Let me tell you about something in Israel that you don't hear about...

[sabra]

In a big hall in a Jerusalem hotel sit University students. There's lots of whispering, and then there's silence. But before long, the dialog begins. Everyone is different, but kind of the same. Similar studies, hobbies, and other interests.

These are programs that are not publicly broadcasted, but are there. They bring Israeli and Arab students together, to talk, vent, and express their frustrations. Connections are made, but unfortunately are disconnected when they walk out the doors of the hotel.

When I was 7 years old, I was assaulted by knife-point, and called a dirty Jew. I recall that I kept asking my mother "why", "why did he do that?".

When I see the bombs flying over the borders in all directions, I know many mothers are hearing that same question. "Why".

Unfortunately there is no direct and easy answer to that question. One may hear a variety of reasonings and solutions.

Before Ariel Sharon had the stroke that lead to his current medical condition, many Israelis embraced the new "Kadima" movement. The word "kadima" translates to "forward" in English. They wanted to move forward, a direction where there can be some semblance of peace.

However, right now the only word that comes to my mind is "ahora" (backwards).

[Minnesota Libra]

1. This part is..................

........so cool. Maybe, just maybe someday, before too long, it will lead to some kind of peace everyone can live with. One can hope anyway.

"These are programs that are not publicly broadcasted, but are there. They bring Israeli and Arab students together, to talk, vent, and express their frustrations. Connections are made, but unfortunately are disconnected when they walk out the doors of the hotel."

[Jacobin]

2. Here's something in America we don't hear much about:

ANALYSIS: SOME CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS BELIEVE FULFILLMENT OF BIBLICAL PROPHECY IS BEING THREATENED BY ROAD MAP TO PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST

http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/transcripts/2003/jun/030612.hagerty.html

Ed McAteer has long been a student of Israel. One of the founders of the Moral Majority and now the head of the Religious Roundtable, McAteer sees events in the Middle East as pointing beyond politics to the end times.

Mr. ED McATEER (Religious Roundtable): Prophesy is rapidly being fulfilled before my very eyes. We are living--listen to me--in some very, very exciting prophetic days.

HAGERTY: McAteer is worried about President Bush's road map, which would require handing over land to the Palestinians. He says in the Book of Genesis, God promises the Jews a homeland, a large swath of land from the, quote, "River of Egypt to the great river of Euphrates." And God reiterated the promise throughout Scripture. McAteer says the road map to peace is really a roadblock to prophecy.

snip

HAGERTY: Bock says according to this theology, Israel had to be restored before the prophetic clock could begin to tick again. Jimmy DeYoung, a Bible scholar and host of a radio program called "Prophecy Today," agrees. He says the prophets Ezekiel, Isaiah and others predicted the Jews would be scattered to the four corners of the Earth and then regathered in their homeland in order for the Messiah to come.

Mr. JIMMY DeYOUNG ("Prophecy Today"): The Jews had to be in the land and in the land in unbelief before Jesus Christ would come back to Earth. And they see this all unfolding over the last 100 years and continuing to take place and its ultimate fulfillment to happen, of course, during that period of judgment leading up to the return of Jesus Christ.

Israel, by allying itself with Xtian whacko fundies and the Extreme RW of the republican party, to gain support for funding in congress and political power, has created an insane mess in the U.S. It will spill over to Israel, as well, because when you get in bed with crazed skunks, nothing good will come of it. See the M.E. today, with Bush allowing the situation to spiral out of control. Anyone who sees this as 'good' for Israel or the M.E. or the world as a whole is smoking crack. I'm sorry.

[kpete]

3. "Kadima"

Moving forward

What a beautiful thought.

If only.....

Thanks sabra

I will continue to hope...

[sabra]

4. thanks for the kind words.

[Swamp Rat]

5. Kadima

Kadima