not all Scandinavians are prude or simply anti – Israeli, frankly I find it hard to believe that the love that a lot of people there used to share with Israel just vanished into thin air. My guess is that there are still a few friends of Israel in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland (Vegard Valberg is one of them). The only sounds that people here hear from those countries are ones of hate and dislike to Israel.





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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/13/2002 10:16:00 PM
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BODY:
The InstaPundit effect

No I didn´t get a link on Instapundit but GedankenPundit did. What do that have to do with my blog you ask. Well GedankenPundit kindly linked to me after Bill Quick´s link to Israeli Guy. GedankenPundit was linked by InstaPundit to a post near by the one recommending my blog. Belive it or not my counter felt the after shocks. From Glenn Reynolds to Solly Ezekiel to Me.




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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/12/2002 11:09:00 AM
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BODY: Sharon responds to public demand

Good news about the security fence: Prime Minister Sharon and Defense Minister Ben Eliezer decide yesterday to build the fence all around the west bank – 360 kilometers instead of only 110 km as first decided.

That’s a good decision. It seems that the only reason why Sharon and Ben Eliezer changed their minds is the on growing public demand for building the fence. Elections are near and they must satisfy the voters.



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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/12/2002 10:54:00 AM
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BODY: Long live the king!

A bunch of weirdoes gathered yesterday at a synagogue in Jerusalem and called for the annulment of democracy in Israel. Instead they want a king to be crowned. Something is definitely not screwed right in their heads.




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AUTHOR:G.
DATE:8/11/2002 12:50:00 AM
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BODY: War preparation

With all this war against Iraq talk in America I just want you to remember that Israel is the one that will have to deal with the backfire. It’s very likely that Saddam Hussein will fire his bio/chemical warhead missiles towards Israel as the US is out of reach.

People here are very calm and the panic didn’t start, yet. My gas mask is waiting in the cupboard to be worn again. If you are interested there is a lot of information on what to do in case a chemical missile hits Israel at the IDF’s Home Front Command site.

This is a map of Israel divided to various areas. When a missile launch is detected alarm sirens all over Israel are immediately operated. Every body run to the nearest bomb shelter, only 7 minutes till the missile hits. After the missiles hit the army announces which areas of Israel are free to go out of the shelters and which areas suffered a direct hit and need to stay closed because the missile could have been a bio/chem. During 1991 Golf War most of the missiles hit Area A (à – pink color in the center) – Tel Aviv, Gush Dan and the Sharon. Some missiles also hit areas B (á – Haifa, red area on the top) and I (è – yellow below) in the vicinity of the Dimona nuclear facility. Since I live in area A à I had to wait a couple of hours usually in every missile attack before the army said it’s okay to get out.

Here they tell you how to protect yourself. Types of Protective Kits. Protected Space /Shelters – Guidelines



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