Israel January 22, 2009
January 22, 2009
Israel
Hello Everyone,
We are writing this blog from Israel a couple of days after watching Barack Obama’s Inaguaration, probably along with millions, in not billions of people around the world. Everyone here in Israel is very optimistic about the Obama presidency, and what it will mean for this very tormented part of our world. And we also, as most of the people here are very hopeful.
When we arrived here a few days ago, the war in Gaza was still in full swing, and the day before yesterday a cease fire came into effect. Will it last? Who knows.
One of the reasons that we are writing this is to bring you some of the feedback about the war in Gaza that we have been trying to gather from many different types of people.
More than one person has told us is that there is no “left” in Israeli politics at the moment because nearly all Israeli’s are supportive of their government’s position in Gaza. It seems to be a pretty unanimous feeling here.
Simply put, after nearly 8 years of rockets fired from Gaza into Southern Israel by Hamas, Israel finally has had enough. And for these past 8 years, Israel pretty much just “bit it’s tongue”.
The timing of the Gaza action is interesting as well. Of course, there are lots of logistical reasons that we are not privy to, nor are most people here. However, there are many who believe that it may have been initiated under President Bush’s watch knowing of his strong support of Israel, and while everyone here is hopeful about President Obama, he has not yet had the opportunity to implement his Mideast policy, and so until he does, people are a bit cautious.
It is a really interesting time to be here. For us, who have close family here as well as very close friends, we have always been worried about their well being. No one is happy or gloating about all of the civilians who have been killed and wounded, however, there is no question that Israeli’s from all walks of life and from the entire political spectrum feel that the actiion was their only choice.
Now that Barack Obama has become the 44th President of the United States of America there is a lot of hope that his leadership will not only improve things here in Israel and the Middle East, but throughout the world as well, especially for our country, nd of course we hope so also.
We have been enjoying ourselves here spending these first few days with family and friends, but also having some time to ourselves to do a little exploring. Tonight we are going to "Ha Kotel" – "The Wall" in the Old City of Jerusalem, because we want to see it at night all lit up and hopdfully get a good photograph that we can share with you.
Yesterday we spent in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and visited the open market in the Yemeni Quarter of Tel Aviv and also spent the afternoon in Jaffa which is over 4,000 years old and very beautifully restored. Had dinner with our oldest friends, Zeev and Rachela who we have know since we were in Turkey together in 1961 and 1962. Our lives have grown in parallel ever since.
We will spend the next few days here in Jerusalem staying with our cousins and then go to Turkey for a week to stay with friends whom we first met there in 1960. When we return we will spend a couple of days in the desert and then we are not sure.
We have a rental car and one of our cousins lent us a GPS to help us get around. The GPS is funny because we can only input the addresses in Hebrew, but we have programmed it to give us the directions in an English speaking voice. Lucky Peter can read and write Hebrew.
OK for now. Once again, let us hope for a continued peace and a brave new start for America.
Peace and Love,
Peter and Hinda
Israel
Hello Everyone,
We are writing this blog from Israel a couple of days after watching Barack Obama’s Inaguaration, probably along with millions, in not billions of people around the world. Everyone here in Israel is very optimistic about the Obama presidency, and what it will mean for this very tormented part of our world. And we also, as most of the people here are very hopeful.
When we arrived here a few days ago, the war in Gaza was still in full swing, and the day before yesterday a cease fire came into effect. Will it last? Who knows.
One of the reasons that we are writing this is to bring you some of the feedback about the war in Gaza that we have been trying to gather from many different types of people.
More than one person has told us is that there is no “left” in Israeli politics at the moment because nearly all Israeli’s are supportive of their government’s position in Gaza. It seems to be a pretty unanimous feeling here.
Simply put, after nearly 8 years of rockets fired from Gaza into Southern Israel by Hamas, Israel finally has had enough. And for these past 8 years, Israel pretty much just “bit it’s tongue”.
The timing of the Gaza action is interesting as well. Of course, there are lots of logistical reasons that we are not privy to, nor are most people here. However, there are many who believe that it may have been initiated under President Bush’s watch knowing of his strong support of Israel, and while everyone here is hopeful about President Obama, he has not yet had the opportunity to implement his Mideast policy, and so until he does, people are a bit cautious.
It is a really interesting time to be here. For us, who have close family here as well as very close friends, we have always been worried about their well being. No one is happy or gloating about all of the civilians who have been killed and wounded, however, there is no question that Israeli’s from all walks of life and from the entire political spectrum feel that the actiion was their only choice.
Now that Barack Obama has become the 44th President of the United States of America there is a lot of hope that his leadership will not only improve things here in Israel and the Middle East, but throughout the world as well, especially for our country, nd of course we hope so also.
We have been enjoying ourselves here spending these first few days with family and friends, but also having some time to ourselves to do a little exploring. Tonight we are going to "Ha Kotel" – "The Wall" in the Old City of Jerusalem, because we want to see it at night all lit up and hopdfully get a good photograph that we can share with you.
Yesterday we spent in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and visited the open market in the Yemeni Quarter of Tel Aviv and also spent the afternoon in Jaffa which is over 4,000 years old and very beautifully restored. Had dinner with our oldest friends, Zeev and Rachela who we have know since we were in Turkey together in 1961 and 1962. Our lives have grown in parallel ever since.
We will spend the next few days here in Jerusalem staying with our cousins and then go to Turkey for a week to stay with friends whom we first met there in 1960. When we return we will spend a couple of days in the desert and then we are not sure.
We have a rental car and one of our cousins lent us a GPS to help us get around. The GPS is funny because we can only input the addresses in Hebrew, but we have programmed it to give us the directions in an English speaking voice. Lucky Peter can read and write Hebrew.
OK for now. Once again, let us hope for a continued peace and a brave new start for America.
Peace and Love,
Peter and Hinda
posted by Peter and Hinda Schnurman at 5:49 AM
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