You can build the best airport in the world, and there is still no other word than they suck at 3 am in the morning, when you have not been to bed since yesterday morning and the next time I will lie flat in a bed could be two days away.
This Assignment is actually to a country that I have always wanted to visit, Nepal. Home of the tallest mountain in the world and as of the moment massive civil rioting, gues which is the reason I am going this time. I always thought that I would get to Nepal and see Mt Everest on my 50th birthday, well I am 47 next week so that is not bad.
One of the quirks of the job is what to pack and tonight I was digging thru the cupboards in the office in Jerusalem getting out gas masks and riot helmets, expecting stones and gas this time. Hopefully not to much bang bang your dead bullets.
Hopefully will not be to longer assignment, one of those jobs when we could fly to Bangkok only to be told to come back, lucky I like airline food
Mal
Tel Aviv Airport Lounge
Monday, April 24, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Tel Aviv Monday Afternoon
When you arrive at the scene of a suicide bombing there is nothing nice to say or anything new to say or film. It is just a scene of desperation and grief. The bombing at the Schwarma Shop yesterday was devastating 9 innocent people were killed in an Instant by a terrorist , a young male from the West Bank who had recently joined Islamic Jihad after leaving Hamas because they were not carrying out attacks on Israel. What he achieved was to plunge the scene here into Political Mayhem.
What would the new Prime Minister Ulmert do and just how would the new Hamas Government react. Well Israel does not react with knee jerk options , cold calculating and at there time and choosing that is what they will do. As for Hamas they did not condemn the attack.
The bombing took place near the Old Bus Station a sad and bad neighbourhood, in other words a soft target with almost no security. Standing on a blood streaked street the local Right Wingers and druggies screamed profanities and Death to Arabs for nearly an hour, the moment a camera is turned on them they would resume there chants.
Covering these events like the bombing yesterday leaves me numb, it is not the last one I will go too
What would the new Prime Minister Ulmert do and just how would the new Hamas Government react. Well Israel does not react with knee jerk options , cold calculating and at there time and choosing that is what they will do. As for Hamas they did not condemn the attack.
The bombing took place near the Old Bus Station a sad and bad neighbourhood, in other words a soft target with almost no security. Standing on a blood streaked street the local Right Wingers and druggies screamed profanities and Death to Arabs for nearly an hour, the moment a camera is turned on them they would resume there chants.
Covering these events like the bombing yesterday leaves me numb, it is not the last one I will go too
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Dinner with family & friends
In nearly the nearly four years that I have lived here in Israel, I have never managed to get through a Passover (Pesach) Seddar Dinner, the first one I went to at Mark Abrahams (Senior Bureau Producer) was finished before we had even had the first glass of wine, a terror attack at the Park Hotel when a suicide bomber walked in and killed thirty perople having a seddar dinner was to spark off one of the most intense periods of bloodshed and war in the whole intifada.
The next few years have seen me away or on shift and the elusive Seddar dinner seemed destined to be missed for another year.
But Mark assured me that this year, we were on course for Matzoh Crackers and Yamucahs (Please allow for spelling errors when I deal with religious issues not much can be done, remember I did not know that Jesus was Jewish)
Marks whole extended family was at his home with brothers sisters and Bella's parents (Bella is Marks better half).
Now a Seddar Dinner is more tradition, it comes complete with a book and everyone takes turns to read out verses which all have relevance to the Jews fleeing Egypt with Moses , not having time to wait for the bread to rise, lots of killing and smitting of first son's, plagues and pestilance, a Seddar plate with seven items that all have relevance, from the arm of God(chicken leg) to a paste of dates and walnuts that represents the paste used by Israeli slaves to make the Pyramids - FYI this is a great taste the pyramid paste.
It was so enjoyable to watch the whole of Mark and Bella's family take part in a celebration of freedom and thanks, Marks youngest daughter who is in first grade read for the first time out aloud, his eldest found the matzoh crackers which caused the younger children to cry unfair and almost cry.
Just glad that no one was taking photos, could imagine what the Hamas goons would do with pictures of Mike Tobin and I sitting there with Yamaucahs on, come Eid Mike and I will go out with our kafirs , should make both sides happy
Thanks Mark and Bella, for allowing me to share a wonderful night of family and friends
The next few years have seen me away or on shift and the elusive Seddar dinner seemed destined to be missed for another year.
But Mark assured me that this year, we were on course for Matzoh Crackers and Yamucahs (Please allow for spelling errors when I deal with religious issues not much can be done, remember I did not know that Jesus was Jewish)
Marks whole extended family was at his home with brothers sisters and Bella's parents (Bella is Marks better half).
Now a Seddar Dinner is more tradition, it comes complete with a book and everyone takes turns to read out verses which all have relevance to the Jews fleeing Egypt with Moses , not having time to wait for the bread to rise, lots of killing and smitting of first son's, plagues and pestilance, a Seddar plate with seven items that all have relevance, from the arm of God(chicken leg) to a paste of dates and walnuts that represents the paste used by Israeli slaves to make the Pyramids - FYI this is a great taste the pyramid paste.
It was so enjoyable to watch the whole of Mark and Bella's family take part in a celebration of freedom and thanks, Marks youngest daughter who is in first grade read for the first time out aloud, his eldest found the matzoh crackers which caused the younger children to cry unfair and almost cry.
Just glad that no one was taking photos, could imagine what the Hamas goons would do with pictures of Mike Tobin and I sitting there with Yamaucahs on, come Eid Mike and I will go out with our kafirs , should make both sides happy
Thanks Mark and Bella, for allowing me to share a wonderful night of family and friends
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Snowballs in the Desert
Dubai
April 9, 2006
Lets agree on a couple of things before you read and I write this blog entry. Dubai is in the Golf States one of the hottest regions in the world, it is nothing but sand which in yesterdays wind was blowing across the road, it is not richly endowed with oil like it’s sister states, the national sport is strapping frightened six year boys sold to them from Pakistan onto camels and racing them and 15% of the worlds building cranes are currently here. The worlds tallest building is being built along with the worlds biggest Shopping Mall.
Looking up the ski slope and watching children throwing snowballs is not what you would expect in the desert. But at the Mall of the Emirates they have a 400-meter long ski slope complete with ski lift. You cannot do anything but stand there and look up at this: inside the shopping centre is a ski slope, you walk in hire everything and go skiing for a couple of hours, but I must add a note here for those of you who ever come to Dubai bring gloves for skiing as they do not have them and according to those who have been to “Ski Dubai” your hands get very cold.
I did not ski as we did not have time and anyway the new Mall of Arabia being built will have a larger and longer ski field.
Dubai was the last stop on this trip with Dennis Ross and Producer Jonathan Wachtel as we wrapped up a one-hour special on “Democracy & Reform” a heavy topic but in its own way fascinating.
We came to film at Al Arabiya & Al Hura, both are TV Networks, both broadcast in Arabic but that is where the similarity ends. Al Arabiya is now the number one 24 hour News Network in the Arab world beating Al Jazeera, It has a refreshing approach and is totally committed to be fair and honest in it’s reporting. Al Hura on the other hand is a branch of the US Government, like the Voice of America or Radio Free Europe, and is not watched or trusted by anyone. I have not ever met one person who has watched it, in fact the only time I have ever seen it was when the Israelis were attacking Jericho Prison the other week and the correspondent from Al Hura was next to us.
People in the West might think of the Arabic News Networks as behind the times with no money. Let me give you a tip here the Newsroom at Al Arabiya is one of the most futuristic and functional in the world. Their correspondents, anchors and producers are multilingual and if anything left wing and liberal in their views.
The key thing I have learnt this week from listening to Dennis Ross and the people we have interviewed is that Democracy does have a good chance in this part of the world. But there are stages to democracy and before you can democratize you must first modernize, democracy must come from the grass roots and make its way from within.
Things like education, press freedom and a legal system must be working before anyone wants democracy. You have to be able to live in safety without the threat of being killed by acts of terror and aggression, before you can think of democracy working.
Iraq is currently in a complete state of civil war, nobody wants to come out and say it in so many words. The Bush Administration is in a complete no win scenario at the moment, the US troops cannot leave Iraq, and if they do Iraq will descend into a bitter and bloody civil war with Shia’s, Sunni’s and Kurds literally tearing themselves apart. The US troops are the only policeman left holding the factions apart. Even Hosni Mubarak the Egyptian President said last night, that America cannot and must not leave.
In the meantime Iraqis themselves cannot agree on anything or even elect their own leaders, the Election last December has still not produced a working Parliament or even a Prime Minister.
The other thing that I have come to figure out this week is that it is in the interest of Arab leaders to keep the Israel/Palestine Conflict and Iraq War going because whilst they have these issues going, they can simply ignore reform and democratic changes in their own countries, claiming these issues are the biggest challenges the Arab World are facing.
Think about it, peace and harmony comes to Israel and Palestine, the war in Iraq ends and Shia’s Sunni’s and Kurd’s elect a new leader who brings wealth and stability to all the people. The press now turns around and says well now those are behind us what are the issues facing the Arabic World – Democracy, Freedom, Equality, so if you were running your own country in the Islamic World would you want peace in Israel, freedom and a homeland for Palestinians, and US troops out of Iraq.
If you are wondering about the number of cranes in Dubai, and how booming an economy they have, 80% of the cranes in the world are in China, 15% are in Dubai the rest of the world, yes the REST OF THE WORLD has the other 5%.
When you can build a ski resort in the desert, you know that your economy is on track, imagine if they had oil as well in Dubai.
April 9, 2006
Lets agree on a couple of things before you read and I write this blog entry. Dubai is in the Golf States one of the hottest regions in the world, it is nothing but sand which in yesterdays wind was blowing across the road, it is not richly endowed with oil like it’s sister states, the national sport is strapping frightened six year boys sold to them from Pakistan onto camels and racing them and 15% of the worlds building cranes are currently here. The worlds tallest building is being built along with the worlds biggest Shopping Mall.
Looking up the ski slope and watching children throwing snowballs is not what you would expect in the desert. But at the Mall of the Emirates they have a 400-meter long ski slope complete with ski lift. You cannot do anything but stand there and look up at this: inside the shopping centre is a ski slope, you walk in hire everything and go skiing for a couple of hours, but I must add a note here for those of you who ever come to Dubai bring gloves for skiing as they do not have them and according to those who have been to “Ski Dubai” your hands get very cold.
I did not ski as we did not have time and anyway the new Mall of Arabia being built will have a larger and longer ski field.
Dubai was the last stop on this trip with Dennis Ross and Producer Jonathan Wachtel as we wrapped up a one-hour special on “Democracy & Reform” a heavy topic but in its own way fascinating.
We came to film at Al Arabiya & Al Hura, both are TV Networks, both broadcast in Arabic but that is where the similarity ends. Al Arabiya is now the number one 24 hour News Network in the Arab world beating Al Jazeera, It has a refreshing approach and is totally committed to be fair and honest in it’s reporting. Al Hura on the other hand is a branch of the US Government, like the Voice of America or Radio Free Europe, and is not watched or trusted by anyone. I have not ever met one person who has watched it, in fact the only time I have ever seen it was when the Israelis were attacking Jericho Prison the other week and the correspondent from Al Hura was next to us.
People in the West might think of the Arabic News Networks as behind the times with no money. Let me give you a tip here the Newsroom at Al Arabiya is one of the most futuristic and functional in the world. Their correspondents, anchors and producers are multilingual and if anything left wing and liberal in their views.
The key thing I have learnt this week from listening to Dennis Ross and the people we have interviewed is that Democracy does have a good chance in this part of the world. But there are stages to democracy and before you can democratize you must first modernize, democracy must come from the grass roots and make its way from within.
Things like education, press freedom and a legal system must be working before anyone wants democracy. You have to be able to live in safety without the threat of being killed by acts of terror and aggression, before you can think of democracy working.
Iraq is currently in a complete state of civil war, nobody wants to come out and say it in so many words. The Bush Administration is in a complete no win scenario at the moment, the US troops cannot leave Iraq, and if they do Iraq will descend into a bitter and bloody civil war with Shia’s, Sunni’s and Kurds literally tearing themselves apart. The US troops are the only policeman left holding the factions apart. Even Hosni Mubarak the Egyptian President said last night, that America cannot and must not leave.
In the meantime Iraqis themselves cannot agree on anything or even elect their own leaders, the Election last December has still not produced a working Parliament or even a Prime Minister.
The other thing that I have come to figure out this week is that it is in the interest of Arab leaders to keep the Israel/Palestine Conflict and Iraq War going because whilst they have these issues going, they can simply ignore reform and democratic changes in their own countries, claiming these issues are the biggest challenges the Arab World are facing.
Think about it, peace and harmony comes to Israel and Palestine, the war in Iraq ends and Shia’s Sunni’s and Kurd’s elect a new leader who brings wealth and stability to all the people. The press now turns around and says well now those are behind us what are the issues facing the Arabic World – Democracy, Freedom, Equality, so if you were running your own country in the Islamic World would you want peace in Israel, freedom and a homeland for Palestinians, and US troops out of Iraq.
If you are wondering about the number of cranes in Dubai, and how booming an economy they have, 80% of the cranes in the world are in China, 15% are in Dubai the rest of the world, yes the REST OF THE WORLD has the other 5%.
When you can build a ski resort in the desert, you know that your economy is on track, imagine if they had oil as well in Dubai.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Church Bells
Amman Jordan
Dennis Ross Special Shoot
This morning I heard a sound that I had not heard in a very long time , church bells toiling accross the city of Amman. Amazing in an Islamic Country but I stopped and listened. There was no Mullah berating you to come out and prey, or volume cranked up to the point of distraction.
I have not heaard church bells in such a long time that I had forgotten the simple sounds that signify a religion that forms my beliefs. It was not a peal of extremism or fundamentalism. They did not wake me up from sleep at some unholy hour and they will not be played five times a day
the world needs more church bells
Dennis Ross Special Shoot
This morning I heard a sound that I had not heard in a very long time , church bells toiling accross the city of Amman. Amazing in an Islamic Country but I stopped and listened. There was no Mullah berating you to come out and prey, or volume cranked up to the point of distraction.
I have not heaard church bells in such a long time that I had forgotten the simple sounds that signify a religion that forms my beliefs. It was not a peal of extremism or fundamentalism. They did not wake me up from sleep at some unholy hour and they will not be played five times a day
the world needs more church bells
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Prime Minister , Whats his name ?
It is the day after the Isaeli elections, and Mark in the office came up to me and made comments about what I wrote yesterday about democracy and the Israeli Elections, bringing up some good solid points.
The thing is that Israel and the Middle East is a big deal worldwide whether we like it or not, Israel dominates World News on a regular daily basis, no matter side of the fence you sit on, and almost everyone in the world knows the name of Israeli Prime Ministers, past and present. very few no the name the name of the current Australian Prime Minister not to mention who was the last Australian Prime Minister.
Following the lowest voter turnout in Israel's history, the people have spoken.
However in Mark's words , the average secular Israeli is about to be raped, that is the result of the Elections last night, The Kadima Party did OK and has the largest number of seats and will thus be the major party in power BUT and this is the part that many Israelis now fear, is that to form a coalition Kadima will enter into talks with minor parties that represent elements of the extremists here. These parties only want, then want more and in return will give nothing back to the country.
These groups do not work, do not pay taxes and do not serve in the Military, whilst the average middle class secular Israeli citizen works like hell, pays a fortune in taxes and watches their children serve in the Miltary putting their lives on the line to protect the country.
His points are very valid and perhaps they are not heard enough in the wider world, Israeli voted yesterday and a new administration under Prime Miinister Ehud Ulmert. get used to the name you will be hearing it a lot in the future.
But behind the scenes, average Israelis become more frustrated at their society, as Democracy here continues to flourish, everyone nows that deals are being done with parties who do not have the interest of their country at heart. Rather than a sense of optimism for the future that comes from a new Political Party taking the reins, there was a sense of doom in the office today.
Of course here in the Unholylands, there is always a twist in the tale, to use a pun. The main commercial TV Network News tonight Channel Ten, had a report on the new Prime Ministers brother who now lives in Canada, he apparently owes some "Commercial Interests" -(here think The Sopranos and Immigrants to Israel from the former Soviet Republics), large sums of money and cannot return to spend time with his brother.
The other funny note from last night and the Elections, after the Exit Polls had declared Ehud Ulmert as the next PM, rather than rush to Party Headqurters to accept the accolades of the Party Faithful and appear on TV around the world, he kept everyone waiting because he wanted to watch the end of the Football. Now I am starting to like new PM already, a man who knows his priorities.
Post script - The name of the Australian Prime Minister is John Howard and he has been in power for ten years , if anyone was interested.
The thing is that Israel and the Middle East is a big deal worldwide whether we like it or not, Israel dominates World News on a regular daily basis, no matter side of the fence you sit on, and almost everyone in the world knows the name of Israeli Prime Ministers, past and present. very few no the name the name of the current Australian Prime Minister not to mention who was the last Australian Prime Minister.
Following the lowest voter turnout in Israel's history, the people have spoken.
However in Mark's words , the average secular Israeli is about to be raped, that is the result of the Elections last night, The Kadima Party did OK and has the largest number of seats and will thus be the major party in power BUT and this is the part that many Israelis now fear, is that to form a coalition Kadima will enter into talks with minor parties that represent elements of the extremists here. These parties only want, then want more and in return will give nothing back to the country.
These groups do not work, do not pay taxes and do not serve in the Military, whilst the average middle class secular Israeli citizen works like hell, pays a fortune in taxes and watches their children serve in the Miltary putting their lives on the line to protect the country.
His points are very valid and perhaps they are not heard enough in the wider world, Israeli voted yesterday and a new administration under Prime Miinister Ehud Ulmert. get used to the name you will be hearing it a lot in the future.
But behind the scenes, average Israelis become more frustrated at their society, as Democracy here continues to flourish, everyone nows that deals are being done with parties who do not have the interest of their country at heart. Rather than a sense of optimism for the future that comes from a new Political Party taking the reins, there was a sense of doom in the office today.
Of course here in the Unholylands, there is always a twist in the tale, to use a pun. The main commercial TV Network News tonight Channel Ten, had a report on the new Prime Ministers brother who now lives in Canada, he apparently owes some "Commercial Interests" -(here think The Sopranos and Immigrants to Israel from the former Soviet Republics), large sums of money and cannot return to spend time with his brother.
The other funny note from last night and the Elections, after the Exit Polls had declared Ehud Ulmert as the next PM, rather than rush to Party Headqurters to accept the accolades of the Party Faithful and appear on TV around the world, he kept everyone waiting because he wanted to watch the end of the Football. Now I am starting to like new PM already, a man who knows his priorities.
Post script - The name of the Australian Prime Minister is John Howard and he has been in power for ten years , if anyone was interested.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Election Day
It seems to everyone that today is a big deal day, Israel goes to the polls to choose a new Prime Minister, the encumbant Ariel Sharon still lies in his hospital bed, watching the paint dry on the ceiling. The party he founded Kadima looks like it will be the majority power in a coalition government.
Israel in its short history of being a nation has never had a political party that has ever won in its own right, they have never had anything but coalition of various mixes, it has been known that the left invite the right to form a government and the secular invite the religious extremes into the fold. So in essence you never have a political party that can take a fresh mandate to the people, because everyone knows that a coalition will be the end result and as such comprimises are inevitable.
This explains why Israel will never make forceful steps forwards as a democratic nation, democracy they have as long as they never have to make a decision that has profound effects on the peace process. The moment a hard decision is taken half of the coalition resigns because they have too and the government is ineffective for a period whilst a new coalition is formed with all the problems of the last government, then a few months later the members of the parties that resigned change there minds because the decision that forced them to resign have not been implemented and a new cabinet is formed.
Politics here is a joke to a certain extent, but at least they have democracy, which is what the Palestinians have now and they managed to screw that up so badly that Hamas is in power by default.
So tonight a new man is poised to take control of a nuclear nation with neighbours in their own backyard that believe they do not have the right to exist as a nation.
It will be an interesting pewriod in the next few months here, that is if they can form a government that is effective and has a mandate that people respect.
The party that has seen the greatest increase in the polls in the last week is the Green Party, not the environmental party but the Green party for the legalisation of Pot.
There were no lines outside polling stations as i drove to work, but I saw people everywhere dressed in their biking clothes meeting to go out for bike ride, perhaps they will vote later but most likely they will be found in a cafe drinking coffee discussing politics and democracy, the odds of them walking into a polling station are very low
Israel in its short history of being a nation has never had a political party that has ever won in its own right, they have never had anything but coalition of various mixes, it has been known that the left invite the right to form a government and the secular invite the religious extremes into the fold. So in essence you never have a political party that can take a fresh mandate to the people, because everyone knows that a coalition will be the end result and as such comprimises are inevitable.
This explains why Israel will never make forceful steps forwards as a democratic nation, democracy they have as long as they never have to make a decision that has profound effects on the peace process. The moment a hard decision is taken half of the coalition resigns because they have too and the government is ineffective for a period whilst a new coalition is formed with all the problems of the last government, then a few months later the members of the parties that resigned change there minds because the decision that forced them to resign have not been implemented and a new cabinet is formed.
Politics here is a joke to a certain extent, but at least they have democracy, which is what the Palestinians have now and they managed to screw that up so badly that Hamas is in power by default.
So tonight a new man is poised to take control of a nuclear nation with neighbours in their own backyard that believe they do not have the right to exist as a nation.
It will be an interesting pewriod in the next few months here, that is if they can form a government that is effective and has a mandate that people respect.
The party that has seen the greatest increase in the polls in the last week is the Green Party, not the environmental party but the Green party for the legalisation of Pot.
There were no lines outside polling stations as i drove to work, but I saw people everywhere dressed in their biking clothes meeting to go out for bike ride, perhaps they will vote later but most likely they will be found in a cafe drinking coffee discussing politics and democracy, the odds of them walking into a polling station are very low
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