April 1, 2013 | 12:12 pm

This week from Israel

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

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Turkey tourism is back!

Last week, Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, apologized to Turkey over the death of nine of its citizens during the IDF raid on the Gaza- bound ship, Marmara, in May 2010. The Marmara incident brought the Israeli-Turkish relationship down to a new low, and Israeli tourism to Turkey, which was very popular, stopped almost completely. The opinions amongst the Israeli people as to Netanyahu's apologies were divided. Some agreed it was the right thing to do politically, some did not. But one thing is for sure- flights to Antalya, the main Turkish destination for Israeli tourists, were already booked!

Read more here.

 

Israeli female scientist wins European contest

On Thursday, the Israeli Dr. Osnat Zomer-Penn was honored in a ceremony at the Sorbonne in Paris, after winning first prize in the L’Oréal-UNESCO “Women in Science” contest. It is the third time in  row for an Israeli to win this prize.

Read more here.

 

Sharing the burden

One of the more burning issues here in Israel, is the groups within the Haredi (ultra orthodox) population in Israel which enjoy many benefits, but do not serve in the army, and therefore, not "sharing the burden" like any other Israeli. In recent years, there have been several programs that allow Haredi to serve in the IDF, under special conditions which do not interfere with their way of life. This week, a new program of such released nearly two dozen Haredi soldiers to their IDF service, as Microsoft Certified IT Professionals (MCITP.)

Read more here.

 

Helping the "hidden Jews"

Rabbi Pinchas Punturello, 36, has been appointed to serve as the new emissary for the Shavei Israel organization in southern Italy and Sicily. One of his missions would be totrack down and help the 'hidden Jews' of southern Italy to reconnect with their roots. Punturello is undertaking this project in conjunction with the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, the official umbrella organization of Italian Jewry.

Read more here.

 

Richest men in the world reenacting the exodus

Several days before Passover, a group of Russian tycoons, several of the richest men in the world, landed their private jets in Israel. The group, part of Russia's economic Jewish elite, embarked on a four-day journey from the desert to Jerusalem, reenacting the exodus from Egypt.

Read more here.

 

Israel humiliates Turkey

Don't worry, this is not another diplomatic crisis, but an historic basketball match between Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Besiktas JK on Thursday. Maccabi has made another step towards the Euroleague quarter finals, after winning 101-58. Many jaws dropped that day…

Read more here.

 

British Peer apologizes for Jewish conspiracy allegations

Britain's Labor Party member,  Nazir Ahmed, was imprisoned after a fatal car crash, and later suspended from the party. He was accused of dangerous driving after sending multiple text messages, shortly before the accident, and chose to accuse the Jews,"who own newspapers and TV channels," for his imprisonment. After his words caused quite a commotion, Ahmed apologized.

Read more here.

 

Joan Rivers shows her support

After making a very dark joke about the holocaust, causing a controversy and refusing to apologize, Joan Rivers found a way to show her support in a worthy cause, by joining the battle of Israeli homosexual couple Yuval and Liran Altman-Kadury, who are trying to have a child through surrogacy. Rivers is a part of a group of other Hollywood celebrities who showed their support.

Read more here.

 

Israeli shekel rulz!

Investors’ quest for higher yield has drummed up support for the Israeli shekel, which this week hit its strongest level against the dollar since October 2011. What drew them to pursue the shekel are higher interest rate of 1.75% compared to near-zero rates of developed nations and hands-off approach to its currency, prompting them to buy more shekel-denominated bonds.

Read more here.

 

And as the Passover week reaches its closure, here is one last festive YouTube clip:

March 29, 2013 | 1:08 pm

One Israeli Creation for the Weekend

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Tomer Peretz is a 30 year old Israeli artist who lives in L.A for the past eight years. His main occupation is painting, but he also designs spaces and furniture. His latest exhibition, "UNBREAKABLE," expresses the way Peretz sees the Israeli- Arab conflict as a former IDF combat officer in a way never seen before. 

"Painting has always been my passion, ever since I can remember myself. As a child and teenager, I loved to paint on walls and tables at school, especially where it was forbidden or illegal…," Tomer says in a long-distance interview for Israelife.  "In my exhibition, I am not ashamed or afraid to talk about politics and show my personal point of view- it is all a part of the project."

But even outside of "UNBREAKABLE," Peretz enjoys dealing with provocative themes and reveal and expose the forbidden and the hidden side of things. "I am influenced mostly by David La Chapelle, Andy Warhol and Banksy. Most of my work is specially made for private people, some of them are well-known. I am currently working on several projects of such. In addition, I am always searching for fellow artists who wish to cooperate and breakthrough. Dear Israelife readers, thank you very much for taking time to read about my work. Always live life with passion."

The "UNBREAKABLE" exhibition will soon return to  L.A. For more information, visit http://www.tomerperetz.com and http://www.theunbreakableproject.com

"Andy's Moto." Oil on Canvas, In Peretz's Studio.

 

 

 

"Moments of Happiness." Oil on Canvas. 2011 Collection.

 

 

 

"Funeral." Acrylic on Canvas. 2010 Collection. 

 

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March 27, 2013 | 12:25 pm

Should Israel fear “the king which knew not Josef?”

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

As Passover lays upon us, I asked Adi Grady, a teaching and research assistant in Tel- Aviv University’s Political Science department, and a Political Science grad student, to write a little bit about Israel, Egypt, and recent years. Here's an analysis of Israel-Egypt relations, inspired by Passover:

In November 2000, Egypt called its ambassador to Israel back to Cairo for "consultation". This was the Egyptian response to pressures both from outside (mainly, the Arab League) and from within to respond to Israel's military actions following the violent outbreak of the "second intifada". Arab leaders and members of the cabinet alike called to invoke the peace treaty with Israel, and some even pleaded with Mubarak to wage a war against Israel. Mubarak is said to have responded that he had been to war with Israel and that the violent era between the two states is over.

Mubarak had been the Commander of the Egyptian Air Force during the 1973 war ("Yom Kippur war" in Israel, "October war" in Egypt). He had addressed his experiences from the war many times, and has publicly spoken of the way the memory of that war should keep Israel and Egypt on a diplomatic conflict, and not an armed one."Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph." (Exodus 1:8). The book of Exodus begins with the change of generations in Egypt. The new generation did not know of Josef, who served as pharaoh's councilor, and enslaved the Israelites and underestimated the power of their god. As in every year, we tell the story of exodus which begins with this notion.

And nowadays, there is no king in Egypt, but a new democratically elected president. As Jews celebrate a holiday that is dedicated to freedom, Israel cannot but hope for the freedom of its neighboring nation. But an understandable fear also rises. The new administration did not experience the feeling of successful retribution the Egyptian nation felt during the early days of the war, celebrated to this day every October. It did not experience the horrors of that war, and the way it ended for Egypt, with the loss of thousands and without taking back any territory.

So, is an administration that is more attentive to the Egyptian public and hasn't had the sobering experience of war against Israel, the one that's more dangerous to the peace treaty?

Not necessarily. In November 2012, during the "Pillar of Defense" operation (also a name inspired by Exodus, its Hebrew name being "Pillar of Cloud"), Egypt immediately called back its ambassador. But, not only did he return a few days later, Morsi's Egypt also helped broker a cease fire. It seems that, for now, the new administration in Egypt is more focused on its current Plagues: instability, poverty, economic strife and, even in the last few weeks, locusts... Its leader has commemorated the October war, hopefully drawing from it the same conclusions as his predecessor- The conflict with Israel should be managed through diplomatic measures, not through force. Egypt has its Plagues, and blood should not be one of them.

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March 25, 2013 | 12:10 pm

This week from Israel

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Obama's visit through Jerusalem's eyes

Last week, President Obama visited Israel for the first time, in a three-day event some of us referred to as "FestiBama." During these three days, Jerusalem's businesses and hotels bloomed, while hosting not only politicians, but also journalists and many tourists.

Read more here.

 

Anti-Semetic Hungarian journalist  returned  an award

Ferenc Szaniszlo, a Hungarian television presenter, won the prestigious Mihaly Tancsics prize for journalistic excellence. However, due to an outcry by local journalists and the Israeli embassy, the journalist, known for his anti- Semitic and racist remarks, handed back the award, saying it is "not worth it if it going to damage the country."

Read more here

 

Free Pollard hunger strike

President Obama was welcomed by several mass protests and petitions calling on the American government to release Jonathan Pollard, with the support of Israeli President, Shimon Peres. Politely, he declined the release request, but even this statement did not stop Michael Foa, an Israeli who went on a hunger strike for Pollard's release.

Read more here.

 

The man who helps foreign media know the truth

Aryeh Green, Director of “Media Central”, a Jerusalem-based center that provides support services for journalists based in or visiting Israel, spoke to Arutz Sheva about the way he helps the foreign press gain a fuller, more comprehensive understanding of the Israeli reality.

Read more here.

 

The 26 year-old candidate to become Intel's CEO

On Thursday, President Obama was presented with an Israeli Hi-Tech showcase, presenting Israeli successes and world-changing innovation in the fields of medicine, agriculture, road safety, robotics and more. In this visit, Obama met with a group of Israeli young innovators, including the 26 year-old Sa’id Haruf. Haruf represented Intel, as well as Maantech, a hi-tech school for Israeli Arabs, which was developed to help them become more integrated into Israel’s hi-tech scene. Haruf  revealed to Obama his desire of replacing Paul Otellini, the retiring CEO of Intel.

Read more here.

 

Who was behind Stevie Wonder's cancellation?

Musician Stevie Wonder was scheduled to perform in an event for IDF soldiers in Los Angeles in December 2012. Not long before the event, Wonder suddenly cancelled, after falling for anti-Israeli propaganda. Wonder forgot to make the important separation between music and politics, and chose to not help young Israeli soldiers. Now, it turns out that the person who convinced him to cancel was no other but Roger Waters…

Read more here.

 

Peres honoring Obama
President Shimon Peres bestowed the President's Medal upon U.S. President Barack Obama Thursday evening, about a year after Obama honored Peres with the Medal of Freedom. The medal was given to Obama for his unique contribution to Israel's security.

Read more here.

 

From the Academy Awards to Jerusalem

Israel is star struck. Austrian actor Christoph Waltz, who won the 2013 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained," visited Israel last week to attend the wedding of his daughter.

Read more here.

 

Honoring Israeli contribution to computer security

Israeli Shafi Goldwasser is considered a pioneer in the field of cryptography. For her great contribution to computer security, she, along with her research partner Prof. Silvio Micali of MIT, will receive the prestigious Turing Award, “for transformative work that laid the complexity-theoretic foundations for the science of cryptography, and in the process pioneered new methods for efficient verification of mathematical proofs in complexity theory."

Read more here.

 

Greek footballer apologizes for Nazi salute

After scoring the winning goal in a Super League match against Veria, AEK Athens midfielder Giorgos Katidis raised his hand, performing the familiar and chilling Nazi salute. It took a life ban from all national teams to get him to realize the seriousness of his actions.

Read more here.

 

Israel-Portugal historic match

This Friday, the national soccer team of Portugal visited Israel for a match, on the way to the 2014 World Cup. We were pretty certain Israel would lose  by a large gap, but this match turned historic when the team was in the lead for most of the game, which eventually ended with a 3-3 draw.

Read more here.

 

To sum up Obama's visit…

Alex Zusmanovich was one of the lucky 600 Israeli students who won the raffle to hear Obama's speech, first hand. After returning home, he sat down to write his impressions…

Read them here.

 

And to finish this week's This Week from Israel- HAPPY PASSOVER!

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March 21, 2013 | 3:24 pm

Excitement, hope and the rhetorical art- experiences from Obama’s speech

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

My good friend, Alex Zusmanovich, was one of the lucky 600 students who won the raffle to hear Obama's speech, first hand. Here are his impressions:

Excitement. Excitement was what I felt when I got the email telling me that I was one of the 150 lucky students that won the raffle organized by the student body of the Tel Aviv University to go to President Obama's speech for the Israeli nation in Jerusalem. For a Political Science student like me, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to hear one of the greatest world leaders of our time speaking. Dressed in a navy blue shirt with a logo of the university, we headed towards the capital of our state. When I entered the hall of Binyanei HaUma, I instantly felt that something big is going to happen. A couple dozen of Israeli and American flags hanging on the stage, a lot of press everywhere, jazz music is heard from the loudspeakers. Everything was set for President Obama's arrival.

Hope. Hope was the feeling that many of the Israelis wanted to feel after President Obama's long-awaited speech at Binyanei HaUma in Jerusalem this afternoon. Did we feel it? Yes and no. Yes, because it was the first time that a world leader of such stature talked straight to the citizens of Israel without mediation of our domestic politicians, and unlike them, he made us believe him; No, because he didn't say something that we didn't already know.

First, Obama talked about the security of Israel and the long ongoing relationship between Israel and the United States. I thought to myself during his speech that if this relationship stayed strong during the last four years despite the bad relationship between the leaders and the governments of both sides, there is no reason that it won't stay strong in the future. Of course Obama's will to strengthen this relationship and ensure Israel's right to defend itself is very good to Israel, but it's not the main issue as I see it.

Second, Obama talked about the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian authority. In this case it sounded as if the President doesn’t fully understand the complexity of the situation. Do we want peace? Of course we do. And do the Palestinians want their own state? Of course they do. The problem is that the solution to this political-ethnic-religious dispute lies somewhere else other than just "peace is made between people", like President Obama suggested. I don't think that Obama put all the burden of the peace talks on Israeli shoulders, like some people suggested, but I think that things that seem one way from the Oval Office, look like something completely different from the Middle East.

President Obama talked about a few more topics, added some jokes and words in Hebrew and made the feeling that he is talking for  the Israeli people, and not to them. Without a doubt, he was the greatest speaker I have ever heard, in spite of the lack of cutting edge, practical sayings in his speech.

The hope that I talked about in the beginning lies in the feeling that he really meant what he said – he is a real friend of Israel. Our problems concern him and he will do everything he can to solve them. If it wasn't a one-time visit,  and he really wants to help us, we all can hope for a better, brighter future.

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March 20, 2013 | 4:20 pm

Obama’s visit to Israel: a new kind of hope

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Earlier today, President Barak Obama landed in Israel, for the first time since he first got elected in 2008, and for the third time in general. He is scheduled to meet with Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, as well as with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in Ramallah. The main goal of this visit is to "check the burning territory," and to see if there's a way to rush the peace process, that seemed to have gotten a bit into tan endless vertigo.

But other than that, there is something else Obama is planning to do: he will speak in Jerusalem to an audience mainly of Israeli students. According to reports in Israeli newspapers, Obama was offered to make a speech in front of politicians, but said he'd rather meet with the young Israeli public. This, to me, was a shift of opinion.

I am a big fan of the American culture and way of life, and really believe in the American formula to success in everything. However, I always had a slight problem with the American intervention. I always believed (and still do,) that the only ones who can solve the problems and the conflicts are we, the people from the inside, belonging to both sides, for we are the ones with the best understanding of the reality we live in. I believe that there is no good in judging a situation far from you. Just like I can't tell you what is best for the States, I believe that you can't really know what is best for Israel, unless you've been here, and got to really know the surface.

Moreover, I believe that what we hear from politicians while afar is as close to reality as an article coming from the foreign press. I don't believe that our politicians really represent us, and that a conversation with the people is the only way to know what the majority of people really think. That is why I believe that while Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas are the ones who actually need to shake hands, it is we, the people, who can make peace happen. That is why Obama's announcement about speaking to Israeli students completely changes my opinion on his visit.

No doubt that this visit is important. I never had a doubt that the Leader of the Free World must visit his allies personally, especially this very close, very tight partner in business and in commitment to security. This partner is the only Democracy in the Middle East, which means this partner has a lot of responsibility in maintaining stability in the area. But this obligation to visit Israel was all I saw in this visit.

I saw no meaning in sentences such as "sitting with both leaders", "trying to solve the problems," and by "no meaning" I don't mean "no intention," but "no actual chance for results." The attempt to get both Netanyahu and Mahmoud Abbas to talk, again, was not something I thought could lead anywhere, that is hadn't already led to. After all, when it comes to talking to both leaders, there is nothing new under the sun- it is something Obama is doing on a weekly basis, and not much would change if he would actually be present in person.

The difference was made with the announcement on the speech in front of the students. That announcement turned Obama's visit to a meaningful one.  This request to speak to the people was the proof I needed to know that Obama might actually want this peace to happen, and is willing to put a true effort into turning the dream into a reality. This announcement showed me that, like me, Obama believes that peace is in OUR hands, the people. It showed me that he truly wishes to get a better understanding of life here, not from the mouths of politicians, but from the people who live this conflicted reality every day. I sure hope that he will meet with Palestinian students as well, one way or another, so that he would be able to see the whole picture before sitting down with both leaders to what might become a different, more optimistic, peace talk.

Obama's visit might mark the beginning of a new era. I don't know him very well, and I don't have any special feelings or opinions of him, but his intention of meeting students, and not politicians, gives me hope. May tomorrow bring with it a new dawn.

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March 18, 2013 | 12:15 pm

This week from Israel

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Who is the perfect Israeli flight mate?

504 Israelis over the age of 18 participated in a new survey, dealing with the Israeli passenger's in-flight habits. Who were their ideal seat mates?

Read more here.

Blame it on the Jews?

Britain's Labor Party member,  Nazir Ahmed, was imprisoned after a fatal car crsah, and later suspended from the party. He was accused of dangerous driving after sending multiple text messages, shortly before the accident. Guess who he thought should take the blame for his imprisonment?

Read more here.

 

Americans support of Israelis at its peak

A recent poll shows that 64% of Americans sympathize with the Israelis- the highest percentage of support in the last 22 years. This high percentage of support was last presented during the Gulf War in 1991.

Read more here.

 

Israeli-Arab education will soon receive a boost of growth

Manuel Trajtenberg, chairman of the budgeting and planning committee of the Council for Higher Education in Israel, interviewed, explaining Israel's six-year project to improve its Arab community's job prospects.

Read more here.

 

Love kills terrorism

The Israeli Embassy in Argentina launched the campaign "Amor Mata Atentado (love kills terrorism) ahead of the 21st remembrance day of the terrorist attack on the embassy, which took the lives of 28 people. The campaign, which was highly covered by main Argentinian media, features four stories which symbolize the continuation of life and love after the tragic attack.

Read more here.

 

The Israeli who saved Facebook

Nir Goldshlager, a staff member at the Israeli cyber-security firm Avnet, was recognized for protecting Facebook twice in one year from security breaches. Goldshlager ‘s name appeared at the top of the list in Fcebook's security "hall of fame" featured on a page thanking "white hat" hackers, “for making a responsible disclosure to us, on behalf of over a billion users.”

Read more here.

 

An app that understands your culinary taste?

Yes, it exists. A group of young Israelis has created a brand new app, which will find you the right place to have breakfast, lunch or dinner. LikeEat doesn't only find you the restaurant closest to your whereabouts,but also recognizes your personal taste, and provides you with a customized list of restaurants. Moreover, the app is also a social network, which recommends to you the places your friends liked or didn't like, so you will be guaranteed the perfect place to dine. Currently, the app works only in Israel, but according to one of the developers, Ben Diamand, it may branch out of Israel as well. In the meantime, don't forget to download it to your iPhones before your next visit in Israel.

Read more here.

 

Hiking for Pollard

Students from Amit Catzor a religious school in northern Israel ,will begin a hiking trek to Jerusalem, in an effort to free Jonathan Pollard. During the trek, the students will circulate a petition demanding that the U.S. release Pollard. When they arrive in Jerusalem, the students will present the petitions to the U.S. Consul in Jerusalem, in the hope that he will present them to U.S. President  Barack Obama, due for a visit here this week.

Read more here.

 

Queen Barbra to visit Israel

The one and only, the legendary Jewish American singer, Barbra Streisand, is scheduled to perform in Israel in June. She will also participate in the opening night of the Israeli Presidential Conference on June 18 at the Jerusalem International Convention Center.

Read more here.

 

Facebook searching for the next hit in Israel

Five of the developers of Facebook's ten largest social games in the EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa) come from Israel. Herzliya-based Plarium Ltd. is one of the ten fastest growing games companies on Facebook worldwide. These achievements today brought Facebook to Israel for the second time in six months to find the next game hit.

Read more here.

 

The hatred that never stops

“Hacktivists Starting Cyber Attack against Israel on 7th of April,” Anonymous wrote on Twitter, calling on hackers around the world to join up for a second ‘OpIsrael.’ The Hacktivist group Anonymous, along with numerous other hackers, is planning a massive cyber-attack on Israel, threatening to “erase” the country from Internet.

Read more here.

 

Starting anew in Israel

"It would be easier to stay in New York, Brooke explained, but "I feel like I'm a better person in Israel."- impressions from the Nefesh b'Nefesh Aliya Orientation at Times Square. How do Shira, Esther, Brooke, Leah and the Glicks feel about their decision to move to the Holy Land?

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March 15, 2013 | 12:31 pm

One Israeli Creation for the Weekend

Posted by Noga Gur-Arieh

Charlie VaHetzi (Charlie and a Half) is a 1974 Israeli comedy and cult movie. The movie was directed by Boaz Davidson and stars Israeli comedians Yehuda Barkan and Ze'ev Revach. If you like Israeli culture, this iconic film is it. It belongs to the long list of "Israeli classics" from the 60's and 70's called "Bourekas Films", which were defined by journalist Uri Klein as a "peculiarly Israeli genre of comic melodramas or tearjerkers... based on ethnic stereotypes."

Charlie Va'Hetzi is one big comic relief which tells the story of the special relationship between Charlie, a professional street con man who passes himself off as a rich businessman, and Miko, a child who spends his time with Charlie instead of going to school. The plot follows Charlie's attempt to conquer the heart of Gila, a rich girl whose parents try to matchmake her to an American millionaire somewhat against her will.

 

Take a sneak peak

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