So what am I supposed to write about today? I’ve been told by some of my fellow bloggers that blogging is supposed to be a pleasure – something we do for the love of it. Maybe it is for them, but for me writing is a constant struggle – at least until the words start […]
Archives for December 2005
What to Do When You Have Trolls On Your Face
I just had some off-line correspondence with a fellow blogger who was rather upset at the direction a comment thread had taken on Lisa Goldman’s On the Face blog, which we both agree is one of the warmest, most human and kind-hearted blogs in the Middle East. My colleague was feeling rather discouraged, and couldn’t […]
A Historical Footnote: The Palestinian State of 1948
Elder of Ziyon came up with a very interesting post a few days ago regarding a historical episode of which I hadn’t been aware (or had, perhaps understandably, forgotten): the short-lived (and largely illusory) “Gaza Government” set up by the ex-Mufti of Jerusalem in 1948. The post is replete with contemporary newspaper clippings, and is […]
Is Ahmadinejad Softening? / Good Stuff to Read
The Jerusalem Post reports today that Iranian President Ahmadinejad (whose name I can still touch-type!) wants Germany and Austria to create a new Jewish state within their borders – as a replacement for the Jewish state right here in the Middle East, presumably. Could the A-man be softening? Is he really willing to share a […]
Demolitions and Deterrence: Cheap Politics Meets Institutionalized Rage
In the wake of Monday’s suicide bombing in Netanya, Israel’s Defense Minister (and Likud leadership contender) Shaul Mofaz has decided to attempt to resurrect the practice of demolishing terrorists’ family homes. According to Mofaz, “the defense establishment has changed its mind” regarding the effectiveness of demolitions as a deterrent against suicide terrorism, despite the fact […]