31 aug 2012
Visit Israel at your own risk, warn many Western countries
The latest travel advisory warns tourists that Israel periodically conducts military operations in the West Bank and Gaza with no prior notice, and advises travelers to avoid demonstrations.
Israel has long starred in other countries' travel advisories, and reading these warnings isn't particularly flattering.
The warnings about terror attacks are predictable: Most countries urge their citizens to stay alert while visiting Israel and to avoid certain areas, such as Gaza, the Lebanese and Egyptian borders, and sometimes the West Bank - though no country has yet included a warning about the Iranian threat.
But many of these warnings also paint Israel as a primitive, crime-ridden country, full of bad drivers, religious extremists and even undrinkable water.
The most detailed and, it seems, important travel advisory is the American one, as many other countries refer their own citizens to it. This advisory, last updated it three weeks ago, focuses heavily on security. It offers a detailed survey of recent incidents along the border, as well as information about terror attacks in Jerusalem and rocket fire from Gaza. It warns that Israel periodically conducts military operations in the West Bank and Gaza with no prior notice, advises travelers to avoid demonstrations and exercise maximum caution in crowded places, and tells visitors to the Golan Heights to beware of land mines.
Other countries offer similar warnings - though Belgium, surprisingly, defines Israel's security situation as "relatively good."
But many advisories go way beyond security problems. Britain, for instance, warns its citizens against giving their passports to anyone in Israel, since it is currently investigating Israel on suspicion of fraudulently using British passports in the 2010 assassination of senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai.
"This has raised the possibility that your passport details could be captured for improper uses while your passport is out of your control," it says. "The risk applies in particular to passports without biometric security features. Only hand your passport over to third parties, including Israeli officials, when absolutely necessary."
Other countries warn of problems at Ben-Gurion Airport. Austria, for instance, tells travelers to expect problems with airport security personnel when entering and leaving Israel.
The American version is much more detailed: "U.S. citizen visitors have been subjected to prolonged questioning and thorough searches by Israeli authorities upon entry or departure ... U.S. citizens have been detained and/or arrested at the airport and at other border crossings on suspicion of security-related offenses. Members of religious groups have been monitored, arrested, and deported for suspicion of intent to proselytize in Israel."
Moreover, some travelers have had "laptop computers and other electronic equipment confiscated at Ben-Gurion Airport. While most items are returned prior to the traveler's departure, some equipment has been retained by the authorities for lengthy periods and has reportedly been damaged, destroyed, lost or never returned ... Israeli security officials have also requested access to travelers' personal email accounts or other social media accounts as a condition of entry."
But wait, there's more
Many countries warn travelers about Israel's dangerous drivers, including Australia, Britain and Ireland. "Driving in Israel is erratic," says the Australian version. "The road fatality rate in Israel is very high."
"Aggressive driving is commonplace, and many drivers fail to maintain safe following distances or signal before changing lanes or making turns," concurs the U.S. version. "Overtaking on high-speed undivided two-lane roads is common and results in frequent accidents. Drivers are also prone to stop suddenly on roads without warning, especially in the right lane."
Ireland adds a warning about frequent speed traps and high fines.
Most countries devote special warnings to Jerusalem, and especially its ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods. Spain says Jerusalem has "returned to normal," but still warns travelers to be extra careful there. Other countries are less upbeat. The U.S. and France both warn against using public transport in the city, for fear of terror attacks; Austria advises against public transportation throughout the country.
"Demonstrations in religious neighborhoods occur regularly and sometimes result in clashes between residents and the local police," Canada warns. "Traffic may also be disrupted ... Assaults on visitors who are traveling in cars or immodestly dressed have occurred in Jerusalem's Old City and ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods on Sabbath."
Australia warns that public displays of affection at religious sites or in Haredi neighborhoods can spark anger. The British version is blunter: "If you choose to enter ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, be aware that local residents can react strongly to anyone (particularly women ) whom they deem to be dressed in an inappropriate manner. For women this would include wearing trousers. On Shabbat (from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday ) these neighborhoods are blocked off and you should not attempt to drive into them. If you do, local residents may stone your car."
Most countries note that Israel's crime rate isn't high, but add several caveats: Canada says car theft is high; Britain warns of the theft of passports, credit cards and valuables; the U.S. warns of purse-snatching and car break-ins.
Japan offers a nonstandard list of places to avoid. It is headed by Tel Aviv's Hatikva neighborhood, where it claims drugs and dubious characters abound. At night, it adds the city's Neve Sha'anan neighborhood to the list, citing foreign workers, sex shops and high crime. And don't walk alone at night on Allenby and Ben Yehuda streets, or in Old Jaffa, it warns.
Japan's advisory includes a long list of places where Japanese tourists have had their valuables stolen, and claims that serious crime is also on the rise: Israel's per capita crime rate is 2.1 times Japan's for murder, 6.7 times Japan's for theft and 7.2 times Japan's for sexual offenses, it says.
Canada, Japan and Austria even warn their citizens not to drink tap water in Israel; Austria urges caution when eating fruits and vegetables as well. And France warns against visiting farms and open-air markets - while reminding travelers to "wash their hands frequently" to avoid germs.
Israel has long starred in other countries' travel advisories, and reading these warnings isn't particularly flattering.
The warnings about terror attacks are predictable: Most countries urge their citizens to stay alert while visiting Israel and to avoid certain areas, such as Gaza, the Lebanese and Egyptian borders, and sometimes the West Bank - though no country has yet included a warning about the Iranian threat.
But many of these warnings also paint Israel as a primitive, crime-ridden country, full of bad drivers, religious extremists and even undrinkable water.
The most detailed and, it seems, important travel advisory is the American one, as many other countries refer their own citizens to it. This advisory, last updated it three weeks ago, focuses heavily on security. It offers a detailed survey of recent incidents along the border, as well as information about terror attacks in Jerusalem and rocket fire from Gaza. It warns that Israel periodically conducts military operations in the West Bank and Gaza with no prior notice, advises travelers to avoid demonstrations and exercise maximum caution in crowded places, and tells visitors to the Golan Heights to beware of land mines.
Other countries offer similar warnings - though Belgium, surprisingly, defines Israel's security situation as "relatively good."
But many advisories go way beyond security problems. Britain, for instance, warns its citizens against giving their passports to anyone in Israel, since it is currently investigating Israel on suspicion of fraudulently using British passports in the 2010 assassination of senior Hamas official Mahmoud al-Mabhouh in Dubai.
"This has raised the possibility that your passport details could be captured for improper uses while your passport is out of your control," it says. "The risk applies in particular to passports without biometric security features. Only hand your passport over to third parties, including Israeli officials, when absolutely necessary."
Other countries warn of problems at Ben-Gurion Airport. Austria, for instance, tells travelers to expect problems with airport security personnel when entering and leaving Israel.
The American version is much more detailed: "U.S. citizen visitors have been subjected to prolonged questioning and thorough searches by Israeli authorities upon entry or departure ... U.S. citizens have been detained and/or arrested at the airport and at other border crossings on suspicion of security-related offenses. Members of religious groups have been monitored, arrested, and deported for suspicion of intent to proselytize in Israel."
Moreover, some travelers have had "laptop computers and other electronic equipment confiscated at Ben-Gurion Airport. While most items are returned prior to the traveler's departure, some equipment has been retained by the authorities for lengthy periods and has reportedly been damaged, destroyed, lost or never returned ... Israeli security officials have also requested access to travelers' personal email accounts or other social media accounts as a condition of entry."
But wait, there's more
Many countries warn travelers about Israel's dangerous drivers, including Australia, Britain and Ireland. "Driving in Israel is erratic," says the Australian version. "The road fatality rate in Israel is very high."
"Aggressive driving is commonplace, and many drivers fail to maintain safe following distances or signal before changing lanes or making turns," concurs the U.S. version. "Overtaking on high-speed undivided two-lane roads is common and results in frequent accidents. Drivers are also prone to stop suddenly on roads without warning, especially in the right lane."
Ireland adds a warning about frequent speed traps and high fines.
Most countries devote special warnings to Jerusalem, and especially its ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods. Spain says Jerusalem has "returned to normal," but still warns travelers to be extra careful there. Other countries are less upbeat. The U.S. and France both warn against using public transport in the city, for fear of terror attacks; Austria advises against public transportation throughout the country.
"Demonstrations in religious neighborhoods occur regularly and sometimes result in clashes between residents and the local police," Canada warns. "Traffic may also be disrupted ... Assaults on visitors who are traveling in cars or immodestly dressed have occurred in Jerusalem's Old City and ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods on Sabbath."
Australia warns that public displays of affection at religious sites or in Haredi neighborhoods can spark anger. The British version is blunter: "If you choose to enter ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods, be aware that local residents can react strongly to anyone (particularly women ) whom they deem to be dressed in an inappropriate manner. For women this would include wearing trousers. On Shabbat (from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday ) these neighborhoods are blocked off and you should not attempt to drive into them. If you do, local residents may stone your car."
Most countries note that Israel's crime rate isn't high, but add several caveats: Canada says car theft is high; Britain warns of the theft of passports, credit cards and valuables; the U.S. warns of purse-snatching and car break-ins.
Japan offers a nonstandard list of places to avoid. It is headed by Tel Aviv's Hatikva neighborhood, where it claims drugs and dubious characters abound. At night, it adds the city's Neve Sha'anan neighborhood to the list, citing foreign workers, sex shops and high crime. And don't walk alone at night on Allenby and Ben Yehuda streets, or in Old Jaffa, it warns.
Japan's advisory includes a long list of places where Japanese tourists have had their valuables stolen, and claims that serious crime is also on the rise: Israel's per capita crime rate is 2.1 times Japan's for murder, 6.7 times Japan's for theft and 7.2 times Japan's for sexual offenses, it says.
Canada, Japan and Austria even warn their citizens not to drink tap water in Israel; Austria urges caution when eating fruits and vegetables as well. And France warns against visiting farms and open-air markets - while reminding travelers to "wash their hands frequently" to avoid germs.
30 aug 2012
Israel's Justice Minister scraps plan that would have limited court access for Palestinians and migrants
Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman
Justice Ministry approved new rule which would allow one to go to court even without a valid Israeli ID or passport.
Responding to a public outcry, the Justice Ministry has threw out an amendment that was set to take effect in September and would have barred many Palestinians and migrants from appearing in court. The new rules will preserve their right to access to the legal system.
The amendment to the Civil Law Procedure Regulations, first reported by Haaretz earlier this month, stated that in order to file a legal proceeding, the litigant would have to include either his identity card number or his passport number on the paperwork. That would have barred most Palestinians and migrants from going to court, since they lack both Israeli ID cards and, in many cases, passports.
The new rules, which were signed by Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman, on Thursday, will allow Palestinians to use the ID number issued by the Palestinian population registry.
In addition, they allow someone who has neither an ID number nor a passport to instead attach a note to his paperwork explaining why he lacks these documents. As long as a document explaining the reasons is attached, the court secretariat will be obliged to accept the paperwork and open the proceeding.
If a litigant feels the secretariat has unjustly refused to accept his paperwork, he will have the right to appeal to either the court registrar or a judge.
The Justice Ministry said the revisions were meant "to clarify that the regulation does not alter, and cannot undermine, the basic right of any person to go to court. For according to the fundamental principles of our [legal] system, regulations do not have the power to undermine a basic right."
Since doubts about this had been raised, the ministry decided "to remove any doubts" by making these revisions.
Attorney Oded Feller of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, who had written to Neeman to protest the original regulations, said he was pleased with the change. "We're glad the Justice Ministry has recognized its obligation to ensure everyone have the right to access the courts, not merely citizens or residents, but also Palestinians, refugees, migrant workers and stateless people," he said.
Justice Ministry approved new rule which would allow one to go to court even without a valid Israeli ID or passport.
Responding to a public outcry, the Justice Ministry has threw out an amendment that was set to take effect in September and would have barred many Palestinians and migrants from appearing in court. The new rules will preserve their right to access to the legal system.
The amendment to the Civil Law Procedure Regulations, first reported by Haaretz earlier this month, stated that in order to file a legal proceeding, the litigant would have to include either his identity card number or his passport number on the paperwork. That would have barred most Palestinians and migrants from going to court, since they lack both Israeli ID cards and, in many cases, passports.
The new rules, which were signed by Justice Minister Yaakov Neeman, on Thursday, will allow Palestinians to use the ID number issued by the Palestinian population registry.
In addition, they allow someone who has neither an ID number nor a passport to instead attach a note to his paperwork explaining why he lacks these documents. As long as a document explaining the reasons is attached, the court secretariat will be obliged to accept the paperwork and open the proceeding.
If a litigant feels the secretariat has unjustly refused to accept his paperwork, he will have the right to appeal to either the court registrar or a judge.
The Justice Ministry said the revisions were meant "to clarify that the regulation does not alter, and cannot undermine, the basic right of any person to go to court. For according to the fundamental principles of our [legal] system, regulations do not have the power to undermine a basic right."
Since doubts about this had been raised, the ministry decided "to remove any doubts" by making these revisions.
Attorney Oded Feller of the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, who had written to Neeman to protest the original regulations, said he was pleased with the change. "We're glad the Justice Ministry has recognized its obligation to ensure everyone have the right to access the courts, not merely citizens or residents, but also Palestinians, refugees, migrant workers and stateless people," he said.
Report: Israel orders Sudanese community deported
Israel's interior minister on Wednesday announced that police will round-up and deport migrants from Sudan from Oct. 15 unless they leave voluntarily, Israeli media reported.
Refugee rights groups say Eli Yishai's order against the north Sudanese and Darfuri community breaches the UN Refugee Convention, Israeli daily Haaretz said.
Because Sudan is classified by Israel as an enemy state, deportation of asylum seekers there is illegal, the report noted.
Yishai also said he will seek legal approval to jail and deport asylum-seekers from Eritrea, it added.
In June, his ministry deported Israel's South Sudanese and Ivorian communities. Those who did not leave voluntarily were detained by immigration police, after Israel authorized the detention of migrants without trial for up to three years in early 2012.
People from war-ravaged Eritrea and Sudan make up the majority of African migrants in Israel, some 50,000 people.
Immigration to Israel -- mostly of Africans through its relatively porous border with Egypt -- is a controversial issue in a country which seeks to maintain a Jewish majority.
Some Israelis warn of a gathering demographic and economic crisis while others say a country born after the Holocaust has a special responsibility to offer foreigners sanctuary.
Earlier this year, African migrants were subject to a surge in street violence, particularly in south Tel Aviv where many from Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan live.
Refugee rights groups say Eli Yishai's order against the north Sudanese and Darfuri community breaches the UN Refugee Convention, Israeli daily Haaretz said.
Because Sudan is classified by Israel as an enemy state, deportation of asylum seekers there is illegal, the report noted.
Yishai also said he will seek legal approval to jail and deport asylum-seekers from Eritrea, it added.
In June, his ministry deported Israel's South Sudanese and Ivorian communities. Those who did not leave voluntarily were detained by immigration police, after Israel authorized the detention of migrants without trial for up to three years in early 2012.
People from war-ravaged Eritrea and Sudan make up the majority of African migrants in Israel, some 50,000 people.
Immigration to Israel -- mostly of Africans through its relatively porous border with Egypt -- is a controversial issue in a country which seeks to maintain a Jewish majority.
Some Israelis warn of a gathering demographic and economic crisis while others say a country born after the Holocaust has a special responsibility to offer foreigners sanctuary.
Earlier this year, African migrants were subject to a surge in street violence, particularly in south Tel Aviv where many from Eritrea, Sudan and South Sudan live.
28 aug 2012
Eli Yishai: Migrants convert synagogues into toilets
Interior Minister says migrants use south Tel Aviv synagogues as bars, bathrooms; Tel Aviv Municipality: Synagogues not our responsibility.
After declaring war on migrants from Eritrea and north Sudan and calling them a" threat just as severe as (the) Iranian nuclear threat,' Interior Minister Eli Yishai takes the battle to a new arena: The synagogues in south Tel Aviv, which suffer from continuing neglect and vandalism of illegal migrants who reside in the area.
In a letter addressed to Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai, Yishai accused the illegal migrants of turning the synagogues into toilets and called upon Huldai to preserve the synagogues in light of "the many complaints my office receives about the state of these synagogues."
In the letter Yishai described "the stench, the disrepair, synagogues converted into pubs, bars and sometimes even toilets by the migrants and illegal aliens while local Jewish worshippers are banished. It's almost unheard of to find enough people to form a minyan for prayer in the area.
"I'm certain that had similar news been broadcast about neglect in synagogues abroad, the world and surely Israel would be shocked and act immediately to fix the situation," he added.
"As Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yaffo who is entrusted with safeguarding the synagogues within its municipal area including south Tel Aviv, I ask you to act to preserve them as small temples and give them the respect that they and we deserve," Yishai wrote.
Tel Aviv City Council member Shlomo Maslawi, who is also head of the South Tel Aviv Residents' Committee, has also complained about this situation. "Our synagogues which symbolize the traditional, Jewish nature of these neighborhoods have hit rock bottom," he said.
"It's a harsh symbol of the loss of Jewish identity in these neighborhoods. The religious and traditional people leave the area, the spirit of Jewish holidays is diminishing and there are no synagogues left… It makes no sense that decision makers are enabling the annihilation of Jewish culture while neglecting the synagogues and the locals."
The Tel Aviv Municipality said that Yishai's plea has been forwarded to the Religious Council and that "the issue of synagogues and their maintenance is not under the city's jurisdiction but under the responsibility and budget of the Ministry of Religious Affairs which is entrusted with the matter."
After declaring war on migrants from Eritrea and north Sudan and calling them a" threat just as severe as (the) Iranian nuclear threat,' Interior Minister Eli Yishai takes the battle to a new arena: The synagogues in south Tel Aviv, which suffer from continuing neglect and vandalism of illegal migrants who reside in the area.
In a letter addressed to Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai, Yishai accused the illegal migrants of turning the synagogues into toilets and called upon Huldai to preserve the synagogues in light of "the many complaints my office receives about the state of these synagogues."
In the letter Yishai described "the stench, the disrepair, synagogues converted into pubs, bars and sometimes even toilets by the migrants and illegal aliens while local Jewish worshippers are banished. It's almost unheard of to find enough people to form a minyan for prayer in the area.
"I'm certain that had similar news been broadcast about neglect in synagogues abroad, the world and surely Israel would be shocked and act immediately to fix the situation," he added.
"As Mayor of Tel Aviv-Yaffo who is entrusted with safeguarding the synagogues within its municipal area including south Tel Aviv, I ask you to act to preserve them as small temples and give them the respect that they and we deserve," Yishai wrote.
Tel Aviv City Council member Shlomo Maslawi, who is also head of the South Tel Aviv Residents' Committee, has also complained about this situation. "Our synagogues which symbolize the traditional, Jewish nature of these neighborhoods have hit rock bottom," he said.
"It's a harsh symbol of the loss of Jewish identity in these neighborhoods. The religious and traditional people leave the area, the spirit of Jewish holidays is diminishing and there are no synagogues left… It makes no sense that decision makers are enabling the annihilation of Jewish culture while neglecting the synagogues and the locals."
The Tel Aviv Municipality said that Yishai's plea has been forwarded to the Religious Council and that "the issue of synagogues and their maintenance is not under the city's jurisdiction but under the responsibility and budget of the Ministry of Religious Affairs which is entrusted with the matter."
27 aug 2012
Israeli muppet used to warn of war with Iran
An Israeli muppet is being used on the cover of a new, emergency pamphlet being distributed nationwide to give grim warnings in a country preparing for possible war with Iran.
Israelis, the military-issued booklet says, would have only between 30 seconds and three minutes to find cover and hunker down between the time air raid sirens sound and rockets slam into their area.
The 15-page pamphlet has started to appear in mailboxes across the country, and instructs Israelis how to prepare a safe room or shelter for emergency situations.
On the cover a smiling Moishe Oofnik, the Israeli muppet version of Oscar the Grouch – the resident pessimist of the US children's show Sesame Street – sticks out of the trash can he calls home.
He strikes a more pensive pose inside the booklet, resting his head on his hand under instructions on what to do when sirens wail.
Stepped-up rhetoric by Israeli officials in recent weeks has suggested Israel might soon attack an Iranian nuclear programme it sees as an existential threat, raising international concern about regional conflict.
Israeli ministers have said up to 500 civilians could die in any war following a strike on Iran.
An Israeli military source said on Monday the emergency pamphlet was part of a regular, public awareness campaign and noted it also included advice on how to act in the event of an earthquake.
"There are always innovations the public needs to know about, it doesn't mean anything is going to happen today, tomorrow or the next day," the source said.
Iran denies it is seeking atomic weapons and has promised to retaliate strongly if it is attacked. Israel fears that Iran's Hizbollah guerrilla allies in Lebanon and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip could also launch rocket strikes.
Israel stepped up the distribution of gas masks and other protective gear to the public some weeks ago, but the mailing of what-to-do information suggested an escalation in preparation for possible conflict.
The pamphlet urges Israelis to have a "family talk" about getting ready for any national emergency.
"You should find the proper time to have the conversation – not during mealtime or when you are watching television. It should not be held after a family argument or when you are agitated about some other pressing matter," it advises.
Muppet urges Israelis to prepare for possible emergency
By Jeffrey Heller
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- The Israeli muppet on the cover of a new emergency pamphlet being distributed nationwide puts a happy face on some grim warnings in a country preparing for possible war with Iran.
Israelis, the military-issued booklet says, would have only between 30 seconds and three minutes to find cover and hunker down between the time air raid sirens sound and rockets slam into their area.
The 15-page pamphlet has started to appear in mailboxes across the country, and instructs Israelis how to prepare a safe room or shelter for emergency situations.
On the cover a smiling Moishe Oofnik, the Israeli muppet version of Oscar the Grouch -- the resident pessimist of the US children's show Sesame Street -- sticks out of the trash can he calls home.
He strikes a more pensive pose inside the booklet, resting his head on his hand under instructions on what to do when sirens wail.
Stepped-up rhetoric by Israeli officials in recent weeks has suggested Israel might soon attack an Iranian nuclear program its sees as an existential threat, raising international concern about regional conflict.
Israeli ministers have said up to 500 civilians could die in any war following a strike on Iran.
An Israeli military source said on Monday the emergency pamphlet was part of a regular, public awareness campaign and noted it also included advice on how to act in the event of an earthquake.
"There are always innovations the public needs to know about, it doesn't mean anything is going to happen today, tomorrow or the next day," the source said.
Iran denies it is seeking atomic weapons and has promised to retaliate strongly if it is attacked. Israel fears that Iran's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip could also launch rocket strikes.
Israel stepped up the distribution of gas masks and other protective gear to the public some weeks ago, but the mailing of what-to-do information suggested an escalation in preparation for possible conflict.
The pamphlet urges Israelis to have a "family talk" about getting ready for any national emergency.
"You should find the proper time to have the conversation -- not during mealtime or when you are watching television. It should not be held after a family argument or when you are agitated about some other pressing matter," it advises.
Israelis, the military-issued booklet says, would have only between 30 seconds and three minutes to find cover and hunker down between the time air raid sirens sound and rockets slam into their area.
The 15-page pamphlet has started to appear in mailboxes across the country, and instructs Israelis how to prepare a safe room or shelter for emergency situations.
On the cover a smiling Moishe Oofnik, the Israeli muppet version of Oscar the Grouch – the resident pessimist of the US children's show Sesame Street – sticks out of the trash can he calls home.
He strikes a more pensive pose inside the booklet, resting his head on his hand under instructions on what to do when sirens wail.
Stepped-up rhetoric by Israeli officials in recent weeks has suggested Israel might soon attack an Iranian nuclear programme it sees as an existential threat, raising international concern about regional conflict.
Israeli ministers have said up to 500 civilians could die in any war following a strike on Iran.
An Israeli military source said on Monday the emergency pamphlet was part of a regular, public awareness campaign and noted it also included advice on how to act in the event of an earthquake.
"There are always innovations the public needs to know about, it doesn't mean anything is going to happen today, tomorrow or the next day," the source said.
Iran denies it is seeking atomic weapons and has promised to retaliate strongly if it is attacked. Israel fears that Iran's Hizbollah guerrilla allies in Lebanon and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip could also launch rocket strikes.
Israel stepped up the distribution of gas masks and other protective gear to the public some weeks ago, but the mailing of what-to-do information suggested an escalation in preparation for possible conflict.
The pamphlet urges Israelis to have a "family talk" about getting ready for any national emergency.
"You should find the proper time to have the conversation – not during mealtime or when you are watching television. It should not be held after a family argument or when you are agitated about some other pressing matter," it advises.
Muppet urges Israelis to prepare for possible emergency
By Jeffrey Heller
JERUSALEM (Reuters) -- The Israeli muppet on the cover of a new emergency pamphlet being distributed nationwide puts a happy face on some grim warnings in a country preparing for possible war with Iran.
Israelis, the military-issued booklet says, would have only between 30 seconds and three minutes to find cover and hunker down between the time air raid sirens sound and rockets slam into their area.
The 15-page pamphlet has started to appear in mailboxes across the country, and instructs Israelis how to prepare a safe room or shelter for emergency situations.
On the cover a smiling Moishe Oofnik, the Israeli muppet version of Oscar the Grouch -- the resident pessimist of the US children's show Sesame Street -- sticks out of the trash can he calls home.
He strikes a more pensive pose inside the booklet, resting his head on his hand under instructions on what to do when sirens wail.
Stepped-up rhetoric by Israeli officials in recent weeks has suggested Israel might soon attack an Iranian nuclear program its sees as an existential threat, raising international concern about regional conflict.
Israeli ministers have said up to 500 civilians could die in any war following a strike on Iran.
An Israeli military source said on Monday the emergency pamphlet was part of a regular, public awareness campaign and noted it also included advice on how to act in the event of an earthquake.
"There are always innovations the public needs to know about, it doesn't mean anything is going to happen today, tomorrow or the next day," the source said.
Iran denies it is seeking atomic weapons and has promised to retaliate strongly if it is attacked. Israel fears that Iran's Hezbollah allies in Lebanon and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip could also launch rocket strikes.
Israel stepped up the distribution of gas masks and other protective gear to the public some weeks ago, but the mailing of what-to-do information suggested an escalation in preparation for possible conflict.
The pamphlet urges Israelis to have a "family talk" about getting ready for any national emergency.
"You should find the proper time to have the conversation -- not during mealtime or when you are watching television. It should not be held after a family argument or when you are agitated about some other pressing matter," it advises.
24 aug 2012
Gillespie: The Israeli crimes are the most hideous crimes against humanity
The famous British singer Bobby Gillespie condemned the Israeli occupation's crimes and massacres against the Palestinian people since the creation of Israel.
In an interview with British journalists, Bobby Gillespie, the Scottish alternative rock band Primal Scream's founder, stated that "what is happening in Palestine is the most heinous crimes recorded in human history," stressing to the need to address these crimes.
He stressed all his band members’ support to Palestinian resistance and struggle movement.
Gillespie considered the Israeli practices against Palestinians as "genocide" that lasted for more than sixty years, pointing out that the situation has worsened in the last ten years.
He expressed his extreme dismay towards the American support for the Israeli practices that kill innocent Palestinians.
Gillespie revealed his intention to organize a concert in support of the children in Gaza Strip.
Also See
In an interview with British journalists, Bobby Gillespie, the Scottish alternative rock band Primal Scream's founder, stated that "what is happening in Palestine is the most heinous crimes recorded in human history," stressing to the need to address these crimes.
He stressed all his band members’ support to Palestinian resistance and struggle movement.
Gillespie considered the Israeli practices against Palestinians as "genocide" that lasted for more than sixty years, pointing out that the situation has worsened in the last ten years.
He expressed his extreme dismay towards the American support for the Israeli practices that kill innocent Palestinians.
Gillespie revealed his intention to organize a concert in support of the children in Gaza Strip.
Also See
Clinton urges Egypt, Israel to talk on Sinai
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton urged Egypt's foreign minister to keep lines of communication open with Israel amid tensions over an Egyptian push against militants in the neighboring Sinai desert, the State Department said Thursday.
Clinton spoke with Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr on Wednesday and stressed the importance of acting transparently as Cairo deploys aircraft and tanks in Sinai, for the first time since a 1973 war with Israel, to pursue Islamist militants blamed for killing 16 border guards in an Aug. 5 attack.
"This call was in keeping with a series of contacts we've had in recent days with both Egyptians and Israelis encouraging both sides to keep the lines of communication open," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
Israeli officials have expressed concern over the Egyptian deployment, saying the vehicles' entry into the Sinai was not coordinated and was in violation of a 1979 peace treaty.
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has not lodged a formal protest, preferring to try and resolve the issue in quiet contacts including US mediation to avoid worsening ties with Cairo, already strained since Hosni Mubarak was toppled by a popular revolt last year.
Nuland said the Sinai security situation should be addressed "in a way that first and foremost strengthens Egypt's security but also has a positive impact on the security of neighbors and the region as a whole."
Nuland declined to say whether the United States believed Egypt had been insufficiently transparent or failed to keep Israel informed.
"Our view is that effective mechanisms do exist and that they just need to continue to be used," she said.
The US-brokered 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel sets strict limits on military deployment in the Sinai, which is designated as a demilitarized buffer zone.
But Israeli media have speculated that coordination with Egypt may suffer after a shakeup this month of Egypt's military, including Islamist President Mohammed Mursi's dismissals of officials Israel had long been in contact with.
Clinton spoke with Foreign Minister Mohamed Kamel Amr on Wednesday and stressed the importance of acting transparently as Cairo deploys aircraft and tanks in Sinai, for the first time since a 1973 war with Israel, to pursue Islamist militants blamed for killing 16 border guards in an Aug. 5 attack.
"This call was in keeping with a series of contacts we've had in recent days with both Egyptians and Israelis encouraging both sides to keep the lines of communication open," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said.
Israeli officials have expressed concern over the Egyptian deployment, saying the vehicles' entry into the Sinai was not coordinated and was in violation of a 1979 peace treaty.
But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has not lodged a formal protest, preferring to try and resolve the issue in quiet contacts including US mediation to avoid worsening ties with Cairo, already strained since Hosni Mubarak was toppled by a popular revolt last year.
Nuland said the Sinai security situation should be addressed "in a way that first and foremost strengthens Egypt's security but also has a positive impact on the security of neighbors and the region as a whole."
Nuland declined to say whether the United States believed Egypt had been insufficiently transparent or failed to keep Israel informed.
"Our view is that effective mechanisms do exist and that they just need to continue to be used," she said.
The US-brokered 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel sets strict limits on military deployment in the Sinai, which is designated as a demilitarized buffer zone.
But Israeli media have speculated that coordination with Egypt may suffer after a shakeup this month of Egypt's military, including Islamist President Mohammed Mursi's dismissals of officials Israel had long been in contact with.
23 aug 2012
Israeli poll reveals sharp rise in racism against Arabs and Africans
An Israeli opinion poll unveiled a sharp rise in the prevalence of racism and extremism among Jews towards the Arab natives and African immigrants.
The poll, which was conducted by Tel Aviv university on the occasion of the new educational year, stated that more than half of the Jewish students at the secondary level and graduates from high schools refuse to live with or near Arabs.
According to Haaretz newspaper which published the survey results on Wednesday, 55 percent of the high school students polled refuses to live with or near Arabs, while 59 percent of them saw that Israel has to expel all Jewish immigrants from Africa.
The poll also revealed that a large percentage of young Jews, about 60 percent, do not want to serve in the army or fight for Israel and 39 percent of them believed in the need for recruiting religious Jews and Arabs to serve in the army.
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The poll, which was conducted by Tel Aviv university on the occasion of the new educational year, stated that more than half of the Jewish students at the secondary level and graduates from high schools refuse to live with or near Arabs.
According to Haaretz newspaper which published the survey results on Wednesday, 55 percent of the high school students polled refuses to live with or near Arabs, while 59 percent of them saw that Israel has to expel all Jewish immigrants from Africa.
The poll also revealed that a large percentage of young Jews, about 60 percent, do not want to serve in the army or fight for Israel and 39 percent of them believed in the need for recruiting religious Jews and Arabs to serve in the army.
Also See
Putting modern Zionism on trial in Israel
Theodor Herzl in Basel. Would the father of modern Zionism be satisfied with what’s become of Israel?
By Rabbi Gideon D. Sylvester
Instead of calling foul against the journalists and human rights groups who claim to expose injustices, we should engage with them, showing that we genuinely care about our moral integrity.
Imagine waking up to discover that your parents are on trial for serious crimes. For years, they have shielded you from the facts, but now there is no mistaking the situation. Close friends and family remain as supportive as ever, but walking down the street, you notice your neighbors crossing the road and averting their eyes.
"Zionism," on whose knees I was raised, has, in some circles, become a "boo word". It is associated with every nasty accusation made against the State of Israel and its relations with Palestinians, Israeli Arabs, Bedouins and refugees. Even some of our Jewish friends now avoid the term.
This is not the way it was meant to be. The father of modern Zionism, Theodor Herzl dedicated his efforts to providing a safe haven from anti-Semitism, but he was sensitive to the injustices facing other peoples. He wrote about the suffering of black slaves and declared that once a Jewish state was established, his next project would be to assist African peoples achieve their freedom.
Herzl did not live to fulfill all his dreams, and his successors found the work of building and safeguarding the Jewish State to be formidable, leaving them little time for other concerns. But Herzl's liberal sentiments remained at the heart of the project. Even Zionism's most hawkish leaders believed that the nascent Jewish state must be just and fair to all its inhabitants. On the day that the state was declared, Menachem Begin declared:
"There must be no man within our country – be he citizen or foreigner compelled to go hungry, to want for a roof over his head, or to lack elementary education, ‘Remember ye were strangers in the land of Egypt’ – this supreme rule must continually light our way in relations with the strangers within our gates "Righteousness, Righteousness shalt thou pursue!, Righteousness must be guiding principle in our relations amongst ourselves."
His first act on entering the prime minister's office, 29 years later, was to order Israeli refuge for the Vietnamese boat people. The same prime minister made peace with our archenemy, Egypt, but only after ensuring that none of the arrangements led to the transgression of Shabbat. This is the Zionism at its best: strong, compassionate and peace-loving; proudly sharing sacred Jewish values with the rest of the world.
But now we stand in the dock, facing calls for divestment, boycotts and the arrest of Israeli leaders who travel abroad. Even our friends no longer feel comfortable associating with us.
My early heroes were the Zionist pioneers who drained malarial swamps. That task is complete. Now, our challenge is to defend the good name of Zionism and the State of Israel, not through outdated historical arguments, or flimsy Facebook propaganda, but by ensuring that we live up to our highest values.
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch wrote in his commentary on the Torah: ”We are warned to see to it that when we have a state of our own, we do not make the rights of any foreigner in our midst dependent upon anything other than the pure human quality inherent in every person. As soon as we abridge this basic human right, we open the door to all the abominations of tyranny and abuse that were practiced in the land of Egypt."
Instead of calling foul against the journalists and human rights groups who claim to expose injustices here, we should engage with them, showing that we genuinely care about our moral integrity. We have so much to be proud of, let's not be afraid of transparency; instead we should take the tours offered by Shovrim Shtika, ACRI, Encounter and Rabbis for Human Rights to see what they are talking about. If the accusations are incorrect, we will refute them; if they are slanderous, we should sue them. Equally, if any of what they claim turns out to be true, we must sit up, take notice and repair the harm. That is the only way we will ensure the flourishing of a democratic Jewish State that is admired by all and a source of pride for every Jew.
Rabbi Gideon Sylvester is the British United Synagogue's rabbi in Israel and director of the Beit Midrash for Human Rights at the Hillel House of Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Also See
By Rabbi Gideon D. Sylvester
Instead of calling foul against the journalists and human rights groups who claim to expose injustices, we should engage with them, showing that we genuinely care about our moral integrity.
Imagine waking up to discover that your parents are on trial for serious crimes. For years, they have shielded you from the facts, but now there is no mistaking the situation. Close friends and family remain as supportive as ever, but walking down the street, you notice your neighbors crossing the road and averting their eyes.
"Zionism," on whose knees I was raised, has, in some circles, become a "boo word". It is associated with every nasty accusation made against the State of Israel and its relations with Palestinians, Israeli Arabs, Bedouins and refugees. Even some of our Jewish friends now avoid the term.
This is not the way it was meant to be. The father of modern Zionism, Theodor Herzl dedicated his efforts to providing a safe haven from anti-Semitism, but he was sensitive to the injustices facing other peoples. He wrote about the suffering of black slaves and declared that once a Jewish state was established, his next project would be to assist African peoples achieve their freedom.
Herzl did not live to fulfill all his dreams, and his successors found the work of building and safeguarding the Jewish State to be formidable, leaving them little time for other concerns. But Herzl's liberal sentiments remained at the heart of the project. Even Zionism's most hawkish leaders believed that the nascent Jewish state must be just and fair to all its inhabitants. On the day that the state was declared, Menachem Begin declared:
"There must be no man within our country – be he citizen or foreigner compelled to go hungry, to want for a roof over his head, or to lack elementary education, ‘Remember ye were strangers in the land of Egypt’ – this supreme rule must continually light our way in relations with the strangers within our gates "Righteousness, Righteousness shalt thou pursue!, Righteousness must be guiding principle in our relations amongst ourselves."
His first act on entering the prime minister's office, 29 years later, was to order Israeli refuge for the Vietnamese boat people. The same prime minister made peace with our archenemy, Egypt, but only after ensuring that none of the arrangements led to the transgression of Shabbat. This is the Zionism at its best: strong, compassionate and peace-loving; proudly sharing sacred Jewish values with the rest of the world.
But now we stand in the dock, facing calls for divestment, boycotts and the arrest of Israeli leaders who travel abroad. Even our friends no longer feel comfortable associating with us.
My early heroes were the Zionist pioneers who drained malarial swamps. That task is complete. Now, our challenge is to defend the good name of Zionism and the State of Israel, not through outdated historical arguments, or flimsy Facebook propaganda, but by ensuring that we live up to our highest values.
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch wrote in his commentary on the Torah: ”We are warned to see to it that when we have a state of our own, we do not make the rights of any foreigner in our midst dependent upon anything other than the pure human quality inherent in every person. As soon as we abridge this basic human right, we open the door to all the abominations of tyranny and abuse that were practiced in the land of Egypt."
Instead of calling foul against the journalists and human rights groups who claim to expose injustices here, we should engage with them, showing that we genuinely care about our moral integrity. We have so much to be proud of, let's not be afraid of transparency; instead we should take the tours offered by Shovrim Shtika, ACRI, Encounter and Rabbis for Human Rights to see what they are talking about. If the accusations are incorrect, we will refute them; if they are slanderous, we should sue them. Equally, if any of what they claim turns out to be true, we must sit up, take notice and repair the harm. That is the only way we will ensure the flourishing of a democratic Jewish State that is admired by all and a source of pride for every Jew.
Rabbi Gideon Sylvester is the British United Synagogue's rabbi in Israel and director of the Beit Midrash for Human Rights at the Hillel House of Hebrew University in Jerusalem.
Also See
22 aug 2012
Palestinian and Israeli Children Grow More Violent, New Study Shows
A new study conducted jointly by a consortium of Palestinian, Israeli and American researchers from Michigan and Rutgers universities, reveals that children in the region become more violent amid the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The researchers found that children's exposure to ethnic-political violence correlates with their own violent behavior at home, school and in local communities. It also negatively affects their psychological health.
"The most important finding is that simple exposure to violence results in very substantial increases in both the risk of behaving aggressively against your peers in the in-group, and a significant increase in the risk for developing PTS symptoms—anxiety, depression, and so on," -- Rowell Huesmann, director of the Research Center on Group Dynamics at the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan said in a comment for the institute's website.
"We expected we'd find some effects, but they're really quite substantial. We were particularly surprised by how much war violence leads to increased aggression by youth directed at their own peers." – Huesmann added.
Young children (aged 8) are particularly prone to become more aggressive as a result of greater exposure to violence.
The researchers agreed that the best solution to tackle the problem would be to find a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. However, as political realities currently preclude the possibility of ending the conflict, the researchers argue that it is critical for the leaders to understand at least the negative impact that wars and conflicts have on young people.
"Children are at a critical period where their personalities are being molded," Huesmann said. "We're talking about how their beliefs, their social cognitions, their emotional reactions are changed. And once these cognitions become crystallized, it's very difficult to dissolve them."
Funded by the US Institutes of Health, the study used a sample of 450 Israeli Arab Children, 600 Palestinian children (64% from the West Bank and 36% from the Gaza Strip), aged 8, 11 and 14.
Between the years 2007 and 2010, the children were interviewed at three different times. Questions were also asked to their parents.
10% of Palestinian children, 7% of Israeli Jewish children and 3% of Israeli Arab children said that they had a relative killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As many as 55% of Palestinian children experienced death of a friend or acquaintance as a result of the conflict, the data revealed. Among Israeli Jews the figure ran at 13%, among Israeli Arab children – 3%.
The study showed that there was a significant spike in school violence – from 6.4% in 2007 to 11.7% in 2010.
It was also revealed that domestic violence in Palestinian and Israeli households increased over the years. In 2007 there were 51.8% of violence reported, as compared to 58.7% in 2010.
The researchers found that children's exposure to ethnic-political violence correlates with their own violent behavior at home, school and in local communities. It also negatively affects their psychological health.
"The most important finding is that simple exposure to violence results in very substantial increases in both the risk of behaving aggressively against your peers in the in-group, and a significant increase in the risk for developing PTS symptoms—anxiety, depression, and so on," -- Rowell Huesmann, director of the Research Center on Group Dynamics at the Institute for Social Research (ISR) at the University of Michigan said in a comment for the institute's website.
"We expected we'd find some effects, but they're really quite substantial. We were particularly surprised by how much war violence leads to increased aggression by youth directed at their own peers." – Huesmann added.
Young children (aged 8) are particularly prone to become more aggressive as a result of greater exposure to violence.
The researchers agreed that the best solution to tackle the problem would be to find a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. However, as political realities currently preclude the possibility of ending the conflict, the researchers argue that it is critical for the leaders to understand at least the negative impact that wars and conflicts have on young people.
"Children are at a critical period where their personalities are being molded," Huesmann said. "We're talking about how their beliefs, their social cognitions, their emotional reactions are changed. And once these cognitions become crystallized, it's very difficult to dissolve them."
Funded by the US Institutes of Health, the study used a sample of 450 Israeli Arab Children, 600 Palestinian children (64% from the West Bank and 36% from the Gaza Strip), aged 8, 11 and 14.
Between the years 2007 and 2010, the children were interviewed at three different times. Questions were also asked to their parents.
10% of Palestinian children, 7% of Israeli Jewish children and 3% of Israeli Arab children said that they had a relative killed in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
As many as 55% of Palestinian children experienced death of a friend or acquaintance as a result of the conflict, the data revealed. Among Israeli Jews the figure ran at 13%, among Israeli Arab children – 3%.
The study showed that there was a significant spike in school violence – from 6.4% in 2007 to 11.7% in 2010.
It was also revealed that domestic violence in Palestinian and Israeli households increased over the years. In 2007 there were 51.8% of violence reported, as compared to 58.7% in 2010.
In wake of lynch, Arabs fear the streets
'Violence on a daily basis.' Rabia Safir, Haifa
Arab Israelis say they try to avoid walking around at night for fear they would be attacked by racists.
"What happened in Jerusalem could happen here in Jaffa; there are enough racist Jews here," Ali Mahamid, 22, told Ynet. "I'm afraid to walk down the street alone, especially in certain neighborhoods, because someone could attack me for no reason."
An 18-year-old Arab man was the target of a violent attack on Friday in Zion Square in the capital. According to initial details, a female teen told her friends that she was raped by an Arab; her friends reacted by beating up an Arab passerby, causing serious injuries that put the victim in a coma. So far seven Jewish teens have been arrested in connection with the case.
According to Arab Israelis, the incident was not an isolated one.
"What happened in Jerusalem was covered by the media, but there are incidents that happen on a daily basis, in areas with bars and cafes, against Arab youths who just want to go out and have fun," said Rabia Sagir, a Haifa resident who is studying at Safed College. "These incidents are a consequence of the incitement voiced by extremist rabbis and racist public officials.
Arab Israelis say they try to avoid walking around at night for fear they would be attacked by racists.
"What happened in Jerusalem could happen here in Jaffa; there are enough racist Jews here," Ali Mahamid, 22, told Ynet. "I'm afraid to walk down the street alone, especially in certain neighborhoods, because someone could attack me for no reason."
An 18-year-old Arab man was the target of a violent attack on Friday in Zion Square in the capital. According to initial details, a female teen told her friends that she was raped by an Arab; her friends reacted by beating up an Arab passerby, causing serious injuries that put the victim in a coma. So far seven Jewish teens have been arrested in connection with the case.
According to Arab Israelis, the incident was not an isolated one.
"What happened in Jerusalem was covered by the media, but there are incidents that happen on a daily basis, in areas with bars and cafes, against Arab youths who just want to go out and have fun," said Rabia Sagir, a Haifa resident who is studying at Safed College. "These incidents are a consequence of the incitement voiced by extremist rabbis and racist public officials.
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Shaheen Nasser, 26, another Haifa resident, reiterated that Arabs are often discriminated against for racist reasons; Arabs undergo harsher security checks, he said, and are often refused entry to clubs and bars.
"Sometimes it's scary to walk down the street, but what's really terrifying is the institutionalized racism," he said. "The education system should teach tolerance and multiculturalism, but unfortunately attempts (to instate such programs) by human rights groups have failed." In Acre, however, Arabs appear to feel quite safe while Jews are afraid to enter the Old City after dark. |
"There is violence here but only between criminals, not for nationalistic reasons," said Ahmad Hamdan, 64, a resident of the northern city.
"We don't have any problems between Arabs and Jews here," Hamdan's neighbor, Majid Aish, added. "Extremists are the ones causing all the trouble."
Meanwhile, a Jewish youth strolling down the street with his girlfriend said he was anxious to step out at night.
"I try to avoid entering the Old City in the evenings," said the resident, who wished only to be identified as Omri. "Every time I enter the city I feel like I’m taking a chance. I feel like they're staring at me and talking about me."
"I would have been happy if (Arabs) weren't here," the girlfriend added.
"We don't have any problems between Arabs and Jews here," Hamdan's neighbor, Majid Aish, added. "Extremists are the ones causing all the trouble."
Meanwhile, a Jewish youth strolling down the street with his girlfriend said he was anxious to step out at night.
"I try to avoid entering the Old City in the evenings," said the resident, who wished only to be identified as Omri. "Every time I enter the city I feel like I’m taking a chance. I feel like they're staring at me and talking about me."
"I would have been happy if (Arabs) weren't here," the girlfriend added.
