I can’t really think of any other place in the world that pays attention to the level of a lake as much as they do in Israel.  The water level in the Kinneret is watched by like hawk by conservationists and Mekorot, the Israel national water carrier.  The level is checked on almost a daily basis to determine how much water is left to be pumped and what its doing to the ecosystem in the lake itself. Read more »

Although we aren’t privy to the agreement signed by Olmert and Nasrallah, we can be pretty sure that the swap is on course. Today, the IDF Rabbinate confirmed they have begun exhuming the bodies of fallen Hezbollah fighters from a cemetery near Kibbutz Amiad. The deal is expected to go through very quickly with the culmination in about another week and 1/2. Read more »

In yet another truce violation emanating from Gaza, a farmer in Nachal Oz was fired upon by a sniper while he tilled his field. The tractor was hit several times, but the farmer managed to get out of the way and avoid any serious injury. This, of course, just a few hours after Israel re-opened the Gaza border after missile attacks that also weren’t supposed to occur during this ‘period of calm’. Read more »

Hamas seemed to be making gestures earlier this week vis a vis the ‘truce’ with Israel. Israel was making more regular *boom* supply deliveries *boom* to Gaza and *BOOM*.. HEY!! Can we stop those damn Qassams already…we’re trying to have a truce over here!!! Anyway, as I was saying, the ‘truce’ continues on and earlier in the week, Hamas had passed some signs of life regarding Shalit and Israel was attempting to open the crossing for more than a day while yet more rockets were being sent into Israel. Yes, I know..its only 11 of them, but there shouldnt be any flying in…right? Read more »

I’m sure by this point, everyone has heard just about everything there is to hear in regards to the attack on Yaffa Street yesterday. 3 people (I had said 4, sorry) were laid to rest yesterday and today and scores more are still injured, physically and emotionally. We’ve heard cries for knocking down the terrorist’s house from Olmert and others and hand-wringing from the family members. A few things stuck out in my mind:

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In a horrific terror attack today, an Arab resident of Israel commandeered a bulldozer that was being used in the construction of the Jerusalem Light Rail and went on a rampage at the corner of Yaffa Street and Sha’arei Yisreal Street. The bulldozer was taken from the construction site and plowed into 2 buses (Routes 13 and 60) and a multitude of cars before a soldier and elite police on the scene were able to put a bullet where it belonged (WATCH) and stop the terrorist in his tracks. (In a twist of fate, the soldier is the brother-in-law of IDF officer David Shapira, who killed the terrorist in the Mercaz Harav Yeshiva attack) Read more »

In yet another case of some Haredim having way too much time on their hands, the latest crusade has been against MP4 players that are pre-loaded with content being sold in Mea Shearim. There was a discussion/ruling on this at and by the ‘Orthodox Righteous Court of Law’ Read more »

In contrast to the awful deal approved the other day for the return of the bodies of Regev and Goldwasser, the Knesset finally did something intelligent they should have done a long time ago. They finally approved a law (52-24) that prevents any MK from traveling to an enemy country (as defined by Israel). Doing so prevents them from running for Knesset for the next 7 years (and from the Jpost article it seems to infer that it may be somewhat retroactive)

Whose up in arms about this? Read more »

On the day after the prisoner swap, there has been a ton of hand- wringing in the media. Did Israel or didn’t Israel do the right thing? Was too high a price paid or was this the only move they could have made? There were some surprises. Read more »

I was a little sad to wake up this morning and see that the prisoner swap was passed by a huge majority of the cabinet over the objections of the Mossad and the GSS. I can’t say I 100% blame them for going that route. This puts an end to another chapter for both Israel and Lebanon. Israel gets back Goldwasser and Regev (and we get to see if they are actually alive) and some information on Ron Arad’s whereabouts. Read more »

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