Stories about Israel from July, 2009
Global: George W. Bush as Middle East Envoy?
An opinion piece written for Newsweek suggesting George W. Bush make an excellent complement to U.S. President Obama as Middle East envoy has made waves in the blogosphere.
Israel: Interesting Talk on Sovereignty
Muse and her husband, from Israel, attended a day at the Knesset and shares her impressions as well as photographs she took in this post. “We attended a very interesting series of talks about Har HaBayit, The Temple Mount and Israel's sovereignty,” she writes.
Israel: Cellular firm ad stirs occupation debate
A television ad for Cellcom, the largest Israeli cellular provider, sprung an unprecedented debate on the face of the Israeli occupation over the past two weeks. The advert shows Israeli soldiers playing soccer with unseen Palestinians over the wall separating Israel and the West Bank, to the sound of popular music. The ad was accepted as insensitive at best by many Israelis, becoming an icon of blindness to the occupation in the Israeli society, writes Carmel L. Vaisman.
Bahrain: Accusations of Islamist Hypocrisy
The Bahraini Nationalist read the response by the Olama Islamic Council to the Crown Prince's call for dialogue with Israelis: “It’s the usual, humdrum response we’ve come to expect from all Islamist political groups…it exposes the hypocritical way these groups approach the issue of Palestine.”
Israel: A Belief In Coexistence – Interview With Activist Ibn Ezra
While Israel as a whole has moved to the right in recent years, there are nevertheless Israelis who oppose their government’s policies towards the Palestinians. Global Voices Online has interviewed activist Joseph Dana, who blogs at Ibn Ezra, about his involvement with the group Ta'ayush ("coexistence"), the state of activism in Israel, and using social media to get the message out.
Palestine: Egypt and Israel and Humanitarian Aid
Writing on Arab-American joint blog Kabobfest, Will notes his disgust with Egypt's stalling of humanitarian aid entering Gaza. “Though we have seen Egypt’s role as essentially Israel’s sidekick before, the machinations around the Viva Palestine really exemplify how much it shares Israel’s sick agenda of collective punishment in Gaza,” he...
Egypt: 77 Egyptian Prisoners in Israeli Jails
On Twitter, Egyptian blogger Noha Atef [ar] notes: “I didn't know that there were 77 Egyptian prisoners in Israeli jails!! 41 of them are held on criminal charges, meaning smuggling and illegal entry.”
Bahrain: Learn To Live With Israel?
The Bahraini Nationalist is pleased that Bahrain's Crown Prince has written an op-ed in the Washington Post asking Arabs to talk to the people of Israel: “Shaikh Salman is trying to tell Arabs that Israel is a reality and won’t disappear. Learn to live with it!!” Yet a Facebook group...
Jerusalem: Discovering The Old City
Glenn Strachan has been working temporarily in Nazareth, and is now visiting Jerusalem for the first time: “What I quickly discovered is that Nazareth is to Jerusalem what hamburger is to filet mignon.”
Israel: Does Violence Pay?
Israeli activist Joseph Dana compares the way the Israeli state treats ultra-orthodox rioters with its treatment of anti-occupation protestors: “The ultra orthodox have succeeded in exerting force against the state – one could say that violence in this situation has proven successful – while non-violent leftist Israelis are often attacked...
Palestine: A Campaign Like Never Before
A campaign was launched earlier this year, at the time of the Israeli attacks on Gaza, to promote the concept of taking pride in Palestinian resistance, and to focus on Palestinian rights not victimhood. Called the Never Before Campaign, it is based in Beirut, Lebanon, and has produced a series of videos to convey its message. Global Voices Online has interviewed the Never Before Campaign to find out more.
Israel: Keeping Cool in the Jerusalem Heat
Jerusalemite offers tips for how to stay cool in the summer heat. They include: “If your skin is any lighter than the fuul on your hummus (not a scientific gauge), and you're going to be outside for awhile, put on some sunscreen. If your skin turns to bacon, you may...
Palestine: Dealing With Settler Attacks
Israeli human rights activist Joseph Dana reports on a visit to the southern Hebron Hills, accompanying local Palestinian sheep herders to their lands near the illegal settlement of Maon – where they are frequently attacked by the Israeli settlers.
Israel/Palestine: Al Jazeera Journalist Detained
Days after a boat carrying activists from the Free Gaza movement was stopped by the Israeli navy, many of the passengers are still being detained in jail in Tel Aviv. Natalie Abou Shakra in Gaza has spoken to Othman Abu Falah (Othman Beitary), a journalist with Al Jazeera television, who...
Israel: Human Rights Activist's Sentencing Postponed
The Villages Group blog reports that the sentencing of Ezra Nawi, an Israeli human rights activist in the South Hebron area convicted of trying to prevent home demolitions, has been postponed – and for a strange reason.
Israel: Jewish American or American Jew?
Aliza Hausman, better known by her blogging handle “La Jewminicana” is the winner of a contest sponsored by the Jewlicious blog that asks readers to respond to the question: “Are you an American Jew or Jewish American?” (The complete responses can be read here.)
Israel: First African American Woman Ordained Rabbi
Rabbi Alysa Stanton was recently ordained as the first female African American rabbi. “The media frenzy around Alysa Stanton’s ordination has opened the possibility of improved coverage of Jews from a variety of ethnic backgrounds,” writes JVoices.
Israel: Soldier Raises Gay Pride Flag
Frgdr posts a photo of an Israeli soldier carrying a rainbow flag symbolizing gay pride.
Israel: The Joys of Urban Gardening in Jerusalem
IzzyBee reflects on the joy of her urban garden. “In my Jerusalem patio… bougainvillea blooms in shades of magenta, crimson, and pale orange. We planted an olive tree, a cypress, a lime tree, jasmine, honeysuckle, red geraniums, climbing roses, morning glory, hydrangea, purple daisies, basil, mint, and lemon verbena. Everything...
Israel: World's Longest Cucumber
Israeli Yitzhak Yazdanpana has just grown the world's largest cucumber, measuring in at three feet, 10 inches long, Good News from Israel reports. Readers are encouraged to post favorite cucumber recipes in the comments below.
Israel: Expecting “Hannah Montana's” Arrival
The Disney Channel will soon arrive in Israel in Hebrew. “Hannah Montana Changes Her Name to Chani Golani,” My Jewish Learning's Mixed Multitudes blog jests.
