(This post was updated on 2023-11-14 — the section with the big poster on the building was: Renamed from “The name for this is ______?” to “Poetry Lines the Streets;” and, The content of that section updated. Thank you A.K.)
Tel Aviv is sunny and warm. Some things I saw today:
Help Wanted sign at a small grocery; Fun Direction signs a couple blocks from my apartment; Lost Dog notice; "Finish Them - The Jewish People Lives" on a scooter.
Heard
David Shipler
I listened to a podcast by David Shipler, a giant of American journalism. I hadn't remembered that he was a Jerusalem bureau chief for The New York Times. Two quotes:
"Palestinians have been victims of the Arab world as well as of the Israelis."
In the late 1970's and early 1980s:
"Israel wanted to build housing outside the refugee camps in Gaza, and the local Palestinians rejected the idea vehemently, because they thought it was an effort to undermine their status as refugees."
(Thank you M.R.)
It is interesting to me, looking across the 20th century: Millions displaced in Europe and the Middle East by WWI and WWII. International borders moved. Huge swathes of population ferried about. In more recent years there have been massive refugee flows from Syria and Iraq.
(I am leaving out Jewish refugees after WWII and from the Arab world after 1948.)
The intention in all these cases was to make new homes for the displaced to settle.
Only the Palestinian cause, from what I know, can be characterized as a project of permanent refugee-hood.
The events of this year are a result of that decision (at the hands of the U.N. as demanded at the time by countries of the Arab world).
John Oliver
His whole segment on the war is 30 minutes. The last four minutes are, to my eyes, where the action is.
What Is Around Gaza?
Agriculture. This 3 minute video shows the greenhouses and other agriculture that is within a few km of Gaza. Produce from this area historically supplied Israel and Gaza.
Poetry Lines The Streets
Do not fear, Israel ,do not fear
Because are you not a lion cub?
And if the lion roars - who will not fear?
Who will not fear?
(full poem with translation to English: https://lyricstranslate.com)
From the poem: יעקב התמים \ Jacob the Upright. Listen to it here.
Relief Area
Alef
Sticker of Joe Biden allegedly being handed out in bars:
It says "Don't"
Bet
“Real Housewives” - Hamas Gaza edition. 1.5 minutes:
Gimmel
Item pulled from department store in Australia:
I seem to be hosting a dinner party tonight! A bunch of the cooking is done. I (mistakenly) thought my fish guy wasn’t open yet, so bought fish at a different place. The guy ahead of me ordered 100% in Russian. I still need to shower and clean the apartment…
I also want to acknowledge that this series of posts is very much a conversation, with much material sent my way. I am aggregating and curating as much as creating.
Stay well,
Raf
(Thank you A.K., M.R., M.N. for content, feedback and engagement.)