An International Symbol ofNormalcy
Stuart Schoffman
May 21, 1998
May 1998. Israel turned 50. The weather has beenfabulous. We got a new dog. Otherwise, things are morecomplicated.
Category
Israel
Pollard’s Good News
Jewish Journal
May 21, 1998
Israel\’s admission last week that convicted spyJonathan Pollard had been an Israeli agent when he was arrested inWashington in November 1985 has greatly increased his chances ofrelease. Pollard, who was denied sanctuary in the Israeli Embassy asfederal agents closed in on him, had until last week been disowned bythe Israeli government.
The Soundtrack for Life and Love
Orit Arfa
May 21, 1998
One in three Israeli families ownat least one David Broza recording; for two generations of Israelis,Broza provided the soundtrack for life and love.
Celebrating Israel’s50th
Michael Aushenker
May 7, 1998
The peace process is stalled, pluralism issues remain unresolved and the Netanyahu government is in turmoil. But organizers of a major, star-studded 50th anniversary tribute to Israel later this year are focusing their attention on celebration, not contention. Indeed, a rare in-gathering of major Hollywood celebrities, Jewish communal officals and organizational leaders has come together to mark Israel\’s first half century.
Lonely at 50
Eric Silver
April 2, 1998
On the eve of the 50th birthday of the Jewishstate, Israelis have seldom felt so lonely. No one wants to come tothe party. Vice President Al Gore is one of the few foreigndignitaries who have accepted an invitation to the April 30 fiesta.The rest are either stalling or saying, \”Thanks, but nothanks.\”
Leaving Lebanon
Eric Silver
March 26, 1998
Israel signed the Oslo peace agreement with itsold enemy, Yasser Arafat, because by 1993 the alternatives had becomeinsufferable. The Palestinian intifada, a revolt of thestreet, was sapping the morale of the Israeli army, fighting a futilesix-year battle with one hand tied behind its back. Nightlytelevision footage of soldiers in combat fatigues, chasing teenageboys wielding slingshots and petrol bombs, was undermining Israel\’sdeterrent credibility in its confrontation with the Arab states aswell as its international moral case.
Revisionist TV
Eric Silver
March 19, 1998
After 50 years of evasion, soft sell andhalf-truths, Israelis are coming to terms with the darker side oftheir own history.
Israeli Vice
Eric Silver
March 19, 1998
The young Lithuanian woman in the prison libraryhas the narrow chest, hunched shoulders and wary eyes of someone whohas known poverty and is not sure where the next blow is coming from.
God Takes the Field
Larry Derfner
February 26, 1998
There\’s nothing more peculiarly, confoundinglyIsraeli than soccer on Shabbat.
The Panic Retreats
Larry Derfner
February 12, 1998
After being caught up in a wave of initial panic,the Israeli public seems to be calming down a bit over the possibility of an Iraqi missile attack.
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