Independence Day

Today is Independence Day. At midnight last night fireworks lighted the sky of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. It's a national holiday today so we expect alot of crowds in the Old City - which can be pretty tense as the Palestinian community sees it as a day of occupation. Police and soldiers everywhere.

And not all Israelis celebrate Independence Day. Orthodox Jews see it as an apostasy - a diviation from the Bible and God's teaching because it is not God's will to have a state without the Messiah. The modern state, according to this view, is based on Zionism which is human effort, not Divine Will. The newspapers report this - eg the call not to pray for the State - but of course the media will try to play it down. http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1239710806422&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

And like I said earlier, we have 2 cases of "Mexican" flu which means everyone ought to be careful of crowded places - but I don't believe anyone will take notice of health precautions here in this land. It's a way of life to be defiant here so I think it'll spread like wildfire but never gets reported. Just think of the thousands celebrating Independence Day in the streets, parks, beaches ....... It's a virus' paradise out here!