Memorial Day

Sirens wailed throughout the country last night as the country stopped in solemn reflection and remembrance of the soldiers that have died in defense of their country. Everyone has somehow lost a relative or friend to a war in this country. It is an injured society, a hurting country. However it has been noted especially by bereaving families that the switch from mourning in Memorial Day to celebration in Independence Day is too quick - one follows the other at sunset tonight. They're calling for a break between the two  http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/bereaved-families-petition-for-break-between-memorial-and-independence-days-1.360620

The fuel contamination crisis has reached national level. All international flights are on hold because there is not enough clean fuel to carry the planes off - most flights need to refuel in Cyprus. Luckily the contamination was discovered in time, as it would have caused planes to fall from the sky - the contamination coagulates and blocks fuel pipes and damages fuel tanks. The nature of the contamination is still unknown: http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/israel-considers-seeking-foreign-assistance-for-jet-fuel-contamination-crisis-1.360612  and it's so nationwide that even cars and trucks are now affected http://www.haaretz.com/news/national/nationwide-fuel-contamination-suspected-buses-and-trucks-reportedly-affected-1.360050  The State is still not calling it a terrorist sabotage - well, if it were an honest mistake, it's costing the country millions of dollars everyday, and someone has to pay.

Black Day

12 dead in the fanatical muslim attack of a Coptic Christian Church in Cairo. 200 injured.  2 churches burnt. The persecution never ends. When will the world wake up and do something to help the christians? I guess never ... it's the destiny of Christians to carry their cross and die.

This evening Memorial Day begins. Israel remembers its fallen soldiers of the past 63 years. A minute of silence will be observed and many businesses will be closed or open late after the memorial siren is sounded.

Yesterday I faced a shameless encounter of racism. I went to a Jewish-Israeli institute to ask for information but before I could finish my sentence, the guard spoke in perfect American accent "Don't speak english to me. I don't speak english. I don't understand english". The simple fact was I was not Jewish nor Israeli and they don't want to serve "gentiles/pagans/goiim". So much for Independence Day which will be celebrated on Tuesday ... instead of a open democratic society, Independence Day reminds us gentiles that it's 63 years that we're not welcomed here. Yet we are the ones who hold up the Israeli economy - bringing in tourists that make up 40% of the country's income.

Sabbath

Thursday's contamination of aeroplane fuel in the country saw a massive cancellation of all flights. I heard the fuel contamination also affected cars. Whatever it is, it's a pretty strange state of affairs ... and national security seems to have been compromised.

The weather is still riding on 30 degrees or so. Extremely hot. If the contaminated fuel had reached the power stations, that would mean the disruption of energy supply - no aircons and fans, no refrigeration. What a crisis it could have become!

Yesterday the world's last WWI fighter died. The final link to that event is gone and WW1 becomes only an article in the textbooks. An era has slipped into the reserves of collective memory and soon no one will speak of it again.

Here Israel's Independence Day will soon come round. Flags are being sold everywhere, and face-painting the flag is now very common.  Of course Palestinian displeasure is obvious; so tensions are high and you can note more military presence everywhere.

And exhilaration all round ... Israel's basketball team Makkabi Tel Aviv has reached the finals of the Euroleague match. It'll face Greek team Panathinaikos. But we all know Makkabi will win ..... even without Omri Casspi. Aaahhh but we still have Lior Eliyahu! Will have to decide how to celebrate Makkabi's expected win tomorrow .... all eyes glued to the tv.

Lior in action

Summer at last

Summer must be here because the weather hot 31 degrees yesterday. The sun scorches your skin but a cold wind is still blowing. Strange weather ... but then again, which part of the world hasn't had its share of strange weather? Japan is certainly getting a beating from Mother Nature; and New Zealand got it's first tornado.

Thanks

Thanks to all who have passed on things to me: Ma Fung Ming, 2008 Holy Week Pilgrim Group, Angela Leung, Cavero family, Julia and Susan, May Look, Francesco Li & family, Margaret Lobo.

Dark days ahead?

There is talk in the streets that a 3rd Intifada will start on May 30th when Palestinians celebrate "Land Day" or May 15th "Nakbar Day" (Day of Catastrophe). I was told that Palestinians in the West Bank and refugees from Jordan are urged to converge in Jerusalem and retake the city. Now that is certainly going to cause alot of consternation and worry for the rest of us. What we don't want is instability, violence and another war. Believe me when I say tensions are high in the streets. And the killing of Bin Laden isn't helping one bit to quell the rising hatred.

This evening the Israeli Jews marched through our quarter again. They do it once a month. Provocative - some people say. It's a statement to the arabs that the Muslim Quarter where they live is also under Israel's control. Police and soldiers blocked the streets and prevented access to non-Israeli Jews. I was caught out as I had to go out and get a document from another place. The Druze police (I presume, otherwise he would be an arab Israeli) refused to let me go back home (our road was blocked off as it was part of the march route) through the barriers, yelling in arabic at me that he "didn't give a damn about Christians or priests". I spoke back in arabic (he didn't expect that) that I lived inside the blocked route and I have a right to go back home. He rudely pointed me to the other end of the barrier where a soldier let me through. I wonder what his enthusiasm was all about - after all he may be Israeli but he's NOT a Jew ... why pretend to be more Israeli than the real Israelis? Get a life, man! What a loser ... go find your own land to live and defend.

Holocaust Day

Today the country stood still in silence for one minute at 10am; sirens wailed throughout the country. Traffic stopped, people got out of cars and buses, pedestrians, shopkeepers, soldiers, children and aged ... even foreigners like me ... all stood in silent remembrance of those killed in the Holocaust. It was a profound moment. I thought of Edith Stein, Titus Brandsma, Maximillian Kolbe and so many others who died in the hands of violent senseless hatred.

After the silence, shops, restaurants, offices began to open and function as usual. I happened to be out in the New City when the sirens sounded. There was an awesome silence as everything stopped, only the siren could be heard. After that, I shared a bagel with a friend to assuage his hunger ... I didn't feel hungry at all but as he offered, I took it. I guess it took on a more profound significance at that moment of the Holocaust Day ... of people sharing and being generous instead of being selfish, hateful and fearful of others.