From Nation's Capital to Nation's Capital: The Azza Street Spy

Living in Extraordinary Times...
Haven't posted in awhile. Partly b.c time is running away from me. But, also, b.c I knew my next post would address the current war in Lebanon. I can't post another mundane blog w.o acknowledging this war, but I didn't want to write about it, so I was stalling...

This is a little hard. My thoughts are not fully developed or coherent, but I don't want to write something too rambling...

For starters, please check out this website: http://www.crisisinisrael.com/ It is a compilation of volunteering and donating opportunities to help those directly affected by the war that gets updated regularly. For the non-locals among you, many of the opportunities are not relevant. But, don't worry; I can't realistically provide housing for a displaced Northern family either. I read an article that offers to house displaced families is exceeding demand. This means that if tens of thousands of Israelis are displaced, that many more housing offers are being made by strangers. There are ads posted in the newspapers and email listservs from families offering their homes to strangers. What a hospitable nation. Anyway, pick one of the charitable options.

Other observations regarding the reaction to those affected by the war include general warmth and caring. For example, my gym is offering free classes to Northern refugees accompanied by a member. At work they asked school psychologists to travel North to relieve the psychologists on duty. (As a new immigrant just getting by in Jerusalem, I don't need to be a war hero in the North just now... I want to help the war from here, not up there.) There are discounts, freebies, and other gestures toward are fellow citizens. People here are very cognizant of their hardships...

An initial reaction to this war that my new country is fighting: How strange. It's pretty clear there's a war. Even more clear than the second intifada, which was also a war. Our soldiers are in Lebanon, reservists are being called up (mostly to serve in other parts of the country so the active duty can be concentrated in Lebanon), and my colleague's sons and spouses are getting drafted. This is real stuff. On the other hand, the consensus is that Hizbollah can't reach J-m with their weapons. So, other than caring for and worrying about our loved ones in other parts of the country, our physical safety is not at risk. This sense of safety and continued daily routine gives the feeling of a bubble where we are cut off from the action. Not only is daily life as usual here, refugees, displaced Israelis, and displaced tourists are flocking to J-m (probably Tel Aviv, too). So, not only is this city not a ghost town, it's pretty hopping. What a bizarre contrast.

I'm not sure how the international media is portraying the war. Personally, I would recommend following it on http://www.jpost.com/ or http://www.haaretz.com/ You can be assured that they will report on the rockets showering Northern Israel. They don't conveniently omit this news like other media outlets.

While searching for my political identity in Israel, I've been told that JPost is the right-wing English language paper and Ha'Aretz is the lefty paper. What is also universally acknowledged is that the writing and often the journalism in HaAretz is superior. Those who are picky about the quality of their paper and lean right are torn about which one to read. Amazingly, each paper has high agreement regarding this war. Just like Israel's most effective international spokesperon these days is Netanyahu, the opposition leader, the lefties and righties are of like mind regarding this war. Pretty unusual for Israel.

Think about that. Can you imagine Nancy Pelosi being Bush's spokesperson? (Did I get that right? Is Pelosi still minority whip, or did I just expose how removed I am from Washington? Point: A Democratic House Minority Whip being a Republican US President's spokesperson?) You would never expect that relationship to work: The spokesperson would be from the president's party, period. But, that analogy is working right now in Israel, b.c there is really little room for inter-party negotiating and arguing. Unlike other political and military situations, there is very little ambiguity to this one.

Riding the bus home from a post-work errand, there was a protest not far from my house. Women In Black (fringe lefties) were protesting, men and women of all ages wearing black, holding signs: We don't support the war.

Thought bubble: I don't support this war either. Tell Hizbullah to stop shooting rockets at Israel; tell them to release our kidnapped soldiers. Tell them to stop this war b.c I don't support it. Somehow, I don't think this what the protesters meant...

Another thought: What's this garbage about the Shebaa Farms? If Israel gives up that land, we can have a cease fire??? Israel withdrew from Lebanon; the UN cleared the withdrawal and said that we had completely returned to our sovereign land. Now, Hizbullah/the Arabs are fabricating this pretext that we should withdraw from additional land, and then they'll be satisfied. If I actually believed that, I would support such a withdrawal. Why not? Give it back, and they'll be at peace with us. Whatever. Just a lame pretext to invade our land, kidnap our boys, and shoot rockets at residential centers. Agreeing to give back the land is participating in the same farce.

Speaking of farces, what is the UN? Excellent editorial from last Thurs' 27 July JPost. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1153292015165&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

[Sidenote: In general, all JPost editorials have been quite good lately. I encourage you to follow them.]

I do feel bad that UN "peace"keepers were killed. Of course, I do. I feel worst that they were wasting years of their lives, and ultimately their lives, on a pointless mission. They were charged with the mission of implementing the UN Resolution that was supposed to see Hizbullah disarm after Israel's withdrawal in 2000. Judging by the rockets Hizbollah is shooting into Israel and the Iran-imported weapons being shot at Afula, I can confidently say that UNIFIL (the UN observers in Lebanon) did not achieve this goal.

So what were they doing, other than picking their noses and scratching their belly buttons? The fact that they were accidentally killed means that they were in dangerously close proximity to Hizbullah's weapons storehouses. Were they turning a blind eye? Were they being deceived? Was Hizbullah using them as human shields, too? More significant than Israel's investigation to their accidental deaths, there should be an investigation to what they were actually doing on this supposed "mission."

Ultimately, Israel is doing the work that the world promised to do. The world promised Israel and itself to disarm Hizbullah and they didn't. Israel is personally accepting this challenge on itself, b.c we care and b.c we stand the most to lose if it doesn't happen. The arrogance of the most biased, blinded, and egotistical, as well as corrupt, man [Annan] accusing Israel of intentionally targeting UN peacekeepers makes my blood boil. He should thank us for doing his work and apologize for creating obstacles to correcting his failed promise, UN 1559. Then, *he* should apologize to the peacekeepers' families for sending them across the world to do nothing of value, which cost them their lives.

One last thought, I knew that Rice was visiting Olmert at his official residence last night. Walking home after shabbat from a friend's house, I walked past the residence. (Olmert and I are neighbors, although he has never invited me for tea or cake.) The two block stretch was buzzing with cars and security. It almost felt like no one was in Lebanon and they were all down the street from me. (Although none of them were soldiers...) The Asian-looking security guys and other minority individuals that you find in America and not Israel, meant that they were Americans protecting Rice. Kind of cool to have all the action around the corner from my apt. Maybe Rice will visit me next...

Hoping for better, quiet, and more peaceful times.

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