National Sorry Day from Israel

The other Thursday was National Sorry Day in Australia. It’s not an official holiday and not a date generally recognized in Israel, but it is a day of reconciliation and recognition of the mistreatment of the country's indigenous population, their families and communities. In the spirit of respect and acknowledgement I thought I would visit the memorial for William Cooper at Yad Vashem, take a selfie and post it. That’s the sort of vicarious, larrikin dilettante that I am. 

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Breaking The Rules Of Dictation

Three Quarter Time Summary:

First thing let's make it clear; I see Hamas as genocidal bastards.

Secondly, I hope my son comes out of this alive.

As we are approaching what all the Israeli commentators consider to be the final act of this round of armed conflict, we can begin to draw some preliminary conclusions as to how things are panning out.

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A Short Trip Before A Long Voyage

This is a true story, basically.

I left Australia some 30 years ago. When I left it was for good. I was single and vaguely rebellious, with no clear game plan or ideology. But I believed that in moving to the land of the forefathers I could somehow hammer out a meaning to all the ethnic baggage I'd been with laden with.

In contrast when my daughter returned from Israel about three decades later it was for an extended holiday. Even for the blindsided a trip like this is bound to dig up all sorts of dormant emotions. But I have always shared the antipodean's down to earth aversion to sentimentality, so this is a story without an epiphany.  

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That's What I Call Inverse Racism

This is something I sent as a letter to the editor at HaAretz (the original in Hebrew). It relects my personal and subjective take on how Ben Zygier is being represented to the public by at least some Israeli journalists. I doubt it will get published. : 

I'm an Australian/Israeli and since the Prisoner X story exploded onto the scene I've  been following every report and piece of information in the press and on the internet obsessively. I didn't know Zygier, don't come from the same town or from the same youth movement. But of all the disturbing and suspicious things that came out of this affair nothing infuriates me like the enormous insult I feel due to the prattle of two senior Israeli journalists come commentators A.A. and R.B.Y.    

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Benzygier Morant?

I know Prisoner X was only an ex-shmutznik, but this whole affair has certainly brought out the A.D.D. in me. Can't stop thinking about it.
Is Ben Zygier the new Breaker Morant?

Set aside what ever form of treason he purportedly committed. It's really the alleged suicide that's worrying.

In my estimation there's no shortage of disinformation being disseminated about Ben Zygier. Since yesterday the Israeli press has started insinuating disparaging hints as to Zygier's character. But that's a run of the mill, crisis management smokescreen strategy that the Israeli establishment seems to favour, especially against outsiders who won't or can't defend themselves. It may be a rather non Australian form of vulgarity but to a large extent it works on the local populace.

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New Years Resolutions for the TV Guide

Out on the bleak horizon of Rosh Hashanah television programming stands a lone silhouette on the rim of a crater. He's waving a flag.

It's semaphore.

"This Rosh Hashanah watch It’s a Wonderful Life!"

"You're out of your mind!" you declare.

He's waving madly. "Frank Capra! James Stewart. Donna Reed!"

"But you're having us on!" you bawl. "That's staple Christmas Day afternoon matinee programming! On the Jewish New Year? "

But the inaudible call from the wilderness persists, unflappable, insisting that the order of the day should be; yes watch this Christmas Day fodder. Especially on Rosh Hashanah!

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