About so called settlements

This time I will start untipically by link to the article in American Thinker that I completly agree with and than add few of my own reflections
Are the settlements impediment for peace???

The author of this article clearly points that settlements are definitely the excuse for anti-Israeli forces rather than real obstacle to anything. And to her/ his opinion I would like to add a handful of my own reflections upon the topic:

• in Oslo Agreement Palestinian Authority agreed upon existing settlements - absolute mojority of building took place since in existing settlements (e.g. people are having new babies or their grown up children start their own famielies). There is nothing illegal in it,
• the settlements take around 1.6% of PA territory of which over 80% is in sphere C according to Oslo Agreements (agreed upon, let me remind, by BOTH sides)
• 20% Israeli citizens are Arabs with full citizen rights (and rightly so of course), they are represented in Knesset, they are judges like e.g. the one who presided over Supreme Court when it sentenced former Israeli president Katsav. By contrast PA authorities - even those "moderate" in Judea and Samaria - openly declare that once the Palestinian state is created it has to be "free of Jews". I know from history - and hope you do too - what does "Judenrein" mean and when and where was it used. And any human being has to be alarmed and deeply opposed to reintroducing terms from the most horrible times. Yet such statements do not cause any oficial UN reaction - how come?
• Jerusalem is capital of Israel, yet other countries feel entitled to try and dictate this souvereign country what it should/ should not build there. This is ridiculous - it is not even part of Palestinian Authonomy. Would UK be so willing if illegaly declared sharia zones in London were defended by other countries as perfectly understandable? Same goes for Paris. If not (and the question was rethoric) than I condemn the double standard they try to apply to Israel
• There is no Israeli presence in Gaza - they are free to govern themselves. Yet the only activity obviously present is terror against Israel. But somehow the fact that Israel needs Iron Dome to protect her civilians from constant rockets, that people live in danger, that nearly every day there are rocket alarms, that recently kindergarten and synagougue were hit (luckily empty at the time) skips international attention and is not considered an obstacle to the peace. True enough - little demage is done by rockets. But the major reason is that Israel is dedicated to protection of her civilians and does whatever she can to prevent injuries - by contrast with Hamas using Gazans as human shields. But does the fact that I am able - better or worse - to protect myself (say: engage bodyguerd) mean it is legal and acceptable to attack me? 
• Finally, Judea and Samaria were won in defensive war against Jordan (not Palestine). And for the moment they are the Israeli territory. There are many authonomies around the world but I haven't heard about single one that has the law forbidding citizens of all but one ethnic group live somewhere in the state. And if you are not willing to throw all but Scots from Scotland, all but Tibetans from Tibet, all but Bretons from their land and all but Basks from Bask country (and all but Catalans from Catalonia) maybe stop using this unapplied anywhere double standard to Israel?

Having said all above I definitely see tens more important obstacles to peace than these few so called settlements.

Katowice 1884

My hometown is Katowice, Upper Silesia, with its own short but rich history. Founded by German industrialists in XIX century it was from the beginning pretty cosmopolitan city. The coal was already very important and Upper Silesia was one of the 3 most important industrial regions of Europe. Thus people were willing to come, seeking money, work and good fortune. The obvious ones were Germans, Poles and Czechs - the closest to Silesian history, but people were coming from afar and - for example - many Scottish families settled there (one of the most known are Baildons, builders and owners of a big smelting work).

The interesting moment in history (though, as it often happens, few could say so at the time) was 1884. In this year, to commemorate the 100th birthday of sir Moses Montefiore, one of the first benefactors of Jews in Eretz Israel, knighted for his acts by queen Victoria, 34 Jewish delegates from many European countries (mostly Russia and Germany, Poland at the time non-existent, but also Jewish communities from other countries were represented) met in Katowice (at the time called Kattowitz). Sir Montefiore was helping financially Jews in Eretz Israel (at the time the whole population of today's Israel was less than 350,000 and Jews were minority) and was a great propagator of returning there.

The delegates were involved in Hovevei Zion movement and were the first precursors of zionism.  The conference took place 2 years after Rishon Le Zion - first settlement created by this movement - was born and during the wave of pogroms in Russia - some evidently state-aproved and financed.

Personally I must admit it is the card in my town's history I cherish and would like it to become more known.

Shabbat at the Western Wall

Jerusalem. July. We are on vacation. Few hours before we have arrived to this city, left our backpacks in the hostel and started exploring city. It is crowded, noisy, colorful as ever but it is Friday afternoon and one can feel in the air Shabbat approaching.

Before it comes we go for a walk to ultraortodox district of Mea Shearim. We dress properly (both for the sake of our safety, so many times told that tourists are not liked there and it applies hundred times more to improperly dressed ones) and because of respect for these people. They live here, it is their right to live this way and it is us coming here and not other way round. Still I feel uneasy at the beginning but there is no reason. The district - noisy, crowded, living in the street any other day - is slowly more and more empty. Shops are closed, people are getting ready for Shabbat. My 7 years old son - in hawaiian shirt, hopping around (he can't walk without hopping) is so much out of the picture here that a little haredi girl is staring at him to the extend of bumping into lamp-post. Fortunately nothing wrong happens and she is very brave. We can't help her much as she speaks no English.

We leave the district before sunset and await coming of Shabbat at the Kotel (Western Wall, last piece of Second Temple).

It is never empty here but Friday afternoon (and evening of course) there are crowds gathered. We part as my husband and son enter the section for men and I head towards women's section. I feel shy - after all it is holiday, religious on - and I am a tourist, not knowing Hebrew, and no Jew (though interested in Judaism).
No need to be shy. Before I know it I am included in a group of women. There are all kinds of them - haredi women pray more silently ; more secular, completely secular, tourists like me, soldiers with long guns - sing, dance, laugh. Somebody brings me a book with transliteration (and translation too) of the Shabbat prayers and some songs. I am included in the circle in the natural way. I belong. Everybody seems to be ok with it and I feel genuinely welcome.

What is striking and most amazing and beautiful is the omnipresent JOY. Nobody is in any way coordinating what is happening. Yet people celebrate, sing, joy, find one another, interact with starngers, and everywhere I look I feel this magnetic, wonderful joy.

Later when I happen to talk with relatively fresh olim he tells me he comes here nearly every Friday, though he is secular, to experience this joy and community.

I have partook in many Christian holidays in different denominations and countries. I have seen Buddist and Hinduist holidays (as a spectator), but nowhere have I seen such spontaneous, pure joy.
Some religious holidays I have attendad were very serious, some very well organised, some deep reaching. But they were usually kind of obligation and one could feel that. People felt they SHOULD take part. At the Western Wall during the coming of Shabbat (and it was after all regular Shabbat, no Pesach, or Shavuot, or Sukkot, it happens every week) I felt people WANTED to come, to take part in it. They were joyful, thankful to the Lord, celebrating His holiday. Nobody had to tell them to celebrate or how to do it - they wanted to and knew from within how to do it.

It was one of the most beautiful moments in my life!!!!!!!

Israeli Film Festival in Dublin once again

I have promised a mail about circumstances of the film festival described in one of the first posts. I have already written about movies themselves and my impressions with relation to Israeli cinema.
Today it will be (less nicely) about circumstances and events around the festival.

Ireland is very anti-Israeli - sometimes not on a verge but straightforwardly anti-semitic and with a very strange approach to many things.

When the festival was planned quite a few places refused hosting the event either because they didn't want to be involved in anything Israeli or because they were afraid of the trouble. Finally Filmbase in Temple Bar agreed to host the event and put a lot of work towards it - even though they received threats and some employees for fear of what might happen took some time off.

They stated that any film festival is worth having and it is up to people to decide weather they want to come and weather they like what is being shown. It seemed obvious to me but apparently not for many Irishmen connected to Palestinian movement who were constantly for 4 days protesting, sometimes loudly, calling festival "brainwashing" and accusing it for many many different things. Nobody was ever protesting in Dublin when other film festivals (sometimes of movies from countries with totalitarian or oppresive governments, in contrast to democratic Israel) were organised. And of course it should be so as art, movies, human thought and its expressions should always be looked upon idependently from politics (unless we talk about pure totalitarian propaganda).

Myself being very critical about what Iranian governments do for last 32 years at least I love some of the Iranian literature and have seen quite a few Iranian movies (though none recently). And I was sure in a free European country this approach will be understood without need to explain obvious.

Not so with Israeli art shown in Ireland! A guy from pro-Palestinian movement, an Irish composer on dole Raymond Deane - having in the movement the all-telling "Israeli anti-cultural officer" title organised protests. BTW the very title reminds me Orwell's 1984 and - from life not literature - those horrible times in Soviet block when the artist might go to prison if his/ her art was considered "not socialist enough" or - God forbid - modern.
None of the films shown had any contemporary political accents yet there was constant political demonstration in front of filmbase. Including (seen by myself) trials to talk to minors from organised school groups contrary to teachers' demands. Talking about brainwashing!

There were even some funny incidents connected to those protests. During official opening few pro-Palestinian (or rather of what they have shown anti-Israeli) activists sneeked inside. They had nice appetizers, good wine and when Mr. Gilmore (Irish Foreign Affairs Minister) and Mr. Ambassador started opening speeches they started shouting (in few rounds) being immediately thrown from the room by security.
As it happens there was not enough chairs and many people were standing so after the first 2 activists were thrown away and 2 chairs were emptied an elderly gentleman stood up and nicely asked remaining activists to leave then as more chairs were needed. He was applauded warmly and subsequent shouts were met with comments that we will have few more chairs.

Nevertheless the way anti-Israeli activists were acting was really deserving the title of their "anti-cultural officer"! And I suppose (and know from my Irish friends) that many of Irishmen were deeply ashamed that such a trial at blocking freedom of speech and freedom of art and freedom of choice was made in Dublin.
Generally the most apparent result of those protest for me was sad reflection on some Irishmen's anti-semitism and longing for state censorship and dictate what others are entitled to see or like (of course under the condition that those given few Irishmen will be in control and will be censors). I have seen those things in my life already and I felt sorry for my open-minded Irish friends.

Let it snow

Snow? In Israel? Yes. There may not be glaciers (about the only natural thing that is NOT to be found in Israel :)) but definitely there is snow. On Mt. Herman nearly every year (if the prices of lifts won't scare you away you may actually go skiing there), in Jerusalem every few years - this year it is supposed to be more snow than on avarege. So below I put links to some nice pictures of snowy Israel ;). Shalom everybody!
Western Wall in years under British rule
snow at the Western Wall contemporary picture
Israel in snow

Universities and standards of debates over Israel

Everybody is entitled to their own views over any topic (it is just decent to get the knowledge and facts first, get it from all sides if it is anything even remotely controversial and allow for free opinion of others which may be different from ours). One would have expected that in free, democratic world this statement about right to our opinions but also about the 3 conditions mentioned in the brakes will be specially cherished during any university debates. After all universities are supposed to be places where people gain knowledge, where they discuss different opinions and are entitled to have them and where it is somewhat shameful to express opinions - specially strong ones - without checking the facts.

Apparently not so any longer!

Below I put 2 links to articles about discussing Middle East conflict on universities - in this case in Norway and in the USA but I have seen it happening in other countries - free and democratic - as well.
Harvard University "discussion" and Norway universities refusal to discuss BOTH sides of the story is the illustration of the very concept of preventive censorship. Until recently I thought that on universities, let alone the leading universities, the attempt to organise discussion without inviting people from different options presenting different points of view would have been unimaginable. Purely unprofessional, going against scientific standards and honesty and neither university staff nor the students would buy into this. After all there are cheaper ways to be exposed to propaganda (whatever side or topic) than attending studies at expensive, hard to get and known universities!
I was naive! It looks like people organising such discussions on Israel are allowed and expected to organise nothing remotely reminding academic discussion but very strongly reminding Orwell's "hate weeks" from "1984" or the "discussions" over capitalism in communist countries in Stalinist times.

It is just purely sad that the freedom of word, professionalism of discussion, freedom of thought have been cheaply traded for unifying people around the fight "against" (the old witch-hunt!!!!!!!) and that freedom for which so many paid with their lives is easily set aside by those who are supposed to be elite (present or future).

Mistery of Christmas by J.Gaardner

A bit offtopic (or maybe not?) but I'd like to review a book "Mistery of Christmas" by Jostein Gaardner.  I have just thrown the book away (rarity in our house with approximately 2-3 thousand books of which some are occasionally passed to others but nearly never disposed of.

I bought it thinking about my 7-year-old to have a book I could read him aloud during advent while cuddling together - we still cherish those moments. And I read it to him, though on times changing words or passages or leaving aside quite a few things. I was glad he was not reading it himself, that I still could correct some things! And afterwords I decided Idon't intend to share this book with anyone or keep it.

The author propagetes the thesis that to drive attention to some injustice or hard situation it is perfectly acceptable to use a third person - innocent, not engaged, not able to make any difference. He declares that even a child may be used for such purpose! As an example of "aggrieved" he has picked Palestinians from Bethlehem from before the 6 days war. The land has been under Jordanian rule at the time but it is not against Jordan that his accusations are pointed - it is against Israel. The book does not show any facts about political and historical situation (which is expected and just in a book for children) yet it is very much embedded in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict giving no information but a strong thesis which makes it pure propaganda. This is manipulation of the reader and considering the expected readers are children it reminds me lectures form Stalinist times which were to shape the children to become good communists.
This alone would have disqualify the book as the lecture for 6-10 years old (judging by the content this is the planned target group) but there is another - more general and even more ominous - reflection that the book implies - that it is all right to hijack a child, use another person, drive parents to despair (the father will never discover his daughter is alive) just to "bring something to attention".

Whatever the situation, doesn't matter how unambiguous (which can NEVER be said about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which in itself is misleading; and compared with the fact that her hijacking took place when both Bethlehem and Jerusalem were under Jordanian rule and Jews were forbidden even to enter Jerusalem to pray this is pure lie) - the thesis justifying hijacking is criminal and evil.

We can pick - from whatever time and place in history - situation unambiguous, but does it give anybody any right to hijack a child? This is terrorists' school of thinking according to which each and everyone is just a puppet, to use as one pleases. Just because there are wars and conflicts around the world can our near and dear be killed? hijacked? the bomb exploded? the plane hijacked?
Of course not, but this seems to be the thesis proposed by the author in the book for children making it morally unaccaptable.

And that is why "The mistery of Christmas" has finished in the wase paper basket - the right place for it!

New year of the trees

http://www.jpost.com/GreenIsrael/PEOPLEANDTHEENVIRONMENT/Article.aspx?id=256539

In the old temple days the fruit from the tree was left for 3 years so that the tree was supposed to gain strenght, the 4th year's fruit was offering for the temple and was used to feed needy and only starting on the 5th year of fruitbearing it could be used for the gain of the owner. But how should one determine when does the tree have birthday? :) Well, here is the answer: any tree planted before the lat "new year of trees" and yesterday has its first birthday today!

Israel is a desert country, small (smaller than Belgium) with nearly 8 million people living there and quite a piece of territory taken by the desert. It needs trees - specially after 2010 devastating fire near Carmel. It is always consider noble and good to plant a tree in the land of Israel. And you can do it without even getting up from your chair - through the link given in article, through Irish Christian Friends of Israel (www.icfi.ie) or any other organisation. Pick your choice but give it a thought please :)

PS to Iranian threat

http://www.jpost.com/IranianThreat/News/Article.aspx?id=257112

And here is English language link to the article about genocide threat

Iranian threat

http://embassies.gov.il/warsaw/AboutIsrael/the-middle-east/Pages/wiadomosci/Iranskie-media-o-zniszczeniu-Izraela.aspx

Powyższy tekst jest tłumaczeniem oficjalnej, irańskiej strony, wersja perska dostępna w linku.

Słyszałam już prezydenta Ahmadinedżada oskarżającego Unię Europejską o odpompowywanie wody z chmur i tym samym powodowanie suszy w Iranie, słyszałam (jak pewnie wielu z Was) gdy w ONZ deklarował swą wiarę w rychły koniec świata, która byłaby jego prywatną sprawą gdyby nie fakt, że wyraźnie uważa się za wybrane narzędzie do przyspieszenia tego końca i dysponuje środkami zdolnymi zniszczyć świat jaki znamy.

Jednak nawoływanie do ludobójstwa nigdy nie powinno zostać bez odpowiedzi! A jednak zostało..... Proszę podzielcie się tymi wiadomościami zanim stare słowa Martina Niemoellera znów staną się przerażająco aktualne.


The above link is translation from Pharsi to Polish of the official Iranian Agency webpage calling for genocide, destruction of Israel and "pre-emptive" strike upon her.

I have read president Ahmadinajed's words that draught in Iran is due to EU pumping clouds out of water. I have heard him say in UN (as many of you did) that he believes in soon coming "end of days", which would have been his private matter has he not made clear he considers himself to be a chosen tool to bring it about and he happens to be in disposition of means able to end the world as we know it.

Yet calling for genocide should never go unanswered! Yet it has.... Please shere those before the old words by Martin Niemoeller will again become horribly up to date!

Where does the name "Palestine" come from?

Nowadays we hear constantly about Palestine and Palestinians. Therefore, I believe it is worthwhile to remind the origin of the name, circumstances of its creation and reasons for introducing it as it makes gruesome but interesting story. In 135, 65 years after the destruction of the Temple by Roman imperator Titus, when Jerusalem for most part was still in ruins, another anti Roman rising started under Simon bar Kochba’s orders. It has been in response to cruel harassment by imperator Hadrian that started in 130. Hadrian far outreached in persecution imperator Traian whom he replaced and who was well known as an anti-Semite.

Hadrian changed the city’s name to Aelia Capitolina, banned Judaism and circumcision under the penalty of death. He also planned to build Jupiter’s temple on the site of the ruined temple (therefore ruining all hopes for her reconstruction) and in the traditional place of Jesus’ crossing, he erected the monument for Aphrodite aiming at harming Christianity, at the time still a branch of Judaism.

Not surprisingly this persecution led to the rising just 2 generations after tragic rising of 70 finished by ruining the temple and desperate, concluded by mass suicide, defense of Masada.

Nevertheless the rising had no chances of success. Hadrian sent against Jews one of his best generals, Julius Severus and – according to Roman historian Cassius Dio – “moved out against Jews treating their madness without mercy”. During the year the rising was over but the vengeance took shape of merciless genocide. Tens, maybe hundreds of thousands were murdered (please take into consideration the difference between population today and at the time). According to Cassius Dio 585,000, perished and 50 towns and 985 villages were destroyed. Slave on a Hebron market cost less then horse – so many became slaves. Circumcision and even approaching Jerusalem were banned for Jews under the penalty of death and Judea – historical, 1000 years old name of the country – was changed to Palestine to honor traditional Jewish enemies Philistines (Septuagint was already long translated and known in Hellenistic world thus enabling imperator to find the most hurtful new name for Jewish homeland). And that way – in place of Judea and Samaria – Palestine was created. The name ceased to be used after Roman empire perished and only restored after centuries by another colonial power – Napoleonic France.

About Israeli movies

2-3 miesiące temu, w ramach zorganizowanego w Dublinie festiwalu filmów izraelskich (o samym wydarzeniu napiszę w osobnym wpisie, jest o czym) miałam okazję zobaczyć kilka zupełnie współczesnych fabularnych filmów izraelskich. Nie jestem bynajmniej koneserem czy wielkim znawcą kina współczesnego. Jak większość ludzi oglądam czasem filmy, które mnie zaintrygują, lub które z różnych powodów uznam za warte poświęcenia 2 godzin. Czasem post factum uważam, że było warto, czasem nie.  Filmy, które widziałam i refleksją o których chciałam się podzielić to "Swat", "Kwestia rozmiaru" i "Makaron" (tłumaczenia moje jako że chyba żaden z tych filmów nie jest dostępny w polskiej wersji językowej). Pierwszy jest filmem obyczajowym, drugi komedią, trzeci filmem familijnym, zatem przekrój gatunkowy jest spory. To co łączy te filmy, co przykuło moją uwagę i skłoniło do przedstawionej tu refleksji to ich ciepło. Współczesne kino amerykańskie i europejskie, popularne (a nie mówimy tu o filmach niszowych) dzieli się z grubsza na filmy akcji (często w stylu zabili go i uciekł) - niekoniecznie trzymające się zasad logiki i poza akcją oferujące niewiele oraz kino o beznadziei, trudzie, niedostrzeżeniu, zagubieniu i ogólnie niefajnym życiu (przy czym w kinie amerykańskim dominuje pierwsza opcja a w kinie europejskim druga). Jako nie profesjonalny ale dość wybredny odbiorca uważam większość pierwszych za głupie a większość drugich za dołujące, depresyjnogenne i niewarte poświęconego czasu. Oczywiście zdaję sobie sprawę , że większość masowej produkcji do perełek nie należy, niemniej natłok tych dwóch kategorii jest przygniatający. Tym bardziej ożywcze wydały mi się 3 fabularne, współczesne filmy izraelskie o których mowa. Mimo, że poruszają trudne i czasem bolesne tematy robią to w sposób ciepły, ludzki, nie przytłaczający. Potrafimy szczerze śmiać się z bohaterami i czasem z bohaterów, którzy są bardzo ludzcy, ale też zabawni, śmieszni w sposób nieobsceniczny, smutni w sposób nie depresyjny, zagubieni w sposób nie beznadziejny, pozostawiający nadzieję na poprawę i tym samym chęć do walki, do zmian. Krótko mówiąc wszystkie filmy były OPTYMISTYCZNE - cecha niemal zapomniana we współczesnym kinie a tak wielu ludziom potrzebna! Mnie na pewno.

2-3 months ago I had an occasion to watch contemporary Israeli movies on Israel Film Days (the exact occasion I will describe later as it is worth separate description). I am in no way a connoisseur of movie art. Like most people I watch movies that have intrigued me somehow or that for whatever reason I become to consider worth 2 hours of my time (not always they turn to be worth that much which is pretty universal experience I guess). Movies I wanted to share with you reflection upon were "Matchmaker", "A matter of size" and "Noodle". The first one is a drama, the second comedy and the third a family movie so they fall into very different categories. What they have in common is that they are all heartwarming. Contemporary American and European movie art (at least popular one) can be roughly divided into action movies (escaped after having been killed) - not necessarily logical and offering few things except speedy action and movies about the despair and worthlessness and impossibility of life (with American production dominated by the first category and European one by second category). As a non-professional but pretty demanding viewer I consider most of the movies falling into first category as stupid and most falling into second one as depressing and therefore not worth time and money spend to make you feel bad. Of course I am aware that most movies produced are far from brilliant and it can never be any other way :) yet those categories are overrepressented to a highest point eliminating other categories from the market. By contrast I genuinelly enjoyed watching the 3 mentioned Israeli movies. They deal with hard and sometimes painful issues yet they do it in a very human, warm, enchanting way. They let us sincerely laugh with (and sometimes from) the people shown who are funny in no obscenic way, sad in no depressing way, lost in a way leaving space for hope and therefore leaving strength and motivation for fighting with reality. To put it short all those movies were OPTIMISTIC - a quality nearly missing from contemporary movie and missed so much by many. Myself certainly included!