Shalom, Eric Silver (1935-2008)

While the soldiers' politically charged funerals were taking place up north, most senior journalists gathered at their colleague Eric Silver's graveside in Jerusalem. The prominent British correspondent died on Tuesday night from pancreatic cancer. At 73, he was still an active freelancer and he and his wife Bridget contributed to Jerusalem's literati scene. Silver was an imposing reporter of the old school, hastening to the scene to witness events himself. He was known for his quick mind, rich prose, and dry wit and was an inspiration to the younger press corps.

The British, Israeli and Indian press displayed his obituary prominently. Silver could claim the best-ever bureau street address for an analyst. Where better to base oneself than on the "Street of the Prophets"? Patrick Coburn wrote a fine tribute in the Independent to the Insightful Anglo-Israeli Journalist.

This excerpt comes from one fond friend in the Jerusalem Post:

Silver was particularly attached to his charming, memento-filled home, located in a historic building on Jerusalem's Rehov Hanevi'im, originally built and inhabited by the 19th century pre-Raphaelite painter William Holman Hunt - even after a terrorist inadvertently detonated his explosives belt outside the front door, blowing out the windows of their bedroom and, as Silver would note to visitors, sending the terrorist's head flying into an adjacent courtyard.

The Silvers were among the most gracious hosts (and guests) in Jerusalem's Anglo-Israel social community, especially in the dinners and parties they enjoyed throwing in the apartment's garden courtyard

Hamas returns snatched lioness, now on mincemeat rations in Gaza

Hamas has liberated another kidnap victim - Sabrina, a lioness stolen at gunpoint from a private zoo in Gaza City, press reports say.

Hamas security forces came across this malnourished feline -- defanged, declawed and missing part of her tail-- during a raid on a local clan of criminals. After a shootout, the force commander, Abu Hamam al-Deeb, said they also seized illegal drugs and arms.

Sabrina, who ought to devour four kilos of meat per day, was returned to the zoo skinny and bedraggled.

She was reunited with her mate, Sakher. The two lions, brought to Gaza from Egypt as cubs two years ago, were soon sparring and chasing each other around their cage as if they had never been parted.

The zoo's owner, Saoud al-Shawwa, told reporters: "We will start a long, arduous treatment to ensure she can survive. She will only eat minced meat from now on, so we feel sorry for her. They should punish the criminals who did this."

Hamas acted after a local arts and cultural society named the thieves. It lodged a complaint after the lioness was spotted in a Gaza photography studio during a Muslim holiday. Her captors were said to be charging a dollar for people to have their picture taken with her.

A scenario not exactly foreseen by reggae star Bob Marley, whose son Ziggy is a frequent visitor to Israel:

"I have to run like a fugitive to save the life I live...I'm gonna be iron like a lion in zion. Iron. Lion. Zion."