February 13, 2004
Jewish Press, Omaha, NE
Page 9
How Israel is Different OUR MAN IN ISRAEL by CARL ALPERT Haifa--As we have often said, and repeat again, some of the most interesting news from Israel never makes the headlines, and either gets buried on back pages, or never makes print at all. In recent weeks, for example, we find the following: • Oops! In a drive-by terror attack north of Jerusalem, one of many, the driver was wounded. Fatah Tanzim took the credit. Later it was revealed that the car, with Israel license plates, was being driven by a Palestinian Arab who had stolen it, and was on his way to Palestine-controlled territory. The Fatah apologized. The driver received medical treatment in an Israeli hospital. • Unexpected Results. The European Union, which affords Israel products special exemption from customs duties, refuses to extend the same exemption to products made in the disputed settlements. Israel’s Minister of Commerce and Industry agreed that all such items would bear identification of the place they were produced. Manufacturers and producers in the areas warned that if they were unable to market their wares competitively in Europe because of the added tax, they would be compelled to dismiss hundreds of Palestinian workers they now employ. • A Strike That Back-Fired. Victims of the long strike by civil servants against the government were the general population, who were unable to obtain necessary services. The Histadrut then hit on the idea of calling out on strike the patrolmen whose duty was to give
parking tickets. In that way, the public would be benefited, and the authorities would lose income. The step was widely publicized, and motorists hastened to take advantage of the new freedom. In Haifa, however, the officers remained on duty, and scores of drivers fell victim. • Exploiting the Past. Under the law, all archeological artifacts uncovered in the country become property of the government. Tens of thousands of items have accumulated in the archives, and many more are added each year. President Moshe Katsav has suggested that since most of them have no scientific value, they should be put on sale to the public, producing income for the government and enhancing public interest in the past. Further, it would put an end to the present illegal, but flourishing, trade in such items.
...What are the prospects for the future? 43% believe a peace treaty will be achieved within the next three years, whereas 34% believe an open war with the Arabs will break out within the next three years. • No Help for the Settlements. Though the raising of pigs in Israel faces many legal obstacles, ways have been found to circumvent the law. One innovation is at Kibbutz Lahav where a strain of the swine has been developed that can efficiently sniff out buried mines. Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria would be interested in acquiring these to protect themselves against hostile Arabs, but the left wing Hashomer Hatzair kibbutz is said to prefer to export the animals to foreign countries. • Israeli Arabs Excel. The oud, a musical instru-
B’nai Akiva Continued from page 8 provides a normative framework for socializing. In Givat Ze’ev, many of the teenagers are fairly strict when it comes to romance, having placed themselves in the category of “shomrei negiah” (those who observe the practice of abstaining from all pre-marital touching of the opposite sex). So if you can overcome the fact that sometimes your teenager will only get four or five hours of sleep on a school night, and if you don’t get bothered by the organized chaos that often governs B’nai Akiva activities, it’s a fairly wholesome atmosphere. Everything would be fine and dandy were it not for the fact that B’nai Akiva is a hot-bed of right-wing reli-
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gious nationalism, firmly supportive of principles like an undivided Jerusalem, Jordan as the Palestinian State, and expanding rather than dismantling settlements. The very enthusiasm that makes B’nai Akiva so attractive also makes it hard for a kid not to swallow its political theology hook, line, and sinker. I would love it if one of the more liberal religious organizations or movements (like Meimad or Oz ve-Shalom, sponsored a youth group here)--but they don’t. So if I want my children to have a social life in Givat Ze’ev, I have to let them go to B’nai Akiva. Besides, what makes you think that my kids listen to me anyhow? Teddy Weinberger can be reached in Israel at: weinross@netvision.net.il.
ment of the lute family, is extremely popular among the Arabs. Judges from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Morocco and Algeria presided over the annual oud competition held recently in Cairo. The winners of first and second place were two Arabs from Israel. • What They Really Believe. A survey conducted by the prestigious Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies has ascertained that 30% of the Jewish citizens of Israel would be prepared to pay higher taxes to increase the nation’s security budget. An almost equal number registered opposition. Support for transfer of Israel’s Arabs out of the country drew 33% support. What are the prospects for the future? 43% believe a peace treaty will be achieved within the next three years, whereas 34% believe an open war with the Arabs will break out within the next three years. • Strange Request. A help-wanted ad: Wanted, a mechanical engineer with proven experience. Military background with sea-borne vessels in the air force required. • Saved by Gefilte Fish. A report on the contribution of South African volunteers in Israel’s War of Independence in 1948 includes the story of an American pilot, Milton Rubenfield, who was flying a plane which attacked an Arab armored column near Tulkarem. The plane was hit and Rubenfield had to ditch it in the sea near Moshav Michmoret. He began to swim ashore. As Lydia Aisenberg tells it in the Manchester Jewish Telegraph, he knew no Hebrew and feared that the moshavniks would think he was an Egyptian. As he waded ashore, hands in the air, he shouted out “Gefilte fish! Gefilte fish!” and the guns aimed at him were lowered Carl Alpert can be reached at: alpert@techunix.technion.ac.il.
LETTER
TO THE EDITOR
To the Editor: Henry Monsky Lodge is planning to do something special for the 50th Anniversary of the B’nai B’rith Charity Sports Banquet to be held on May 12. If you have a Banquet program dating between 1954 and 1994 or any other Banquet memorabilia that you could loan us, please contact Lois Epstein, the B’nai B’rith secretary, at 334-6443 or e-mail lepstein@jewishomaha.org. Gary Javitch, President Henry Monsky Lodge B'nai B'rith
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