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Palestinians reject Israeli apology on Gaza deaths
09 Nov 2006 18:17:00 GMT
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Linda Whittaker <olsvig2000@yahoo.com> wrote:
Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 13:53:29 +0200
From: ìéðãä ååéèé÷ø linda whittaker <linda.whittaker@npa.org.il>
To: "Linda Whittaker" olsvig2000@yahoo.com
Hi everyone,
This has been a quiet, hardworking week personally, although there are major upheavals here in Israel as well as the elections in the United States. I've been focused on my own work and noticed the events only in passing.
Over here, there was a big hoo-ha about a "gay and lesbian march" scheduled to be held in Jerusalem. This is an annual event but usually held in Tel Aviv. The Jerusalem haredi community reacted to the news with spectacular kinniptions, burning dumpsters and generally having blue-faced hissy fits. An estimated 13,000 police were to be called into the capital city to protect the gays from the haredim tomorrow and all the rest of us dreading the traffic jams and cursing both sides. In this case the haredi cause was "saved" by the Arab response to the tragic massacre of several Gazans when three Israeli artillery shells went astray by a quarter mile in Beit Hanoun, killing several members of a family. Arabs vow revenge, which usually means bombings. So it looks like Jerusalem and everywhere else in Israel will be on high alert for some days to come, and the police simply cannot divert so much manpower to protect the gays. So the parade will probably be cancelled.
Sheesh, that's a very Jerusalem story.
Probably most of us would be happy to dump the haredim, the gays, the Arab terror groups all stark naked in Teddy Kolleck football stadium, arm them with sticks, and let them all kill each other, and leave the rest of us alone. I know I would. I'm not gay myself but I can sure think of 100 worse things in Israel than a bunch of gays marching around the Knesset for a day. Like forced prostitution, child and wife abuse, guest worker abuse, for example. When the haredim start having blue hissy fits about stuff like that, maybe I'll take them more seriously, but for now I just think they are plain crazy and itching for a street fight. As for the Arab factions—near as I can tell, the tragedy in Beit Hanoun is an accident due to a malfunction of an aiming device. Army wouldn't be shooting in that direction if there were not missiles coming out of Beit Hanoun into the Negev towns, and the launchers hide among innocent people. Sorry, but the alternative is to send in ground troops again to take 'em out. That's better?
Probably most of us would be happy to dump the haredim, the gays, the Arab terror groups all stark naked in Teddy Kolleck football stadium, arm them with sticks, and let them all kill each other, and leave the rest of us alone. I know I would. I'm not gay myself but I can sure think of 100 worse things in Israel than a bunch of gays marching around the Knesset for a day. Like forced prostitution, child and wife abuse, guest worker abuse, for example. When the haredim start having blue hissy fits about stuff like that, maybe I'll take them more seriously, but for now I just think they are plain crazy and itching for a street fight. As for the Arab factions—near as I can tell, the tragedy in Beit Hanoun is an accident due to a malfunction of an aiming device. Army wouldn't be shooting in that direction if there were not missiles coming out of Beit Hanoun into the Negev towns, and the launchers hide among innocent people. Sorry, but the alternative is to send in ground troops again to take 'em out. That's better?
So, one reason I only note local events in passing is that sometimes I think at least half the people in the region are loonies, probably too much inbreeding, too many cousin-marriages producing weak-brained defectives in both the Arab and haredi communities, and they all need minders. Or so it looks to an outside observer who has been watching this scene for some time. Cleopatra aside, too many generations of closely-related people marrying each other is not a good thing, and it being traditional in both groups, well, here we are…... I wouldn't expect sane or smart dogs from such practices, so I should not be surprised at what it produces in people.
Speaking of animals, I will be picking up yet another handicapped cat tomorrow. This one has chronic illness leaving him weak, and his owner had to return to Mexico. The cat needs an injection from time to time, never would survive in the wild, and the owner was frantic to find a home for him. Nice quiet cat, should be no trouble, just looking for a peaceful corner somewhere to continue his meek existence. I can provide that. My own kitties all seem to be doing okay now, recovering from my last absence down in Eilat. With winter coming on, I've got a whole bedful of them at night, no need to heat the back room.
I did get down to the Negev this week, on a beautiful sunny winter day, to help pick out sampling sites for our field exercise this coming spring. It was nice to warm up and work in t-shirt weather, and this area of the Negev has its own charm. The Sternbergia (an early winter crocus-like wilflower) was in full bloom and the Beduin camp in our study area has been put in good order for the winter. It was nice to see Awassi sheep again. I worked with Beudin during my years in the Negev, on grazing effects on landscape and vegetation, and this all felt very familiar. I would have enjoyed a long coffee and visit in the tent but there was no time. Maybe next spring.
That's about it for now. I have my nose to my data analysis grindstone and look forward to taking a week off when my sister arrives for a visit in ten days. So for now I am trying to wrap up office work to be free and clear during that period.
Shabbat shalom,
Linda
Or send mail to my alternate address
Dr. Linda Olsvig-Whittaker
Science and Conservation Division
Israel Nature and National Parks Protection Authority
.3 Am Ve Olamo Street, Givat Shaul
Jerusalem 95463, Israel
.Telephone: +972-2-5005444; Fax +972-2-6529232
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