Moses and Black Gold

So why did Moses take 40 years to find the Holy Land from Egypt?
It takes a while to locate the only place in the whole Middle East without oil.
Oy veh

...overheard at an Independence Day picnic in Liberty Bell Park. Lots of laughter and self-deprecating jokes made the rounds. A newspaper poll showed that after 59 years as a nation, more people here identify themselves primarily as "Jewish"(55 per cent) than as Israelis!

Firework displays and precision aerial stunts by Air Force jet squadrons delighted the Independence Day crowds barbecuing under clear skies today, but there were some more ominous fireworks too. The military wing of Hamas broke their truce to unleash about 100 rockets into Israel, acc to the BBC. There were no reports of injuries, although two IDF soldiers were attacked by a settler who defied their orders at a road checkpoint. A march into the former settlement of Homesh looks set to go ahead, according to local reports. And the beat goes on.

Israel's own anti-semites

Everywhere you look today, there's an Israeli flag flapping. The Jerusalem Post handed out Star of David bunting with each morning paper, and most cars and taxis fly the flag, too. The nation is geared up first to salute all its fallen soldiers and terror victims on Monday. Sirens signal when to show respect. Next comes the big national 59th birthday bash which commemorates David Ben-Gurion declaring the state of Israel in Tel Aviv and putting the kibosh on the British Mandate. Plastic hammers are the big accessory: smash the past, you sabras.

With all this rampant nationalism on display, Ozzy Bee tells me it's particularly disturbing to learn that no anti-semitism laws exist inside this country. There is so much critical coverage of European legislators who outlaw racism, but neglect to specifically ban anti-semitic acts as well. It turns out that there's a homegrown problem with anti-semites inside Israeli cities, mostly vandalism committed by ethnic Ukranian skinheads against the Ultra-Orthodox. They desecrate tombs, steal mezuzahs, and beat up the Haredim. Girls join in the fray. Wire reports and other newspaper articles have estimated that close to 500 acts of anti-semitic violence happen here each year, and are increasingly frequent. Read 'em and weep. Few Israelis acknowledge this great unmentionable, although some admit to institutional prejudice against the "permanently suntanned" Sephardics and Ethiopian immigrants. This resurgence of perverse anti-Jewish sentiment was never envisioned by the founders of the Jewish state. It is a disgrace.