It ain't over 'till it's over!

It ain't over till it's over. Yogi Berra

Yes, Yogi Berra was right. We have to remember that all the time as we work hard to stop Olmert's "Resettlement" Plan and get him out of office, retire him from politics forever!

And yes, I believe there's a way. Not only do we here in Israel have to work hard, but all of you good people abroad must join in. Unfortunately Israeli politicians are extremely susceptible to foreign praise. They want the rest of the world to like them. In this past Friday's Jerusalem Post, there were a few revealing articles.

One of them was an interview with a top Sharon advisor, Erez Halfon, who is negotiating with Olmert to join his staff. He made it clear that getting the world's support is more important than support in Israel:
What did Sharon think about the Likud MKs who tried to topple him?
Those were happy days when we saw the love that Arik received from the nations of the world at the UN, while people in the party were trying to oust him. His respect from the world was at its peak while I had to shame myself in Likud internal courts to try to delay the vote to topple him and fight Likud MKs who didn't understand what a treasure they had.

It's dangerous and also pathetic. But I have a feeling that this weakness is the key to our victory. If these politicians are mocked and publicly reviled for their immoral treatment of innocent citizens, if they are condemned for endangering their own country, if foreign leaders and world Jewish leaders condemn them, they will back down.

Sharon, who is now comatose, and Olmert, who was behind him and the infamous Disengagement Plan and now seems to be next in line, are dictators, whose policies are more like Stalin than Truman. This must be publicized. All of you must send letters to the media and politicians, speak out in public to Jews and non-Jews. Olmert's policies are strengthening terrorism in our area, and as America knows, terrorism spreads like a plague.

Just because Israeli parliamentarians are elected doesn't make the government just. Democracy is a reflection of the results of advertising campaigns, and sometimes the majority makes the wrong decision. When I was was growing up, my parents always warned me not to do things, "just because everyone else is doing it." "If everybody was jumping off the Brooklyn Bridge, would you jump, too?"

I was always encouraged to think for myself and do what's right, regardless of what the majority was doing. And that's the lesson I take with me all the time. True, I'm sometimes alone and rarely find myself taking the easy way out, unless I'm 100% sure that it's the right thing to do.

When I decided to become religiously observant, I knew in my heart and soul that it was the right thing, the right way to live. The next stage was my decision to make aliyah, move to Israel.

Once I realized that it was one of the basic mitzvot (commandments) it was clear that my home had to be in Eretz Yisrael, and then soon after that, Israel was victorious in its war of survival that lasted six days in 1967. Yes, something that too many people ignore, Israel's survival was at stake. The Arabs were predicting, threatening that they would push narrow, indefensible Israel into the sea. Egypt asked the United Nations to remove the peace-keeping forces that were here to protect us, and the UN ran, rather than even making a symbolic show of objection or an attempt to protect us. And absolutely now country came to Israel's defense!

Then a miracle happened, we were victorious and found ourselves liberating our Biblical Lands. Places like Hebron, Shiloh, Shechem and Beit El were finally in Jewish hands after thousands of years of exile. These places are the homeland of Jewish history. Suddenly we could live in the same places, walk on the same paths and climb the same hills as our forefathers, prophets and kings.

G-d gave us a gift, and our politicians spit it back at Him.

Those politicians don't rule me; they don't control me. And I'm not the only one who feels this way. But we can't defeat them by ourselves. Jewish prayer is in the plural. We must think of others. We aren't alone.

A few short decades ago, it looked so certain that we were close to Redemption, and now it's clear that it won't be so simple. We can do it, but we all have to work very hard.

This week we celebrate Israel's 58th year, which is hard to call "independence." That's because too many Israelis are dependent on foreign approval. They are wrong, even if they're the majority.

On the Fifth of Iyyar, the anniversary of the State of Israel, I will say the Hallel Prayer of Praise to G-d, because G-d deserves the Praise and Thanks. Our problems and dangers come from man.

G-d willing and with the help of us all we will overcome, and we will survive, and no more Jewish communities will ever be destroyed. Don't give up, just help.

Not much of a honeymoon

The Israeli public isn't giving Olmert much of a honeymoon, not that I'm surprised. According to the polls, most Israelis are not pleased with the idea of the union leader Peretz as Minister of Defense.

Poll: 51% Not pleased Olmert 76% wrong for Peretz to be DM

Dr. Aaron Lerner Date:28 April 2006
Telephone poll of a representative sample of 500 adult Israelis (including Arab Israelis) carried out by Dahaf for Yediot Ahronot the week of 28 April 2006 (as Olmert coalition government still in formation).

• Are you satisfied with the makeup that is developing for the government? Yes 39% No 55%
• Are you satisfied with the performance of Ehud Olmert during the process of the formation of the government? Yes 37% No 51%
• Are you satisfied with the performance of Amir Peretz during the process of the formation of the government? Yes 30% No 63%
• Is the good of the State one of the considerations of the people handling the [coalition] negotiations? Considerably yes 28% A little or not at all 69%
• Is the appointment of Amir Peretz as minister of defense a correct move? Yes 21% No 76%
• Are you worried about the appointment of Amir Peretz as defense minister? Yes 56% No 44%
• How do you feel today about how you voted in the elections? Satisfied 85% Not satisfied 14%
• Is it proper for the government to include 27 ministers? Yes 20% No 76%

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)

(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-7255730

INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il

Website: http://www.imra.org.il

One shouldn't forget that Olmert isn't all that popular with the national Israeli public. He never really was. It took him quite a while to get Jerusalem to warm up to him as mayor. He can be charming and has those "smarts" of a successful politician, knowing how to talk to people and show that he's in charge. He's fit and energetic. His staff must be able to keep up with him.

A few years ago I predicted that he'd be Prime Minister. Then I thought that it would be a good idea, since I thought that he was pro-Eretz Yisrael, the Land of Israel. Oh, boy, was I wrong about that "minor" detail. Never in a million years did I think that he would end up being further left than Peace Now. Never did I think that he would be the Israeli official, technically he's still not the real full de jure prime minister," to announce that I'd be (G-d forbid!) thrown out of my house and "resettled."

Yes, that's the term I was searching for, resettlement. The Nazis coined the word to label the forced migration of Jews into ghettos. And that's Olmert's plan. He wants to destroy our homes, communities, educational institutions and businesses and move us, transfer us, exile us to some (at best) pre-fab hovels facing the walls of his new borders. We're to be (G-d forbid) cannon fodder, targets for the terrorists.

If you look at the questions in the poll, you'll see that the dissatisfaction has nothing to do with what Olmert's planning on doing to us. The public is getting tired of the coalition wheeling and dealing. The other night on the news there was a piece about some single-parent workers who will be losing their jobs, because as of May, the government won't be covering their transportation. There's no way these poor, and I mean poor, people can get to this job without the special bus service. It doesn't even pay for them to work if they have to pay for public transportation. For them it's a lot of money, but it's nothing compared to what all those unnecessary government ministers will be getting. And then, unemployed, the government will have to give them welfare, which is more than the bus service costs. None of the politicians care.

One of the more significant parts of the coalition agreement between Kadima and Labor is that ...all parties agreed to keep the status quo in the status of the Supreme Court and how judges are appointed. It's like an insurance policy. As long as there is no judicial reform, the Supreme Court will back government decisions.

I'm just looking forward to the internal party fights. Both Kadima and Labor leaders have disapointed their cronies. Too many people were expecting the same positions, and even with twenty-seven ministers, yes 27, and possibly more if more parties join, there aren't enough slices in the pie.

G-d willing, their greed will do what we've failed to do.

Chodesh Tov and Shavua Tov,
Have A Good Month and A Good Week,

They're licking their chops.

The rich will get richer and the poor, poorer. That's how the Olmert government seems to be shaping up. Labor's union leader Peretz gave up on enriching the working class, but he didn't forget his cronies. There will be lots of Public Parasites (ministers) in the new government. Each one costs the public hundreds of thousands a year. Some of those ministers won't have any responisibility other than ordering staff arouond and being driven places. They are what's known as "Ministers Without Portfolios." That's right! It is nothing but lard, traif and immoral lard. That's what good, yes-men get for smiling on command.

The Sefaradi (those are the Jews from Arab countries) Religious party, Shas, is doing its best to rationalize and excuse their hungering for those forbidden fruits of power. Some people will do anything for money.

And speaking of money, it seems like Olmert want s 82 year old perpetual Peres out of the picture, so he's making sure that the old man's dirt is being revealed.

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov

added to blogroll

I just added a few blogs to the blogroll:
Perspectives of a Nomad
Judeopundit
The Beak Speaks
I hope they enjoy the company.

ps Ooops, I have to fix the link to http://judeopundit.blogspot.com/, back to the template!

Again, Who are those pensioners?

During the Israeli election campaign, nobody paid too much attention to the pensioners on the Retirees Party list. It was considered by most to be a "joke" party, but boy were we all surprised when they ended up with a very healthy and youthful seven seats in the Knesset. Suddenly everybody began to ask: "Who are they?" and "What did they do when they were younger?"

Even though, they campaigned for better financial benefits for senior citizens, they, themselves are very well provided for. None of them are living on the less than minimum wage, which is the official "Bituach Le'umi," National Insurance payments for seniors who worked. They're all very well "connected" with generous pensions and investments from their high-ranking positions. And some are still very actively working and earning.

When push came to shove during their negotiations with Olmert and cronies, they quickly pushed their national pension demands off the table and shoved them under the rug. Their age peers are livid but not surprised. Those in the know are saying that the next step will be to officially join with Kadima, which is made up of like-minded pols.

Yes, party leader, Rafi Eitan, has his own legal problems, (thanks, Israel and the Sin of Expulsion for the tip). As Israeli spy master, he left his agent, J. J. Pollard to be arrested by the Americans and given the most outrageous punishment in the history of the United States. There is no legal precedent for Pollard's sentence, since he was working for an ally which was supposed to receive that information according to a signed agreement between the United States and Israel. Rafi Eitan's legal problems are from his private business interests.

And while we're at it, another MK of pension age, actually the oldest MK, Shimon Peres, also is under investigation for financial irregularities with his fund-raising. That's the tip of the golden iceberg considering the massive foreign donations his "peace center" receives.

They certainly aren't the "grandpas" we'd like to influence our youth.

The Core of Post-Zionism

Year after year, especially at this Holocaust Memorial Season, we hear:

the Jewish state that arose out of the ashes of the Holocaust

This is wrong. It denies and deligitimizes "Zionism," our long history of thousands of years as a Jewish Nation. Statements and sentiments like this deny and mock the early Zionist efforts by the true pioneers, those who came ot Our Land well over a hundred years ago. It erases our long history, reinventing it as modern compensation, reparations, for what the Nazis did in Europe to European Jewry.

Post-Zionism was born from these sentiments, and if we want to survive as a state and nation, we must erase them. Our rights to Our Land are ancient and well-documented. We don't need the Holocaust to legitimize our existence.

Keeping a sense of humor

Scientists say that smiling and laughing are good for our health, so I always try to find the bright side, even if it's just the irony that presses my lips into a grin and extracts a chuckle from my chest. Sometimes that's the only way to survive Israeli political news.

In Israel the public parasites--pp's for short--are in the midst of cooking up a Pork Barrel stew. The Shas Party, which promotes itself as strongly religious, is looking for justification to join the traif (non-kosher/forbidden) feast, even though it campaigned against Olmert's policies. Their latest statement, to ban Ministers Without Portfolios , is like saying it's OK to eat the stew, just don't lick the gravy.

A major sector of their support comes from families which send their kids to the Shas schools which provide long hours and hot lunches. Shas needs to be part of the government coalition to financially support these schools. The fact that most of their voters are strongly right wing is ignored for the survival of their educational institutions.

Yesterday was Holocaust Memorial Day. It's a day of ceremonies and speeches and public mourning. A couple of years ago I traveled to the Neve Yaakov swimming pool and was surprised to find it closed.

Unlike many descended from European Jews, the Holocaust did not play a part in my formative years. Until the Diary of Anne Frank was published, I was totally oblivious and ignorant of it. My grandparents, some of their siblings and parents left Europe before Hitler, and those who remained were never found. I was not raised with any longing, nostalgia for the "old country." My grandparents enthusiastically embraced their new lives in America and firmly closed the door to their old ones.

Israeli society thrives on its connection to the Holocaust. There's a perversity in how it markets "The Shoah" to foreign visitors. Instead of showing pride in our Biblical connection of thousands of years to Our Land and how rapidly we've developed a modern society here, they schlepp everyone to Yad Veshem to say: "The Nazis murdered Six Million of us, so pity us."

Even worse, they haven't learned from it. De facto Prime Minister Olmert speaks of the dangers of appeasement, but he's a prime promoter of appeasing the Arab terrorists. His Disengagment and Convergence--Resettlement--are the epitome of appeasement.

The same goes for Peres, the Oslo, "New Middle-east," architect, who doesn't recognize the demons he has invited into our Homeland. The most dangerous enemies to our very existence are his friends, whom he calls the "Palestinians." They are the terrorists who are attempting to annihilate us at this very moment.

Is this funny? No, not at all, but there's an irony for sure, and the story, our history, isn't over either. We have outlived our enemies, and the true lesson of the Holocaust is to look forward and leave the Diaspora behind. That's why I'm here, in Israel, in Shiloh.

In Biblical times, it was in Shiloh where our people developed from tribes into a nation. It took 369 years, longer than the existence of the United States. Yes, it's hard to wait. Patience is important for us to learn. We're of the "instant," "now" generation.

We must be strong and determined, like the Holocaust survivors who picked themselves up, out of the ashes, made news lives, new families.

Yes, we will have the last laugh.

Adlai Stevenson

Gary took my suggestion and gave us a BOMS using Adlai Stevenson quotations. If you've never looked at a BOMS, I suggest you do now. Gary links the links to quotations from various people; each week someone else. Adlai Stevenson was the unsuccessful American presidential candidate who ran against Ike in the 1952 and 1956 elections.

True

On Shabbat, as I was leaving my neighbor's home, after the "shiur nashim," Women's Torah Class, I overheard a couple talking about the recent elections:

"I voted for Lieberman. Can you imagine, 700 voted for NRP in Shiloh."
"Amazing! How could they?"

I agreed to myself; the NRP, well, we all know what a nothing party they are. But the numbers made no sense to me. I couldn't remember them exactly, but I was sure that the NRP hadn't gotten so many. Suddenly it hit. Gevalt! I was one of those 700! It's just that I considered my vote to the Ichud Leumi--National Union, which had joined forces with the NRP--National Religious Party.

It's not that I saw any better party to vote for. Lieberman had stated that he was willing to give Land to the Arabs, just "less" than Olmert. And Bibi's Likud was no different. Marzel didn't show any true national leadership. So I voted for the NU-NRP.

I consider the NU-NRP to be the "Noah" party, "...and Noah was a perfect/righteous man in his generation..." Bereishit, Geneis VI, 9. The problem is that Noah only saved himself, his family and a selection of animals to reproduce, repopulate the world. He didn't save the world. And I'm afraid that "the best party" isn't capable of any more than Noah was.

I should have been more patient

If only I had been more patient, then I could have blogged one big post about carnivals, because here I am again bragging that my posts are featured. This time it's Havel Havelim, the 66th. Perspectives of a Nomad did a great job. Welcome to the club of HHH-Havel Havelim Hosts!

Carnival fo the Rant--1st spot!

We were given top spot in Carnival of the Rant!

Thanks, and I recommend that everyone see what's featured this week!

carnival of the vanities

Enjoy the latest Carnival of the Vanities! There's plenty to read, so take a gander!

The Israeli Pork Barrel

The cafeteria in the Israeli Knesset building may be strictly kosher, but its politics is the epitome of the Pork Barrel kind. Only here they call it coalition building. Each government comprises more and more ministers to "cement" the agreement with lard. Olmert broke his promises, and instead of reducing the cabinet and the very high expenses each minister and assistant minister requires, his government will be the largest ever!

Israeli governments consist of various parties, which are tied together less by ideology and more by need. That's why the religious parties and the most anti-religious parties end up sharing the cabinet table.

The religious parties, especially Shas and UTJ-United Torah Judaism desperately need to get some of the pie to support their various institutions. That's why ideology takes a back seat to the pork. It's also one of the main tensions between the National Union-Moledet & Tekuma and NRP-Mafdal, the National Religious Party, even though they have joined together for the 2006 elections. The NRP was always the traditional coalition partner with whichever party was in power, in order to support its educational system, while the NU is more strongly ideological.

Olmert and his staff have been negotiating with potential coalition partners even before Election Day. They were hoping that the polls would be correct, and they'd have 40 seats, which would give them a commanding 2/3 of the 60+ needed to make a majority of the 120 member Knesset. If that had been the election result, they would only have needed just over 20 more MK's to rule. Not only that, but the other parties would be begging for a chance to join, rather than the situation we now have. Because Olmert received much fewer than he had hoped for, he's in the position of needing support, and the other party leaders are playing poker with him. Every few minutes, there's a different new flash. Now, 7am, Sunday, April 23, the news is:
Kadima-Labor Deal Far from Certain
07:10 Apr 23, '06 / 25 Nisan 5766
by


(IsraelNN.com) The reported decision to grant the Labor party seven ministries is far from certain and could spark a crisis, according to the Hebrew news site NFC. Along with the report of Labor's receiving seven Cabinet portfolios, Kadima also announced that the division of ministries would be one portfolio for every 3.5 mandates.

According to this formula, Labor's 19 seats would earn it only five ministries.

In the end it will depend on who's a better card player, but it's still Olmert holding the knife.

And when he finishes spreading the pork and all the gravy, more than one quarter, that's one out of four, Members of Knesset will be getting extra salaries and perks as ministers and assistant-ministers. That sweetens the deal for all those miss-matched bedfellows. That's how Israeli coalitions include politicians with such different and conflicting beliefs. Their need for money unites them. That's one of the reasons I don't vote, never have, for religious parties.

And more:
Unlike the United States, which has a more "technocrat" cabinet, the Israeli Cabinet is filled with politicians, active, competitive, ambitious politicians. This colors every decision made by all Israeli Governments. Combine this with the "self-appointing" Israeli Supreme Court, and it's very clear why our governments are so corrupt and incompetent.

Government reform must deal with these issues, because they are the core problems.

Until this is done, most Israeli politicians will just keep on fighting for their piece of pork and lick of the gravy.

Something's Very Wrong

Israel is under attack, and it has been under attack from the minute a few Jews decided to restore a Jewish State to the Holy Land. we have been under attack since before the State of Israel was "declared," on the 5th of Iyyar, the 14th of May, 1948. Arab terrorism against Jews and Israelis is nothing new.

There is only one way to end terrorism, and it's to destroy it. For some peculiar and perverse reason, the world makes one "exception" to this rule. That's when the victims are Jews and the terrorists are Arabs.

The world doesn't connect, more correct--refuses to connect-- the terrorism against us with the terrorism in the rest of the world. For them superficial changes are enough to make the terrorists respectable. And Olmert, Livne and crew aren't about to protest. They want the world's "acceptance."

Israel's "Defense" Minister Mofaz expresses concern, while Arabs launch kassams at Israel daily and Arab terror against civilians continues. Concern and restraint aren't going to save us. Something's very wrong with a country that cares more about pleasing its enemies than protecting its citizens and securing its future.

In less than two weeks we're celebrating our 58th Independence Day, but what kind of "independence" is this?

Oy, the headlines!

I "love" these headlines:
Suicide Bombing in Israel Kills 9; Hamas Approves


They never tell the hard truth, though this one has an accurate ending.
Let's start with the "subject," "suicide bombing." What is it? Is it something spontaneous, part of nature, like snow avalanche or hurricane, which can kill without any human cause? No it isn't. It's a human act, a murderous act caused by human beings, and the result is murder and mayhem. The "subject" of the title/headline should be "Terrorist," or more accurately, "Arab Terrorist," since the Arab terrorist exploded the bomb. It, the bomb, wasn't there by chance. The Arab terrorist brought it there, strapped to his body.

That brings us to the second problematic word, "kills." An avalanche, hurricane, shark, epidemic all kill. A terrorist MURDERS. Why is the media so afraid of the "m" word? A terrorist is a murderer; he's (or she is) not a demonstrator, nor activist, nor any of the other words the media prefers.


And I'd like to give credit, where credit's due, at least the New York Times admitted that Hamas approved of the terrorist murder. No carefully worded "apology" or "condemnation," even if they finally come out with something, can change that truth.

Is it possible to "make peace?"

What's "peace?" Israeli politicians, diplomats and media have been proclaiming that we "must make peace." It isn't so easy, not like making a salad or anything like that. The alleged "peace partners" are a bunch of unrepentent . That's for sure.

And this is what they really think:
38) Concerning armed attacks against Israeli civilians inside Israel,
I.. Strongly support 14.2% Support 38.2%Oppose 40.2% Strongly oppose 5.0%DK/NA 2.5%39)
Do you believe that armed confrontations so far has helped achieved Palestinian national and political rights in ways that negotiations could not achieve?
Definitely yes 24.0% Yes 42.9%No 25.4% Definitely no 5.7%DK/NA 2.0%
Palestinian Public Opinion Poll No. (19) conducted by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip during March 16-18, 2006.
Total size of the sample is 1270 adults interviewed face to face in 127 randomly selected locations.
Margin of error is 3%. www.pcpsr.org/survey/polls/2006/p19etables1.html ...--------------------------------------------IMRA - Independent Media Review and AnalysisWebsite: www.imra.org.il
For free regular subscription:Subscribe at no charge: imra-subscribe@imra.org.il

Now, honestly, do they want real "peace?" In real peace, we'd be living without fear, without terror. They would fully accept our existence. They don't want peace, and peace isn't up to us.

And concerning Syria, they still want to attack us for the Golan:
Syria Pledges to Restore the Occupied Golan

Quneitra, Southwest, April 17 (SANA- Syrian News Agency)-
www.sana.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&newlang=eng&sid=29579&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

Syria undertook today to restore the occupied Golan saying the independence, which was made by our people due to sacrifices and heroism, is now unaccomplished and our happiness is not complete." This will never be realized while the occupied Golan is under the occupation and since his folks want to go back to their houses and home as well as to their ancestors land . It is a legitimate right that should be made real by all available means," Assistant Regional Secretary of the Baath Arab Socialist Party Mohammed Said Bkhetan said in a ceremoney on the nationalday representing President Bashar al-Assad. Bkhetan delivered his speech in the liberated city of Quneitra, recalling back the Syrian Army and people, women and men's struggle, heroism and sacrifices to defend and free the home as well to attain independence, and stressing that Syria has been assuming a great and important role and bearing the Arabism flag." Since the occupation of the Syrian Golan, a number of the international legitimacy resolutions that call for withdrawal from the occupied Arab territories are issued. Syria has taken the just and comprehensive peace as her strategic option that guarantees right, preserves stability and stops the aggressor so she went to Madrid and agreed on the land for peace principle," he said." While Israel has always been turning a deaf ear to the international legitimacy; it didn't implement any of its resolutions," Bkhetan said, adding " Syria didn't let any political, diplomatic or legal means but to demand of her legitimate rights."He reiterated Syria's support to the Palestinian people's democratic choice and their right to return home, liberate their occupied land as well as establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital. Regarding Lebanon, Bkhetan said that Syria has offered aid to Lebanon in the most critical circumstances to stop blood shedding and the civil war noting that she has contributed to enhancing Lebanon's identity, stability and sovereignty, " Bkhetan indicated, stressing that Syria will never give up her Arab belonging, national and pan-Arab responsibilities and will not stop between her and Lebanon but all brotherhood and cooperation. Syria won its Independence on the 17th of April in 1946 when the last French and British soldier left the territorial Syrian Arab Republic land.Syrians in all Syrian regions celebrated today the anniversary of Independence Day, the day in which the last foreign soldier left the country.For this occasion and under the patronage of President Bashar al-Assad al-Quneitra branch for the Baath Arab Socialist Party held a mass rally with the participation of all social, economic and popular activities from all Syrian governorates.
Chousson A. Hassoun / S. Younes --------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and AnalysisWebsite: www.imra.org.il
For free regular subscription:
Subscribe at no charge: imra-subscribe@imra.org.il

We're very proud to be...

We're very proud to be featured in the very first edition of Mediocre Media ! It's a blog carnival that exposes the problems, inaccuracies of MSM--mainstream media. There are some really good posts, so take a gander!

Olmert's Peace and Victory

Terror in Tel Aviv.
Daughter #3 called me up a few hours ago.

"I'm OK."
"What happened?"
"Didn't you hear? A terror attack in Tel Aviv. I'm OK."
"Thanks for calling. I haven't been paying attention to the news."

She's very thoughtful, always lets us know that "Baruch Hashem, bli eyin haraa," she's ok.

Dozens aren't OK; they're hospitalized and at least eight are dead. And they say that for each victim, including injured and witnesses, another 8-10 people are affected. So this murderous terror attack really has well over 500 victims. And do you know what's on Israeli TV's Channel One? A spoofed and polished Shimon Peres and 119 other politicians being sworn in as Knesset Members. The show must go on, right?

Terror in Tel Aviv, ok, the "seamy side," not where the elite live and hang out. So do you think our experts in morality will be too concerned? As they shrink our tiny country do they really think that they can isolate the terror, so they won't be affected? Will the terrorists cooperate with Olmert, Peres and friends?

A few years ago there was a murderous (aren't they all?) terror attack in Petach Tikvah, and one of the victims complained that

"Petach Tikvah isn't supposed to be a terrorist target; Jerusalem and (sic) territories, yes, but not Petach Tikvah."

Why do people think that they are immune?
Haven't they learned that terror can't be controlled nor legislated?

There is only one thing that should be done to terrorism and the terrorists, and that is to destroy them. They must be wiped out; they cannot be controlled any other way.

Unfortunately the Israeli public voted for Olmert The Tired. Pre-Soviet Russia had Ivan the Terrible and we have Olmert The Tired.

That's not me!

Gary illustrated one of my BOMS links with a picture which isn't of me! I don't want anyone to get the wrong idea. When I sent him that link, I didn't imagine that such a picture would grace my article.

There's lots of great stories, but please don't look at the picture, which may be difficult, because he also gave me "place of honor!" You can look at the picture illustrating my other post. It's more respectable. And of course, you must read all of the posts he links.

It takes two...

Here's a very interesting article about the disengagement between the "settlers" and the "rest of" Israeli society. It's based on a "dialog" at the March, 2006, Jerusalem Conference between Daniel Ben Simon and Yisrael Ze'ira.

Of course, the "settlers" are blamed for only "focusing on themselves." And we, of course, accept the blame. Personally, I don't. I don't consider us the sole guilty party. Why are we the only ones "soul searching" every time something happens?

The Shabbak masterminded the Rabin assassination. Even mainstream media and the Rabin family have complained of "peculiarities" in the official story. Secret agent, Avishai Raviv's involvement is indisputable, but his Teflon coating is keeping him safely out of jail. Herzeliya (on the safe side of the green line) born and raised, Yigal Amir is in jail for it, along with his brother, and the "crocheted kippah" crowd took responsibility, even though the hate and incitement were from Avishai Raviv.

Why do we always accept guilt? Did Mapai ever apologize for the Sezon? Did Yitzchak Rabin and Ben Gurion ever publically repent for killing Jews on the Altalena? Why have we never heard of the left "soul searching?" They can endanger and kill fellow Jews without even tickling their consciences? Don't they feel the pain of other Jews?

And today, when Sderot, Ashkelon and Negev kibbutzim are being targeted by missiles launched from Gush Katif, which is now in Arab hands, why aren't the pro-Disengagement crowd running over to help? They just don't care; they don't care about their fellow Jews. They are the ones who are too busy concentrating on their own affairs, not us.

Veteran residents of Kiryat Shmoneh complain that nobody in the government nor media ever cared or paid attention when they suffered missile attacks from Syria. For years there were damage, injuries and death. They were thankful for the unpopular "Lebanese War" for giving them some peace and quiet.

Good Jews from abroad who read and were affected by my letter to the UOJCA have written me asking why they should protest against destroying more Jewish communities, when Israelis don't care. Some say that as "foreigners," they don't feel that it's their right to interfere. Under normal circumstances I would agree, but unfortunately nothing is normal here. There is a situation of pikuach nefesh, lives in danger. It was a miracle that no one was murdered in Amona. The police used force well above anything suitable against young, peaceful demonstrators. They actually shouted at them that they were prepared to kill.

Unfortunately most Israelis are very dependent on foreign opinion. They want the world to say how wonderful they are and bask at the praise heaped on them for exiling good Jews from their homes during Disengagement. That is the reason why there must be a strong display against Olmert and his plans. Please don't be shy about voicing your disapproval.

• If you can mobilize enough support for Jewish presence in Judea and Samaria
• If you can mobilize enough protest against destroying Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria

then we have a chance of surviving!

If not, the entire State of Israel in danger. It's not so far fetched. When a government states over and over that it's too tired to defend its citizens, we have reached a very critical and, G-d forbid, potentially fatal situation.

There are many of us who have not given up nor given in. We are reaching out our hands to you and all Am Yisrael, the People of Israel and the lovers and supporters of Zion. This past Shabbat, during the Passover Holiday, we read from the Prophets about G-d giving life back to the "dry bones." Yes, all is not lost. G-d will help us, yes, us.

We will only succeed, and we will only thrive if we are united. Before the Exodus from Egypt the tribe of Efrayim failed to enter the Land of Israel, because they were alone. When I look at my neighbors here in Shiloh, I see people from all over the world, all different colors, features and accents. No other Jewish communities in Israel or the entire world are more accepting than those in YESHA and that includes the destroyed ones of Gush Katif and the Northern Shomron. The fastest growing university in Israel is in, the mostly secular, Ariel, and the highest birthrate is in the religious and chareidi YESHA communities. No matter what one's life style, there's some place in YESHA for all. The problem is that many Israelis refuse to even visit. We are considered "beyond the Pale."

We have always been reaching out. Will the rest of our People take our hands? Yes, it takes two...

convenience

Soon after Israel's 1973 Yom Kippur War, which left lots of Land in Israel's possession, the propoganda began urging Israel to give that Land to the Arabs. I remember discussing/arguing about it with another young mother.

Obviously, I was against giving any of the Land away:

We have to hold onto all of it.

No we don't. Do you know how far away the Sinai is? It takes my husband too long to get there for "reserve duty." It's not convenient!

Do you really want the war next to your home?

I think of that conversation whenever there are "convenient" terror attacks, the "war next to your home" and when there's news like A Kassam rocket struck a packed dining hall Friday in Kibbutz Yad Mordechai, near Ashkelon.

For the soldier's family, who doesn't want him to travel to war...

Rant Away!

I found a new carnival, and they found me! It's the Carnival of the Rants, or kvetches, complaints. This is serious stuff and nicely presented, so take a look!

That's PR, Not Journalism!

Actually it's more like a Purim joke, but considering that the article appears in the magazine section of The Jerusalem Post , during the Passover Holiday...

I'm talking about the "advertisement" for Dubai. There is neither a bad nor critical word. It really sounds like a great place

If you had to choose one word to describe Dubai, "superlative" definitely would be it. "The highest building on earth," "the most luxurious hotel," "the cleanest city in the region," "the best airline of the year" - Dubai won't settle for second-best. Extravagant and futuristic projects are launched one after another, as if Dubai were seeking to take over the Guinness Book of World Records. And if progress continues at this rate, it just might.

The official religion of the country is Islam and the source of the legislation is the Islamic sharia, but foreign residents are free to practice their own faith and traditions.

After a short tour in Dubai and neighboring Emirates, I found churches, both Greek Orthodox and Catholic, a Russian supermarket and dozens of Indian schools. The Indians and the Pakistanis are the majority of the foreign manpower here in Dubai. The locals even joke that Dubai, in fact, is the best run Indian town.
There are also many Eastern Europeans, especially Russians, and plenty of Iranians, French and Americans (Israelis are not allowed in; I, for example, entered using my Russian passport).

Instead of stressing how wonderful and accepting Dubai is, the truth should have been mentioned much earlier on. The fact that it is anti-Israel, anti-Jewish, refusing those with an Israeli passport, and the fact that Judaism is not one of the religions allowed to be worshiped should not have been slipped in at the end.

Why wasn't that "issue" mentioned from the beginning, showing that Dubai's "tolerance" doesn't extend to Jews and Israelis. How about letting the public know that Dubai is another of the judenrein countries of the world. If there are any Jews there, they are not allowed to practice their religion, in contrast with all others. Writing about the tough stuff is good journalism. This article is just a public relations exercise.

Was the journalist sent of a free junket by the Dubai Ministry of Tourism? Does that mean that she can only write what they tell her to write? I don't buy the newspaper to pay for "advertisements" to tour a country which won't let me in.
Here's the letter I wrote to the paper:

It's too late for Purim, and even April fool's has passed us by. You guys really have a sense of humor. After praising the "unique mix," "tolerant approach," "freedom," "foreign residents are free to practice their own faith and traditions."
Just at the end does the author admit that she was there on her
Russian passport, since despite the "freedom," Israelis aren't allowed in Dubai.
So what kind of article is this? It certainly does its best to present an
entirely false picture. What's the point of getting the Jerusalem Post if this is the type of propaganda you put in. Freedom means no Jews according to you.

Coalition talks

At present it seems like Olmert's coalition talks aren't as smooth as he would like. He needs pretax more than he wants to admit, and Peretz knows it. That's why Peretz is pushing for his raising the minimum wage to $1,000- per month. Olmert's people claim it was raise unemployment, but that isn't so. At present the working poor must try to work at more than one job to cover minimum expenses. Some of those supplementary jobs will be freed for others.

Another problem concerns Yisrael Beitenu's Avigdor Lieberman, who is being investigated for campaign and other financial crimes. Olmert wants him for "Internal Security," but Tzachi Hanegbi had to resign from the same post because of his own legal problems. And then he left the Likud and joined Kadima...

And now even though Lieberman's own home in Nokdim is on the list for destruction, he's doing everything he can to join Olmert's government. Doesn't it make you wonder why the former pro-settlement politician has been announcing that he's willing to give land to the Arabs?

Letter to the UOJCA

*with additions at the end*

April 14, 2006
Letter to the Jewish Action Magazine of the UOJCA:

I see that you have quite a number of articles about Disengagement, which you spell with a small "d," in your Spring, 2006 edition. As a writer and English Teacher I spell the "plan" with a capital "D." It's the name of something very specific, not a general concept.

Actually, it succeeded in both ways. Not only have thousands of good Jews, law-abiding Israelis been banished from their homes and exiled, but world Jewry, including you, the "OU," is disengaged from the true danger.

Even after publishing all of those moving articles, you just don't get it. You could have had been writing about something that happened thousands of years ago. There's a detached, disengaged coldness about it all. There's no historical perspective. And there's no recognition that Olmert, the Israeli left, media, and all of the world's diplomats are salivating over more ethnic cleansing, more destruction.

Where are your anger, your outrage and your call to action? Do you really think that it is sufficient to include a few articles in your magazine? Dayeinu?

This past year I've visited New York three times. The first visit was just a couple of weeks before Disengagement, before our Jewish brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, grandparents, great-grandparents, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were forcefully exiled from their beloved homes in Eretz Yisrael. I was told that there would be "Orange Shabbat" in the synagogues and offered to speak wherever needed. In the end I just spent a quiet Shabbat with family, since your OU rabbis had been told to "stay neutral." Nobody wanted a message from Eretz Yisrael.

How can one "stay neutral," live at peace with himself when Jewish survival in our Holy Land is a risk? During my recent visits to the states, I've heard the rabbis mourn American soldiers killed in Iraq, listing their names from the pulpit. I keep reading about the aid given to those made homeless due to Katrina. And of course there are always other "trendy" issues American Jews are always at the forefront to help.

But I heard absolutely nothing about the victims of Disengagement. Their situation is much, much, much worse than that of the Jewish community of New Orleans. That was no "natural disaster." Their homes, land, schools and synagogues weren't flooded. They were given to Arabs, Arab terrorists. Because they are Jews, they are being forbidden to return, forbidden to live there or visit. After bravely and stoically suffering daily and nightly rocket attacks, they were sent into exile. The rocket attacks didn't stop; the targets just moved to the "other side of the green line." Now Ashkelon and the Negev are being bombed. And what's your reaction?

In addition, I heard nothing about stopping further and more massive Ethnic Cleaning in Eretz Yisrael. Olmert hasn't been shy, and why should he be, about his plans of further and more massive exile, evacuation, disengagement of Jews.

The latest, but not the last, is to forcefully evacuate most of our Biblical Homeland, including my community of Shiloh. It has been spelled out in all of the papers. It's no secret. And you're still silent. What articles will you write afterwards, if it G-d forbid really happens? Will you devote an entire issue on the subject? Should I send you my "before" pictures already?

We can stop it, and we must stop it, but it will take the unified efforts of the entire Jewish People. Are you willing?

Batya Medad
Shiloh, Holy Land

*There is no time to waste. Olmert is planning on utilizing the traditional "honeymoon" of popularity of new administrations to exile us as quickly as possibe, within only 18 months. Israel won't be defensible with those borders, even worse considering the Arabs' present capabilities, than it was pre-1967 Six Days War. Remember that "unilateral" means one-sided, for nothing--no agreement. It's like cutting off your feet, because you don't like shoes. How are you going to walk? And that's the situation we're in. An influential segment of the population just hates us, and they love the praise of others when they damage and endanger us. They think that they will be wheeled around and catererd to once their feet are amputated. But they are wrong. The world will just leave them to die or be killed.

My generation always asked how the world was silent, how American Jews could let the Nazis murder the Six Million. Unfortunately, I see how it happened. It's so easy for everyone to just pretend and ignore, even today when there is such "instant" international communication. People haven't changed at all.

If you want to hear my voice...

...I'm on NPR radio; actually so is my husband and our neighbor, Yaakov Yarden. I don't know how long it stays online, so act fast.

We were asked about Olmert's plan of throwing us out of our homes, destroying our communities, ethnic cleansing, transfer, forced evacuation, religious discrimination, racist residential laws. Did I miss any? To put it simply, he wants the Hitler dream of Judenrien--land empty of Jews, right here in our Biblical Homeland.

Where are all of the world's civil right activists? Where are the liberals? Why don't they care? It must be the same reason they didn't care 65-70 years ago when the Nazis were systematically murdering the Jews of Europe.

HYPOCRISY REIGNS SUPREME, AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO THE RIGHTS OF JEWS

a couple of carnivals

From the carnival scene:

We're in a couple with some very good company. Take a gander at the Carnival of Liberty and the Carnival of the Vanities.

Enjoy!

Imagine if Moses was...

Thanks again to Boris for the tip...

Modern "political correctness" just doesn't like the Jews and the Bible. We all know that. It seems like this new Ten Commandments movie has been written as to "ignore" the fact that it's about the Jewish People. Like, imagine if Moses was a... a WASP? or lapsed Catholic, or just nice guy?

Has anyone out there seen the movie? Is it really that awful?

It's that joke again

Remember the one about the guy being tried for murdering his parents? He asked for mercy from the court, because he's an orphan.

Well, if the kid wasn't attacking our soldiers, he would not have been shot!

Just a few things...

Here's the carnival report, as of 7am, just hours before the "seder," festive and fully programed Passover feast begins.

Passover, Pesach, is also known as the "Holiday of Freedom, so it's fitting that we're in the latest Carnival of Liberty. Enjoy reading the variety of posts. And considering that Passover is a very expensive holiday, it's just perfect timing to be included in Festival of Frugality! Read it for some very practical ways to save money.

I don't have "all that much to do," which are famous last words, most probably it means that there will be some unpleasant surprise or miss-calculation. Yesterday I cooked the main courses and soup and Gefilte Fish. I also boiled the eggs and did tons of laundry; even more surprising was that I folded and sorted it already. There's another wash already in, and at most, I plan only two more. The light grey sky I see through the den window isn't very encouraging, but maybe it'll brighten and dry out enough to dry today's batches.

There's already broiled salmon for today's lunch, and I have to make side-dishes. My husband and son #1 will do the charoset, chrain (that's the horseraddish) and clean the lettuce leaves.

We're only having our three youngest, and daughter #3 is a small eater, so we really don't need much food. But if I don't make a ton, they'll think I'm "cheap" and lazy, so off I go to the kitchen.

But just before then, just another reminder to post and send me your links about kosher food, kosher cooking and kosher eating for the Kosher Cooking Carnival!

To show you why I don't vote for "religious parties"

The Israeli political scene has always had "religious political parties." These parties were originally established to protect religious institutions. Some are the political wing of long-time, pre-state organizations that had established religious institutions, and there is Shas , which began later on and now has its own schools.

For all of these schools and yeshivot to survive, they need lots of financial support from the government. That's why for vertually the entire existence of the State of Israel, "mizrachi" or what's today called Mafdal--NRP has been loyal coalition partners. Only very recently has it found itself in the opposition. To put it simply,it discovered that it couldn't protect its institutions and its voters had principles and ideology. It lost their votes when holding onto useless cabinet portfolios. Finally, it joined with National Union, Ha'Ichud Le'umi which had many former members, who left it because its lack of loyalty to to the Land of Israel.

Even though the NRP joined with the , there are still religious parties willing to swallow any coalition agreement, as long they're in. Shas and Agudat Yisrael are seriously negotiaing with Olmert, who has been very clear about his intentions to advance the ethnic cleansing of Judea and Samaria and transfer law-abiding Jews into defensless ghettos.

Need I say more?

that fence a "border?"

Yes, that's what they're saying. But just because the politicians are saying that the border will be determined by the fence does not mean that it will really happen.

Our silent majority will wake up, G-d willing. The latest polls show that most Israelis are either traditional or religious. The media is of a different breed, same with most of the politicians. So we have a chance, G-d willing, to survive. And I'm sure that the numbers are even more convincing with the under 30's.

I must get back to the kitchen; it's after 2am.

Oscar's BOMS

This week's BOMS is "hosted" by Oscar Wilde. I first became "acquainted" with him when we watched the Lily Langtry serial on TV. Maybe Gary will have Lily host a future edition.

In the meantime, take a gander...

What was the term?

Why re-invent the wheel? as the saying goes...

There are some excellent, well-understood words to describe what has been going on in this part of the world. Instead of using the old terms, new ones, euphemisms to confuse people have been coined.

Let's start with the ethnic cleansing of Jews from a specific territory, Judenrein. Right? Why did they use the word "Disengagement?" I guess to show that they really don't care about what happens to Jews; it doesn't affect them.

And there's another word for the the Jewish bureaucrats who participate in expelling their fellow Jews; they are the Judenrat. They take care of their own, but not their people.

It was a very unpleasant deja vu, when Bassi's Disengagement Administration kept repeating that there's a "solution" for all the displaced Jews. At least he said that it would be temporary, not "permanent."

Yes, those terms are from Hitler and his Nazis. What was the term the Nazis used when they forcefully transferred Jews from their homes to the the ghettos? Was it convergence? They must have had a word; they were very organized.

Olmert and his allies like "convergence" which means:
n.
The act, condition, quality, or fact of converging.
Mathematics. The property or manner of approaching a limit, such as a point, line, function, or value.
The point of converging; a meeting place: a town at the convergence of two rivers.
Physiology. The coordinated turning of the eyes inward to focus on an object at close range.
Biology. The adaptive evolution of superficially similar structures, such as the wings of birds and insects, in unrelated species subjected to similar environments. Also called convergent evolution.

Duh! I just think they looked for a word that sounded parve (neutral) and official, without any historic reference or connotations. I just don't see how Olmert's next stage, of ethnic cleansing, forcefully transferring close to 100,000 law-abiding, tax-paying, loyal citizens from their homes in order to give those homes to terrorists who aren't shy about their aim to destroy our country, could be marketed. But obviously I'm wrong. There are Jews in Israel and abroad and non-Jews all over the world who find that perfectly acceptable.

I'm one of those Jews whom Olmert wants to expell, banish, transfer from my home. He wants to "converge" me into a crowded unsafe ghetto. I have no doubt that Hitler had a good word for it.

My question is innocent; it's about just history, linguistic history.

What was that term?

HH 65

Here's the 65th Havel Havelim! No doubt, this one is gevaldik! There's so much to it. Just the thing to read while taking breaks from cleaning or when on Pesach Vacation.

Chag Kasher V'Sameach to all!

Additional comments from Anita Tucker

This is a continuation of Anita's report about the new "temporary neighborhood" being built for the Disengagement victims, also known is "expellees."

Batya,

The really amazing thing is that as I walked around the caravilla site and spoke to different people of Neve Dekalim who were fixing up their caravillas--no one immediately complained about the problems --they all said BE"H everything will be OK and gave warm smile. Only when I pried about whether all was ok in caravilla and with their belongings from the storage containers did endless stories start pouring out.

Perhaps our problem is that we're such heroes and we suffer all this evil destruction relatively silently -other than a few, barely heard out of our own circle voices, like you, me and and a few -count them on your fingers- tips.

Again we must get our act together somehow --politics obviously was not the answer. We must think harder more dynamically and come up with something --.

Despair is destructive in and of itself . Only answer seems to be that it is leading us to just simple total faith in God without anymore Hishtadlut.

This is a difficult answer for me because in this world -I think Hishtadlut is our main tool other than prayer Klapei Shmaya. So we have to think of something to get our act together!

Anita

Yes, I agree...

You may find this hard to believe, but I agree with Mahmoud Abbas that Olmert's policies and plans will only bring war and not peace. Of course we have different reasons and want different things, but we agree that Olmert is a danger, and that the Arabs won't be happy with what he wants to give them, and there will be war.

Abbas says that there won't be peace, and therefore "Peace Now's" very essence is a lie. The reasons they give is that they will do anything for "peace," but the Arabs haven't promised "peace." So why are Peace Now and Olmert continuing with their perverse and sadistic policies of destroying Jewish communities?

I feel like a broken record, repeating and repeating the same message.

Anita's Report, plus some commentary

Usually, I post Anita Tucker's letters on Blog Free!, but this time I'm adding some commentary, some musings, so please read on.

From the first time, over two years ago, when Sharon announced his "Disengagement Scheme," I've felt that it wasn't about Gush Katif or the Northern Shomron. It was about the destruction of the State of Israel. My personal campaign stressed that. I never focused on the wonderful people being thrown out of their homes. That wasn't the great tragedy, even though it is both immoral and horrendous.

The idea that for no reason--that's what unilateral means--one-sided, getting nothing in return, our country was mutilated. And there could never be a reason to justify such acts. All it did was suddenly make Sharon popular with the media, most Israeli politicians and the "world." Yes, that same world which calls Arab terrorists "activists" and other euphemisms. Yes, that same world that didn't care when the Nazis preached and then acted on the Holacaust, the systematic murder of all the Jews in Europe. To them "only six million" was an incomplete job. Remember that stopping that ongoing murder was not the military plan of the U.S. and its allies. That's the same United States Government which refused admittance to those fleeing Germany; they demanded that they return to "their country of origin."

American Jewry was also silent during WWII, but having such vivid memories of May, 1967, the prelude to the Six Days War, I thought that this time we would have allies to prevent the destruction. When I visited New York this past July, I was disappointed and disgusted at the almost total apathy.

As you all know, we failed to prevent Disengagement, and Olmert and his cronies announced that most of YOSH (Judea and Samaria) are on the chopping block, including my home, Shiloh. I didn't hear an reactions, protest. Our people, still licking their wounds after Amona, don't know what to say nor do.

In the meantime, the Disengagement victims are trying to get on with their lives. It's already April, and since August many have been homeless. Most are willing to live in the temporary housing, cardboard structures called "Caravillas," which are still being prepared for them. They want to preserve their communities whenever possible. The upcoming Passover holiday is a deadline for many, the impetus to move into "homes," rather than hotel rooms.

This is easier said than done. Please read Anita's report:

The minhelet has terribly insulting quotes about the GK people in Yediot. If they are accurate quotes those minhelet reps should be punished in the village square.

How can they be the operational arm of the compensation law if they have such slanted views against the GK people ''they are spoiled and are acting like spoiled brats on the account of the funds of the Sela commission. We can't worry about them any more in the temporary facilities. Now it is an issue of hand bending -which ever of us breaks first....they have to move to humane facilities and get out of those inhumane hotel rooms'' I don't know if yediot quoted them acurately but the quote was really disgusting!

Just to tell you how ready the caravillas in Ein tzurim for neve dekalim are. Yesterday someone of Neve Dekalim was unpacking his container and cleaning caravilla ,trying to cooperate with Sela request to be out of hotels before Pesach. They thus, had planned on being ready and cooking for 18 people ,children and grandchildren for the seder in their new caravilla. This person wanted to take a shower before he drove back to Jm. hotel. He tried to light the the electric heater -he found that it didn't work -so he unscrewed the socket cover and found that there were no electric wires connected to this switch for turning on the hot water heater (dud chashmal) .

Outside the caravillot the development is not completed and there is deep mud all over. There is also alot of non-protected construction around that is definately a serious danger for children.

Another incident that is symbolic of many difficultities is a family that opened one of their container that had been sitting in the Kiryat Malachi lot of the Zim Cargo co. since the Gerush and brought their refrigerator into the cravilla . The refrigerator did not work . Assuming it perhaps just needed gas , they called the service man . Turns out that mice had penetrated the container somehow and had eaten away at all the wires and other parts as well as of other of tehir electrical equipment in the container.

A family who had aready run out to try to buy a new refrigerater It seems it is not certain that the refrigerator and other appliances will be supplied before Pesach because of the large demand at this time of the year.

woman at the ein tzurim caravlla site told me So many of us left our garbage cans ,my brooms, pails , and lots of other "small'' equipment behind; we had to buy so many things anew -what an expense this temporary move to caravillot has been .

Certainly managing to cope with all these extra expenses will not be easy.

Will the Sela commission and other gov't officials responsible for this mess please explain to me why these people (we)deserve so much aggravation and suffering after already having been expelled from their homes and livelihood, with all physical things destroyed and yet have only done positive things for the country they love so much ???

The minimum the Sela people, as human beings , could do is give them moral support --instead the paper quotes them as attacking the families of neve dekalim and katif . I pray that the nasty evil quotes in Yediot achronot of today are inaccurate(as they often are ) !!

Anita

ps -and today a woman told me she was putting a whole pile of seforim in Geniza cause they were eaten by book worms in the container.